Living for Christ

The apostle Paul writes from prison, “For to me, to live is Christ” (1:21). Why should Christians commit their lives to Jesus Christ?

1. Christians recognize that they owe everything to Christ. This includes their salvation. They show their gratitude by committing their lives to his service (see Romans 12:1).

2. Christians accept Christ as their master and Lord. They obey Christ's guidance in their lives. They understand that they belong to the Lord and do not live only for themselves (see Romans 14:7–9; 2 Corinthians 5:14–15).

3. Christians now share in Christ’s death and resurrection. They have "died with Christ" and are "alive to God in Christ Jesus" (see Romans 6:3–14; compare Galatians 2:19–20). They have a new identity in Christ (Romans 8:14–17; Ephesians 1:11, 14; Philippians 3:20).

4. Christians understand that all valuable things are in Christ. Worldly things that once seemed important have lost their appeal. Nothing compares to the immense value of knowing Christ (Philippians 3:7–11; Ephesians 1:3–3:21; Colossians 1:15–3:4).

Passages for Further Study

Romans 6:3–14; 8:14–17; 12:1; 14:7–9; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 2 Corinthians 5:14–15; Galatians 2:19–20; Ephesians 1:11, 14; Philippians 1:21; 3:7–11, 20