What Gives You Purpose? To Live Is Christ

Reverend Leo H. McCrary II

Paul said, “For to me to live is Christ.” How many “Christians” can say that Christ is their reason and purpose for living?

Introduction

Life, Living, and Purpose – In this series of sermons, we have seen that we should live lives that bear fruit that will help to seed life in the souls we interact with.  We have also seen that God desires that we don’t live under the boot of sin, but live free from sin’s guilt and shame under His grace and righteousness.

In my sermon this week, I want to continue to focus on life, living, and purpose by sharing scripture from Philippians 1:21-26.  In this scripture, Paul shared a thought about purpose, as he was uncertain of what life was about to bring him.  Paul was under arrest and awaiting trial when he penned this letter, under the belief that his life was on the line. 

In my sermon this week, I want to focus on:

1. Life’s purpose.
2. Christ-centered living.

What Do You Live For?

To me, Paul is one of the wisest men in Scripture.  Aside from Christ, we often credit Solomon for being the wisest man we find in Scripture.  Yes, Solomon prayed for wisdom, and God gave him a wise and understanding heart to discern justice (1 Kgs. 3:11-12).  However, by the end of his life, Solomon admitted that he didn’t put his wisdom to the best use, as he had once devoted himself to living apart from the Lord.

Paul was a man who learned through correction.  Having been raised to know God’s law, when he was known as Saul, he persecuted the church.  However, after he was rebuked by Christ, Paul made a change in his life.  By the end of his life, Paul could say, “For to me, to live is Christ.”

Some of you may not see it, but “For to me, to live is Christ” is a thought-provoking statement.  The statement raises the question:  What do you live for?  

Now, to be clear, you’re not being asked, “What do you do every day?”  That question speaks of external actions.  For example, I spend hours of preparation, preparing sermons, lessons, and studies that you consume in a matter of minutes or hours.  I spend hours recording and editing videos that I share on YouTube that are consumed in a matter of minutes.

If one actually knew how much time I spent ministering, one would ask, ‘Why do you do it?’  You see, ‘Why?’ is the all-important question.  Why do you do what you do?  Why do you persist?  

Paul’s thought-provoking statement focuses on the internal.  It asks the question:  What is your purpose in life?  You see, without purpose, there would be no point in anything that you do.

Paul’s History of Great Work

Paul was a man who put in work when it came to the ministering of the gospel.  Paul went on three missionary journeys, ministering the gospel of repentance and deliverance through the shed blood of Christ.  As he journeyed, Paul established several churches.  

At the same time, Paul’s letters make up the majority of the New Testament.  Quite a few of the letters that Paul wrote were penned while he was under house arrest, chained to a Roman guard!  

Paul pushed through his past, which some tried to hold against him.  He pushed through the hatred of the Jewish leaders who once adored him.  He pushed through affliction, which he called a thorn in his flesh.  Paul survived a storm at sea, being bitten by a poisonous snake, and jail to fight the good fight of faith.

Why did Paul put in such work, going further than the other apostles?  Some will say that he did so to make up for having persecuted early believers.  Some will say Paul put in so much work because of the debt he owed the Lord for receiving mercy.  Shouldn’t those reasons be the same reason we put in the work to fight the good fight of faith?

In Philippians 3:7-11, Paul shared his desire and motivation.  Paul said that the things he once counted gain, he counted loss for Christ.  He said that he counted all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ.  

Paul wasn’t necessarily a man of great wealth, but as the son of a Pharisee, and a Pharisee himself, he did have certain privileges at one point.  Yet, he said that he gave up those things for Christ!  How many of us can say the same, in that we have given up all things for Christ?

Paul also stated in Philippians 3:7-11 that he sought to be found in Christ, not having his own righteousness, but the righteousness that comes through faith in Christ.

Paul also said he sought to know Christ (be in intimate fellowship with Christ) and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, so that he may attain to the resurrection of the dead (Phil. 3:10-11).

To Live Is Christ

Paul’s sole desire in life, he said clearly, “To live is Christ.”  It is said that the word “is” was later added to Paul’s writing.  So, Paul’s purpose in life was Christ.  He sought not to be Christ, but rather, to be Christ-like.  

How many of us can say that being Christ-like is our purpose in life?  If we were to raise our hands, saying that being Christ-like is our purpose, would we even fully understand what that means?

Paul told the Philippian believers that he had counted all things as loss to live a Christ-centered life, putting forth his best effort to walk in close fellowship with Christ.  Therefore, he was led by Christ’s words, which were ministered to him through te Holy Spirit.

Paul told the Philippian believers that he had chosen to live a Christ-centered life, putting forth his best efforts to imitate Christ.  In putting forth his best efforts to imitate Christ, he was driven to go places where others would not go.  In putting forth his best efforts to imitate Christ, he was driven to love those whom others would not love; he labored and ministered to Gentiles when others, like Peter, were to fearful and ashamed to do it.

“For to me, to live is Christ,” Paul said.  He woke up every morning with his mind for Christ and nothing else.  He lived, breathed, and taught Christ – His grace, mercy, and salvation.  

How many of us can say we live and breathe Christ?  How many of us can say that we wake up every morning with our minds for Christ and nothing else?  I have to say that I am trying to get there, day by day.

Moreover, Paul glorified Christ over himself so that others would know the promised salvation.  How many of us can say that we glorify Christ above ourselves?

When Paul was executed by Nero, he died as a man who lived a Christ-centered life, which led to the bearing of fruit whose seeds are still giving life today!  

Brutal Revelation About Some “Christianity”

How many of us can say that we are putting forth a similar effort with such purpose and focus?  Can any of us truly say, ‘For us to live is Christ?”  This is certainly a purpose that all Christians should share in, right?  So, what is your purpose?  

Why do you attend worship service regularly?  If you serve in the church, why do you do it?  If you participate in charity, in giving, why do you do it?  

If you share a testimony of what God has done for you to others, why do you do it?  Why do you share Scripture with others, if you do so?  Why do you pray for others, if you do so?

There is a harsh and brutal truth to these questions that many of us will not openly admit, but I will share these truths with you, in the hopes that we will acknowledge the rebuke.  

Many of us can’t say why we do any of these things because we may not really know why.  At the same time, the “Christianity” of many is part of a programmed, manufactured routine that they have taken part in for years and feel they have to do for no other reason.

Some of us participated in “Christian” activities, like going to church, for example, because others, like our family or friends, did.  This reminds me of Ananias and Sapphira, as they joined the early church because others were doing it.  They joined the early church, but their hearts weren’t really in it, and they ended up lying to the Holy Spirit and paying for it.

Some participate in “Christianity” seeking position, power, praise, and glory.  The scribes and Pharisees of Jesus’ day did such a thing.  In Matthew 23, Jesus called out the scribes and Pharisees, those who sat in Moses’ seat, for using their position to be praised in the marketplace.  

Simon the sorcerer was a man who moved with a similar mindset.  After seeing the work of the apostles, Simon approached them with the desire to purchase the Holy Spirit.  Simon desired to use the Holy Spirit to regain his popularity and increase his fame.  I warn against such a mindset, as it is worldly and seen in every business, corporation, and workplace.

Lastly, some participate in “Christian” activities only because they were told if they did such and such things, they would go to heaven.  Paul and James are both in agreement when they speak about such faith when one’s heart isn’t truly in it.  Yes, the Holy Spirit agrees that if one’s heart is not in it, not filled with true purpose, that one’s faith is dead.

There is a brutal revelation about the “Christianity” of many today that is coming more to the light.  I want to be clear that I don’t say these things to bash anyone, but this is a rebuke of our “Christianity” so that we can make correction.  Many of us don’t have the heart to be a Christian; we just love the title.  

Finding and Understanding Your Purpose

Let me ask you this question today:  Do you live out of love for Christ and His purpose?  You see, true Christianity is found when one understands Christ’s purpose, why He did what He did for us.

What was Christ’s purpose?

When Christ spoke of His purpose, I want you to pay close attention to whom and of what His sole focus was.

When Jesus performed His miracles, He didn’t do them just for show.  For example, in John 11, when Lazarus had gotten sick and died, Jesus made an important statement about Lazarus’ sickness to the apostles.  Jesus said to the apostles, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it (John 11:4).”

Every miracle Jesus did wasn’t for enriching Himself.  Every miracle that Jesus did was for the purpose of glorifying God – making Him known to the world.  With every step Jesus took, He sought to make God known to mankind.

When Christ taught and preached, He preached a message of repentance.  From the start, Jesus preached, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”  Again, with every word, Jesus preached for our being in the kingdom – heaven was Christ’s purpose.

When Jesus prepared to lay down His life for you, He prayed to the Father saying, “Not My will, but Your will be done.”  Christ’s sole purpose was doing and completing the Father’s will and nothing else.  

Here is where I remind you that the Father’s will is for all of us to be saved, or at least be presented the opportunity to be saved.  So, Christ, moving to fulfill the Father’s will with His every breath and step, loved all people and wouldn’t let anything stop Him, not even His human anxiety.

The Christian’s Purpose

So, let us lock in to our sole purpose.  As Paul said, ‘For to [us] to live, is Christ.’  Our sole aim ought to be Christ-like with every breath, step, word, and action we take.  So, like Paul, we must move to ensure that our motivations are aligned with Christ’s purpose.

Ask yourself:  Are you driven to be honored and praised by others?  

The scribes and Pharisees were driven to be honored and praised by others, and Christ called them hypocrites.  The Christian’s purpose should not be to seek the approval and praise of others!  As Paul said, the only approval and exaltation we should seek is that of the Lord, who will one day say to the faithful servants, “Well done, my good and faithful servants.”

Are you driven to be rich in earthly treasures?  Christians must learn to count such things loss to gain Christ, which is to be Christ-like.  

Are you driven to imitate Christ?  Like Paul, we ought to be driven to imitate Christ.  We are to move like Christ, ministering to all in word and deed.  We are to move like Christ, especially in the effort of loving those whom others refuse to love.  When we wake up in the morning, our focus ought to be to bring light and joy to all souls.

Christ-like living ought to satisfy your soul.  Slowly but surely, we must reach the place where we look forward every day to finding pleasure in walking in fellowship with Christ.

Christ Is Your Life

Paul reached the place where Christ was his life and duty.  How many of us truly can say the same thing?

Over the years, I feel I have drawn closer to moving in the understanding of  “For me to live is Christ.”  Yet, I am not there yet.  I often feel my effort falls short of where I’d desire it to be because there are times when I put my desires before God’s desire.  

Many Christians are under the impression that the Christian purpose is to win souls.  Now, don’t get me wrong, we are tasked with ministering the gospel, helping to draw others to Christ.  It is a blessing when we can turn a sinner from the error of their ways and cover a multitude of sins, as James said (Jas. 5:20).  

Paul was a man who “won souls,” but in his own words, he tells us that the greatest purpose he found in living was glorifying Christ.  Paul loved teaching and preaching Christ; it was what he lived to do.  Winning souls was the fruit of Paul’s love for waking up in the morning and glorifying Christ.

This sounds simple, yet so many are living to make a buck off the name of God because they live for riches.  So many are living for gaining power, and they do it off the name of God.  I have to be honest with all of you, as someone who, like Paul, does what I do because I love preaching and teaching, it angers me to see “Christians” using God’s name for such purposes.

Like Paul, we must seek to know Christ, which is to say to know Him intimately in fellowship.  When our fellowship with Christ comforts and satisfies us, we’ll look to please Him with every breath we take.  From the desire to please the Lord, will come all the good work of those who truly love Him.