Living from Christ over living for Christ

"I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5 ESV)

John 15 and abiding in the vine. It is a rich text as there is so much good in it to challenge and grant us hope. We, after all, are the ones that get to remain in Christ because He has chosen us. The implications are life altering in the best way. What John 15 also does is give us a foundation from which to live. We live in Christ, as part of the vine (Him) and it is in this place that we desire to bear fruit and are empowered to do it.

This is the place we live from.

Maybe you have recently heard someone talk about a person that is not "living for Christ," or describe how great someone is for all they accomplished in a full "life for Christ." While this doesn't necessarily represent a wrong perspective on Christian living, I wonder if we would be better off articulating, and functioning "from Christ" rather than "for" Him.

It is a semantic difference that reveals our true posture in life. First, there is nothing I could do "for" Christ apart from him. I don't really think I am adding to His power or influence. I can't add to the sufficiency of the work of the cross and I certainly can't help Jesus defeat death. But I can, in union with Him, connect to the vine, wage war against the darkness, realize the defeat of sin and influence my culture for His glory.

This is living from Christ. He is my hero. He is my salvation, my justification, my sanctification. He is my eternal hope. I want to live from Him over and above ever trying to live "for" Him.

How might this reality change the way we live and rest in Christ? I wonder...

Comments

  1. roloclarkMay 18, 2014 at 1:05 PM

    Just what I needed to hear today. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  2. a.May 18, 2014 at 11:35 PM

    how ‘bout.. ‘from’, ‘for’ ,’to’ ‘with’ the Lord!

    for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s Rom 6: 8

    It is a trustworthy statement: for if we died with Him, we will also live with Him 2 Tim 2:11

    so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 1 Pet 4: 2

    I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Gal 2:20

    the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf 2 Cor 5:14 -15

    ReplyDelete

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