Dear Christian friends:

When Harry S. Truman was president two Puerto Ricans tried to shoot and kill him one day. A Whitehouse policeman defended the president and was killed in defending him. After that Mr. Truman said, "You can't understand how I feel for this policeman who died for me." Mr. Truman felt much thanks and praise for the policeman who died for saving his life.

As Mr. Truman loved this policeman, so we should love Jesus. Paul says in our text that He died for you to save you. He explains why Christ died for us. When you really know this and believe this you will have love Him very much, even more than Mr. Truman loved that policeman who died for him.


Christ died so that we should not anymore live for our self. "He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves." "Live unto themselves," these three words explain man's terrible trouble and curse or punishment because Adam and Eve sinned against God. Man lives for himself. That's God's curse that's his sin. He lives for himself. He doesn't fear God but laughs at God and mocks Him. He isn't afraid to sin against God.

He doesn't trust God for food and clothes but worries, fears, cheats and steals. He trusts only money and his own strength. He doesn't love God; he loves himself. He doesn't love his neighbor; he loves himself. He lives for himself. Even when he goes to his church or idol it is for himself not for God or others. And man living for himself is not really happy here.

He may appear rich and comfortable and happy. But God says, "He is wretched and miserable and blind." (Revelations 3:17) He fears, fights, hates and seeks revenge. And he is helpless to stop that by himself. He himself cannot change his heart or desires. In death he is now and in death He will remain forever.

That is why Jesus died that we might be freed from that terrible curse and not live for our self. He died for all. He, Jesus, the Son of God became the Son of Mary, our brother. He lived and died under God's curse and punishment. God sent Him to do it. He died and rose again for our salvation, verse 21. "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

Now Paul says in verse 17, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

When we hear this wonderful news about Jesus' death and resurrection for us the Holy Spirit touches our heart and we become new men and women in Christ. He loved me, me a worthless, no good sinner. He gave His holy Son to suffer and die for me that I might have forgiveness of sins and peace and joy in God now on earth and forever and forever.

A man looking at a picture of Jesus dying on the cross said, "Oh, I love Him the dear, dear Savior." That's also how Paul felt. He said, "the love of Christ constraineth me." (2 Corinthian 5:14) "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

So Christ died for us that we might be saved from our sinful self to live for Him, our God and Savior. Truly a wonderful salvation. Now our text says we are to live for Jesus, our Savior. What does that mean?

That means that we must fight against sin and temptations and not go that old way. But search and study our Bible to know and do His will.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:31, "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." And Jesus says, "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might." (Deuteronomy 6:5) "All" our life time, strength, and money should be used for God. My father used to complain about that song, "Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold." He thought that meant you must give all your money to church and missions. It does not mean that. But it does mean that we should spend all of our money for Jesus' praise. "A man says, "I earn $100. a week. I will give $10.00 to God for church and missions. $90.00 is mine, not God's. I will do with that $90.00 as I please without listening to what God's Word teaches." That is not living for Christ. We should spend all of our money with fear, love and trust in God, even when we buy groceries and clothes. We will not spend our money for foolish or sinful things or waste it. And we will spend for more important things first, church and missions and leave things of little values last.

The same with our time. Some people think I will spend three hours on Sunday and one hour each day for God. That's ten hours a week. That's enough. The 158 hours left for myself I will use as I please. That's not living for Christ. That is again living for yourself. All 168 hours in the week we should use for Jesus, our God and Savior. No matter whether you eat or play or work or sleep you should do that with fear, love and trust in God. Of course this means no time for foolish and sinful things and spend time for God first.

Now if we search our hearts and look back on our ways we see that we have often failed to live for Christ. So we must daily confess our sins and then look to His cross and blood for remission.

That, too, is living for Christ when we confess our sins and trust His mercy and cross for remission. Living for the crucified Savior ashamed, forgiven, trying again and again and again.

Amen.