Living for Christ: A Call to Obedience and Transformation
Today, we’re diving into what it means to live for Christ—a topic that requires thoughtful reflection over multiple sessions. As Christians, we are called to live in the promises and commandments of Jesus Christ. We are to abide in Him and follow His teachings. After all, being a “Christian” means being a follower of Christ. And with that title comes a serious responsibility: to be obedient to every word Christ has spoken. Why? So that we might glorify and please Him in our everyday lives.
It’s important to keep this truth front and center: our goal is to be God-pleasing, not man-pleasing. We aim to honor the One who gave His life for our sake—the One who promised that those who die in Him will rise again to new life. This new life we’ve received in Christ should mean something. Scripture tells us we’ve been called with a purpose, and we must live in a manner worthy of that calling. That’s what “living for Christ” looks like.
Obedience to Scripture: The Key to Living for Christ
But how do we do that? The answer lies in our obedience to Scripture. The Bible is filled with life-giving commandments, and as believers, we must submit to God’s Word. Only then can we live in Christ—and, in turn, live for Christ. If we are not willing to live in Him, it’s impossible to live for Him.
God is calling us to live for Him, and He hasn’t held anything back—not even His own Son. The Creator of the world gave everything for you and me. Yet, despite this, we often take advantage of His sacrifice. We forget the tremendous burden that Jesus bore. He knew He would be betrayed, denied by Peter, and sold for a handful of coins by Judas. He wept blood—not just tears—facing the weight and darkness of the sin He would carry. He didn’t have to, but He chose to be obedient, even unto death.
The Weight of Sin and the Call to Repentance
The Bible says that Christ carried our iniquities on His shoulders. So if we claim to be Christians, we must walk in Him—and also live for Him. But that only happens when Christ means something to us personally. If our relationship with Him is superficial or forced, we’re not truly living for Christ. God doesn’t delight in appearances or pretense.
In this message, we’ll be looking at Psalm 51, a beautiful passage that teaches us how to live for Christ. This Psalm, written by David, shows us that repentance is a transformative act. It’s through repentance that we experience the fullness of God’s grace, are restored, and made new in Christ.
Understanding David’s Plea
We just read this passage a few minutes ago. David is pleading with God with deep sorrow because he acknowledges his sin—not just one, but many. He refers to them in the plural: “my sins are before me.” That’s a deeply guilty feeling, and it’s evidence of a tender, convicted heart. When true believers sin, our conscience will trouble us. And if we are truly saved, that conviction leads us to repentance.
Daily Repentance Is Essential
Living for Christ involves daily repentance. We cannot assume that because we’ve once been forgiven, we can now live carefree. Being Christian doesn’t mean we stop sinning. In fact, some of our worst offenses come when we ignore the fact that God is watching. Sin is serious—it offends God, distances us from Him, and brings guilt and spiritual stagnation. That’s why we need daily forgiveness.
Psalm 51 teaches us to seek God’s mercy every day. This isn’t something we do once a year or just when it’s convenient. It’s a daily act of surrender because we realize we’re capable of falling short every single day. We know how easily we can hurt God, neglect His ways, or even flat out reject Him.
Repentance: A Heartfelt Return to God
True repentance is not just saying “sorry.” It’s a heartfelt plea that recognizes the weight of our sin and the greatness of God’s mercy. David didn’t just ask for temporary relief; he begged for cleansing, for a restored relationship with the Lord. His sin wasn’t minor—he had committed adultery with Bathsheba and arranged the death of her husband. These weren’t isolated mistakes or lapses in judgment; they were intentional actions that broke God’s commandments.
And yet, David didn’t try to justify himself or offer up good deeds in exchange. He didn’t say, “Lord, I’ve done so much for You—now just let this one go.” Instead, he throws himself at the mercy of God, appealing not to his own character, but to God’s:
“Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions” (Psalm 51:1).
David knew exactly what he was doing. He was pointing back to God’s nature, which was revealed in Exodus 34—that He is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. Repentance, then, begins with acknowledging our sin and appealing to God’s unchanging character.
God Desires a Broken and Contrite Heart
David knew that no ritual or sacrifice could truly wash away sin. He says in verse 16:
“You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; You do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.”
What God desires is a broken and contrite heart—a spirit that acknowledges its need for mercy and its own inability to fix itself.
The Depth of Sin and the Power of Restoration
Living for Christ, then, starts with honesty. Psalm 51 shows us what it looks like to confess our sin directly to God and to plead for mercy not on the basis of our works, but on the basis of who God is. This shows us the depth of repentance required to truly live in fellowship with Him.
David also understood the far-reaching impact of sin. In Psalm 51:4, he says:
“Against You, and You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight.”
That may raise eyebrows. Didn’t he also sin against Bathsheba, her husband, and the people of Israel? Of course. But David is recognizing the primary offense: sin is first and foremost against God.
There’s another powerful line in the Psalm where David says in verse 5:
“Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.”
He’s not making excuses—he’s acknowledging the depth of human brokenness and our need for divine cleansing. In the following verses, he pleads:
“Cleanse me… wash me… let me hear joy and gladness…”
Only God can purify us. Only He can restore us. And restoration is necessary if we want to live for Christ.
The Hope of Renewal
Repentance isn’t just about feeling sorry; it’s about genuinely returning to God. Verse 7 says:
“Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”
That hope comes only from a forgiving God. Our sin isn’t too big for God’s grace. But we must come to Him with honesty, humility, and a willingness to change.
David’s example reminds us that sin is serious—it damages our relationship with God, robs us of joy, and hinders our spiritual growth. But God is more powerful than our worst moments. He is willing and able to restore, renew, and make us whole.
What It Means to Live for Christ
So how do we live for Christ?
- We live for Him when we confess our sins daily and seek His grace.
- We live for Him when we understand that only God can forgive and restore us—not our good works, not our status, not our effort.
- We live for Christ not through pretense, but through honesty and surrender.
To live for Christ means to remember daily that we are incapable of saving ourselves. It means relying on God’s power through the Holy Spirit, recognizing that every day is a new opportunity to grow in holiness and reflect Christ in our lives.
A Lenten Reflection: Embracing the Resurrection Hope
As we continue this Lenten season and approach the celebration of Christ’s resurrection, let’s not lose sight of what it took for Him to die and rise again. Let’s recognize the gravity of our sin—but more importantly, let’s embrace the hope of restoration that comes only through Him. May we be people who live not just in Christ, but for Christ—every day, with sincere hearts and transformed lives.