FOR CHRIST'S SAKE

EPHESIANS 4:3

A. TIMELY ADMONITION
  1. "Be ye kind one to the other":
  2. "Tenderhearted":
  3. "Forgiving one another as God forgave you for Christ's sake":
B. OUR TEXT SHOWS VERY PLAINLY GOD'S REASON IN DEALING COMPASSIONATELY WITH US -- "CHRIST" IS THAT GREAT REASON
  1. We are accepted into the family of God:
    1. In the Beloved.
    2. Mephibosheth was accepted by king David into the royal family for Jonathan's sake - 2 Sam. 9:7-9
    3. Onesimus, who had run away from his master, was received back into the family of Philemon for Paul's sake - Philem. 10-17
  2. It is in Christ that we have been adopted into the heavenly family:
    1. Sin had alienated us, made us strangers, to God's family - Eph. 4:18; Col. 1:21
    2. But our Lord brought us back into that happy relationship through His great love - Eph. 2:11-16
  3. God has, for Christ's sake, forgiven us our sins:
    1. Pharaoh received Jacob and his large family for Joseph's sake - Gen. 47:5-10
    2. God forgave Israel because Moses stood in the breach that had been caused by the continuous rebellion of his people - Ex. 32:32
  4. We are now heirs and fellow heirs for Christ's sake:
    1. Rom. 8:17
    2. Gal. 3:26-29
    3. Eph. 3:6
  5. All God's promises center in the person of Jesus Christ our Lord:
    1. He is the seed to whom the promises are made - Gal. 3:16; Matt. 21:38
    2. "For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us." 2 Cor. 1:20; Rom. 15:8
C. CHRIST, THE GREAT REASON FOR OUR ATTITUDE TOWARD OUR FELLOW MEN
  1. This is the great Master key to a new approach in human relationship:
    1. It makes Christ the all compelling motive of a changed attitude toward others.
    2. We have the mind of Christ and in that mind we deal with our fellow men. Phil. 2:6-11
  2. Our thoughts toward others, our words with others, and our actions toward others, are motivated in the spirit and mind of Christ:
    1. We love others because He loved us - 1 John 4:19
    2. We forgive because He first forgave us - Eph 4:32
    3. We are ready and willing to suffer because He suffered for us - Acts 21:13; 2 Cor. 4:11
    4. We are ready to forsake all because He gave up the wealth and glory of heaven for our sake - 2 Cor. 8:9; Matt. 19:29; Mark 10:28
  3. A Bible Christian will ever weigh his or her action toward others in the light of his relationship with Christ:
    1. He will ever ask himself the question -- What would Christ do in my place?
    2. Paul states this truth very forcefully in these words, "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus" - Col. 3:17
  4. Some startling statements which will give new and added meaning to our subject:
    1. "Because for thy sake I have borne" - Ps. 69:7
    2. "For thy sake are we killed all day" - Rom. 8:30; Ps. 44:22
    3. "All things are for your sake" - 2 Cor. 4:15
    4. "I will spare all the place for their sakes" - Gen. 18:26
  5. Is Christ the key to my relationship to the people I associate with?
    1. If he is, it will give a new meaning to human relationship.
    2. It will mean a complete and happy change in my attitude towards others -- in thought, word, and action.


Design © John Bryant 2011