## Living Christ

## II Corinthians 5:15

The two weeks prior to Mothers Day, we addressed the issues of 'Knowing Christ' and 'Loving Christ'. Today I want us to consider the challenge to be 'Living Christ'.

(2 CORINTHIANS 5:15) AND THAT HE DIED FOR ALL, THAT THEY WHICH LIVE SHOULD NOT HENCEFORTH LIVE UNTO THEMSELVES, BUT UNTO HIM WHICH DIED FOR THEM, AND ROSE AGAIN.

Note The Truths Taught In This Verse

1. "AND THAT HE DIED FOR ALL…"

(JOHN 3:14-15) AND AS MOSES LIFTED UP THE SERPENT IN THE WILDERNESS, EVEN SO MUST THE SON OF MAN BE LIFTED UP: THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.

2. "…THAT THEY WHICH LIVE…"

This phrase refers only to those who have been born again because all unbelievers are still dead in their trespasses and sins.

(EPHESIANS 2:1) AND YOU HATH HE QUICKENED, WHO WERE DEAD IN TRESPASSES AND SINS;

3. "…SHOULD NOT HENCEFORTH LIVE UNTO THEMSELVES, BUT UNTO HIM WHICH DIED FOR THEM, AND ROSE AGAIN."

Christ died in our place and rose again.

I. Living Christ means we are to be "Living Epistles".

A. An epistle is a letter to be read.

B. Our lives are to be open and read of all men.

(2 CORINTHIANS 3:2-3) YE ARE OUR EPISTLE WRITTEN IN OUR HEARTS, KNOWN AND READ OF ALL MEN: FORASMUCH AS YE ARE MANIFESTLY DECLARED TO BE THE EPISTLE OF CHRIST MINISTERED BY US, WRITTEN NOT WITH INK, BUT WITH THE SPIRIT OF THE LIVING GOD; NOT IN TABLES OF STONE, BUT IN FLESHY TABLES OF THE HEART.

C. What message does our life say to the world about Christ?

D. When the world looks at us, what do they see?

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL STORY GIVEN TO MAN WAS WRITTEN LONG AGO BY MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE AND JOHN OF CHRIST AND HIS MISSION BELOW.

AND YOU WRITE A GOSPEL, A CHAPTER A DAY, BY YOUR DEEDS, WHETHER FAITHLESS OR TRUE; WHEN OTHERS READ IT, WHAT WILL THEY THINK IN THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO YOU?

IT'S A WONDERFUL STORY, THE GOSPEL OF LOVE, AS IT SHINES WITH CHRIST'S LIFE DIVINE. OH, THAT ITS TRUTH MIGHT BE TOLD AGAIN IN THE STORY OF YOUR LIFE AND MINE.

YOU ARE WRITING EACH DAY A LETTER TO ALL; TAKE CARE THAT THE WRITING IS TRUE. IT'S THE ONLY GOSPEL SOME PEOPLE MAY READ, THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO YOU.

I. Living Christ means we are to be "Living Epistles".

II. Living Christ means we are to be "Living Sacrifices"

(ROMANS 12:1) I BESEECH YOU THEREFORE, BRETHREN, BY THE MERCIES OF GOD, THAT YE PRESENT YOUR BODIES A LIVING SACRIFICE, HOLY, ACCEPTABLE UNTO GOD, WHICH IS YOUR REASONABLE SERVICE.

A. It sounds like a paradox doesn't it?

B. Living Christ means being willing to die for Him.

C. Dying to selfish desires and selfish plans

(GALATIANS 2:20) I AM CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST: NEVERTHELESS I LIVE; YET NOT I, BUT CHRIST LIVETH IN ME: AND THE LIFE WHICH I NOW LIVE IN THE FLESH I LIVE BY THE FAITH OF THE SON OF GOD, WHO LOVED ME, AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME.

D. Are we willing to yield our self to Christ?

(ROMANS 6:13) NEITHER YIELD YE YOUR MEMBERS AS INSTRUMENTS OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS UNTO SIN: BUT YIELD YOURSELVES UNTO GOD, AS THOSE THAT ARE ALIVE FROM THE DEAD, AND YOUR MEMBERS AS INSTRUMENTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS UNTO GOD.

I. Living Christ means we are to be "Living Epistles". II. Living Christ means we are to be "Living Sacrifices".

III. Living Christ means we are to be "Living Stones".

(1 PETER 2:5) YE ALSO, AS LIVELY STONES, ARE BUILT UP A SPIRITUAL HOUSE, AN HOLY PRIESTHOOD, TO OFFER UP SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES, ACCEPTABLE TO GOD BY JESUS CHRIST.

A. Stones are used to build up.

B. As believers who are living Christ, we are to be building…

C. Building a 'spiritual house an holy priesthood'

D. What are we building?

(MATTHEW 7:24-27) THEREFORE WHOSOEVER HEARETH THESE SAYINGS OF MINE, AND DOETH THEM, I WILL LIKEN HIM UNTO A WISE MAN, WHICH BUILT HIS HOUSE UPON A ROCK: AND THE RAIN DESCENDED, AND THE FLOODS CAME, AND THE WINDS BLEW, AND BEAT UPON THAT HOUSE; AND IT FELL NOT: FOR IT WAS FOUNDED UPON A ROCK. AND EVERY ONE THAT HEARETH THESE SAYINGS OF MINE, AND DOETH THEM NOT, SHALL BE LIKENED UNTO A FOOLISH MAN, WHICH BUILT HIS HOUSE UPON THE SAND: AND THE RAIN DESCENDED, AND THE FLOODS CAME, AND THE WINDS BLEW, AND BEAT UPON THAT HOUSE; AND IT FELL: AND GREAT WAS THE FALL OF IT.

Do we know Christ? Do we love Christ? Are we living Christ each day of our lives? We are to be living epistles read before men, living sacrifices yielded to Christ, and living stones building for the kingdom of God.

Come today and commit yourself to live Christ!