15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
Since the death of Christ to pay for sins has such powerful ramifications, this affects how people should view their ministry.
15 and
This verse closely connects to verse 14 with the word “and.” We find the reason for the previous verse in this one.
He died for all,
Christ died for the sins of everyone as a proxy or substitute.
that [purpose] those who live should live no longer for themselves,
Those who respond to Christ’s work on the cross should not live unto themselves. They should live as ambassadors for Christ.
but for Him who died for them
Selfless sharing of the gospel is a major purpose of life for the Christian. It is a life lived “for Him.”
Christ’s death was a supreme sacrifice. The Lord’s death should change how Christians live their lives. It requires the way they live; this is a change from a selfish and self-oriented life to a life of giving to others. Paul and his team sacrificed themselves to win others to the Savior.
and rose again.
Christians live for a person who is alive, not dead. Jesus rose from the dead and is seated at the right hand of the Father. Christian living is for someone who is real.
PRINCIPLE:
A cross-centered life puts ministry in a proper perspective.
APPLICATION:
Christian ministry should be controlled by the message, not by any other outside influence. Pastors must emphasize evangelism if they are going to keep their ministry in proper perspective. When a person does this, his priority changes from living for self to an entirely differing object, the Lord Jesus Himself. There is a purpose beyond self for every believer.
Those who do not live as ambassadors for Christ consume themselves with their own desires. Jesus is to have the “preeminence” (Co 1:18). Christians are under new management. God has a tendency to turn our furniture around. He will not play second fiddle to anyone. The saddest thing on earth is a lost soul; the second saddest thing is a wasted Christian life.
