For Christ's Sake

I'm reading from the book of
Ephesians, chapter 4, verse 32. I would like for you to take
your Bibles and read along with me. Will you do that? Ephesians
4, 32. I'm speaking on the subject for
Christ's sake. For Christ's sake. And be ye
kind, the apostle writes, one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving
one another, as God, for Christ's sake, hath
forgiven you. For Christ's sake. Now, here
are three words, for Christ's sake. Now, you've heard them
spoken often, and I imagine you've heard them most of the time spoken
in wrath and blasphemy, but never, never in all the world were there
three more instructive, meaningful, and precious words spoken than
these three, for Christ's sake. These three words are the foundation
of the gospel, for Christ's sake. God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven
you. Not in return for your works,
for Christ's sake, God has forgiven you. Not because you're better
than your neighbor, but for Christ's sake, God has forgiven you. Not
because you walked a mile barefooted over broken glass, for Christ's
sake, God hath forgiven you. Not for your needs and decisions
and duties, for Christ's sake, God hath forgiven you. That's
what it says. God, for Christ's sake, hath
forgiven you. Because Christ loved you, because
Christ died for you, because Christ intercedes for you, because
Christ is the Father's own Son, for Christ's sake He forgave
you. These words, for Christ's sake, are the most vital words
in prayer. What did the apostles say to
the lame man at the gate, called Beautiful, when they came upon
the man who was crippled and never walked? This is what they
said, We command you in the name of Jesus Christ to rise up and
walk. In whose name? In the name of
Jesus Christ to rise up and walk. These three words are the vital
words in prayer. Our Lord said, Whatsoever you
ask the Father in my name, for Christ's sake it shall be done. There's one God. You know that,
I know that, but do you know there's one mediator between
God and all men? Jesus Christ, the righteous.
That's the only one. The man, Christ Jesus. There's
one God. There are many men. as one mediator,
as one great high priest, as one through whom we come and
through whom we pray, and for whose sake we receive mercy.
And that's Christ. He's not just an influence in
your life, he's your mediator, your high priest. These three
words are the key to the Scriptures. I taught our young people in
Bible school some few days ago, and this was the theme of our
morning studies, the Old Testament. is the story of salvation through
Jesus Christ in picture. The New Testament is the story
of God's mercy and God's salvation to sinners through Christ in
person. Back in the Old Testament, when
Abel offered the blood of the Lamb, that was Christ. Back in
Egypt, when they put the blood on the door and God passed over
at midnight and spared the firstborn. That blood was Christ. He is
our Passover. The rock which Moses smote in
the wilderness from which water came forth to satisfy and quench
the thirst of the people, that rock is Christ. That's what the
Bible said. That rock is Christ. Moses lifted
up the brazen serpent. Who is that brazen serpent? That's
Christ. As Jonah was three days and three
nights in the belly of the whale, so shall the Son of Man be three
days and three nights in the heart of the earth." All of these
happenings, these types and these sacrifices are but pictures of
Christ. For Christ's sake, in Acts 10,
Luke wrote, to Him give all the prophets witness. Moses wrote
of me, Christ said. Abraham saw my day and was glad. And then for Christ's sake, this
is the password to the throne of grace. Yes, you're told to
come boldly before the throne of grace that you may find mercy
to help and grace to help in your need. But wait a minute.
By whom do we come? Seeing we have a high priest,
a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near
with full assurance. Because Christ is there. Don't
come without Christ. Don't come without the high priest.
John 14, 6, he said, No man cometh to the Father but by me. No man cometh to the Father but
by me. So these are three of the most
meaningful, instructive, and precious words to be found anywhere
in God's Word. For Christ's sake. For Christ's
sake. And these three words open heaven's
doors. to the penitent believing center.
If I should die this moment, right now, and I should stand
before God Almighty and He shall say to me, why should I let a
wretch like you into my kingdom, into my glory, into my presence? Why should I let a vile creature,
a fallen son of Adam, who has broken the law in word and deed
and imagination and thought and attitude and motive and every
in every area. Why should I let a guilty, filthy
wreck like you into my kingdom?" What would you say? Well, those
folks in Matthew 7 said, well, Lord, we preached in your name
and we cast out devils and we did many wonderful works, and
I shall say unto them, depart from me. I never knew you, you
workers of iniquity. Selfish works are works of iniquity. Works that are done to earn a
reward and return from God are works of iniquity. Anything that's
not of faith is sin. What's Scripture say? Well, I
wouldn't plead my righteousness because God's already said my
righteousnesses are filthy rags and Job said if I justify myself
my own mouth would condemn me. Well, if God said, why should
I let a wretch like you into my kingdom? I wouldn't plead
my baptism because Simon Magus tried that, and it didn't help
him. I wouldn't plead my office in
the church because Judas was an apostle and it didn't help
him. And I wouldn't plead my tithes and my offerings because
Ananias and Sapphira gave about 50 percent, I think, and it didn't
help them. What could I plead? I tell you
what I would plead, he said, why should I let a wretch like
you into my kingdom? I'd say, Lord, for Christ's sake,
for Christ's sake, take away that foundation and the whole
house comes tumbling down, for Christ's sake. That's the rock
of prayer, that's the rock of the gospel, that's the rock of
healing, that's the rock of hope, for Christ's sake. I hope is
built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and his righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest phrase, but wholly lean on Jesus'
name. I want us to look at these three
words now for a little while, for Christ's sake, and see what
the Holy Spirit will give us out of these three words, for
Christ's sake. I say, first of all, these three
words are the motive for God's mercy. And then, secondly, these
three words must be my motive for service. And then, these
three words must be our motive for every grace which we show. Now, first of all, for Christ's
sake, that's the motive for God's mercy. It says that plainly right
here. It says, God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven you. There it is. Everything that
God has done for the sinner, is doing for the sinner, or will
ever do for the sinner, is for Christ's sake. David loved Jonathan. They were the closest of beloved
friends. And before Jonathan knew that
David would be the king, he knew that his father Saul would be
destroyed, and he probably along with him. And so one day out
in the field they made a covenant. Jonathan said, David, you'll
be the king. Not I, not any member of my family. God's withdrawn his spirit from
my father, and you're going to be the king. But I want you to
make a covenant with me, and I want you to promise me that
after I'm gone, and Saul's gone, and if there's any left of my
house, any of my children, will you show mercy to them for my
sake? And David said, I will. Well,
Saul was killed, and Jonathan was killed, and David took the
throne. And here in all of the glory and splendor and majesty
of the coronation of the new king, David remembered a covenant
that he had made with his dear beloved friend, Jonathan. And
he sent for his servants, and they came, and he said, Is there
any of the house of Saul or Jonathan still living? And one man stepped
forward, and he said, Yes, there is a boy. whose name is Mephibosheth,
but he's a cripple, he's a pitiful cripple, and he lives down in
the house of Lodibar, a place of no pasture, no bread. David
said, go and fetch him. So they went down in the house
of no bread, no pasture, and they brought poor, lame, ragged
Mephibosheth to the palace. King David put him down there
on his lifeless legs, powerless legs in front of this great monarch
who had recently ascended the throne. And David looked down
at him and said, Mephibosheth, you're going to be one of my
sons. Bring forth the finest clothes and put on him, and put
a ring on his finger, and seat him at the king's table, and
he shall eat with me as long as he lives. And Mephibosheth
was astounded and amazed. He looked up at David on the
throne, and he said, Why? Why? Why would you, in all of
your wealth and power and majesty and greatness, why would you
even consider me a lame, broken, pitiful shell of a man? And why
would you do this for such a dead dog? David said, Mephibosheth,
I'm doing this for Jonathan's sake. I loved Jonathan. And because of your relationship
with Jonathan, you're his boy, and therefore you're mine. And
I'll tell you this, sinner, God Almighty looks down upon the
dunghills of this world and he sees you and he sees me. And
there's nothing good about us and nothing lovely about us and
nothing commendable about us, but God shows love and mercy
and grace to us for Christ's sake. Because of our relationship
with him, He is our representative and he's our Lord. And that's
why he does it. Even as God, for Christ's sake,
has forgiven you, and any time you feel high and exalted and
haughty and lifted up and feel there's anything in you that
would call forth mercy or love from a holy God, you just remember
how far apart you are from God by nature. Further than a worm
from an angel. farther than a wiggling maggot
or a wallowing sow from the angel Gabriel. That's how far it is,
and infinitely farther. God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven
you. For Christ's sake. God shows
mercy to us for Christ's sake because of who he is. Who is
Christ Jesus? Well, he said, I and my Father
one. I and my Father one. He thought
it not robbery to be equal with God. That's who he is. Jonathan
was David's friend, and Jonathan was David's equal. And I'll tell
you, Jesus Christ is the friend of the Heavenly Father, for he
is his equal. That's what Scripture said, he
thought it not robbery to be equal with God. In fact, he's
the brightness of God's glory. He's the express image of his
person. Unto us a child is born, unto
us a son is given, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor
the mighty God, the Prince of Peace, the Everlasting Father.
God was in Christ. The Word, who was with God and
was God and by whom all things were made, became flesh and dwelt
among us, and we beheld His glory. God shows mercy to us for Christ's
sake because of who He is. Listen to the voice of the Father
who says, This is my Son! You listen to Him. But you better listen to him.
If the words spoken by angels were steadfast, and every transgression
and disobedience received a just recompense and reward, how shall
we escape if we neglect so great salvation which at first began
to be spoken by the prophets, and then by whom? His dear son. God shows mercy for Christ's
sake, not only because of who he is, but because of what he
has done. Listen to this scripture. Philippians
2, 7-9. He made himself of no reputation. He took upon him the form of
a servant. He was made in the likeness of
men. He became, he being formed in
fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto
death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore, God hath highly
exalted him and given him a name which is above every name. Why does God show mercy for Christ's
sake? Because he made himself of no
reputation. He was made lower than the angels
for a season. He was numbered with the transgressors. He became our representative. He identified himself with us. He did it willingly. He did it
deliberately. He did it fulfilling a covenant
He said, I came to do the will of my Father. That's what I came
to do. I came to carry out a purpose,
an eternal purpose, an eternal covenant. And then he was made
in the likeness of men. He took a human body. He was
actually born of a woman. He actually came down here to
this earth in human flesh and was made under the law and put
himself in subjection to his own law. He took our place before the
holy law of God, and he humbled himself and died on a cross. He humbled himself and became
obedient unto death, not death on a field of honor, death between
two thieves on a cursed, cruel cross. He took our sins in his
body. He took our guilt. He took our
horrible, humiliating, degrading flesh. It was so repulsive to
his holy nature that the blood turned its course and came through
the pores of his skin, and he cried, Father, I'm going to die
under the weight of this wretched load if you don't help me. Wherefore? Wherefore? He became a sin-offering. He
gave his life for us. Wherefore? God hath highly exalted
him and given him a name. above every name. And here's
the precious thing. All who are in Christ, all who
are in Christ, all who believe in him, when he died, we died. When he was buried, we were buried. When he arose, we are risen with
him and seated with him in the heavenly. That's right. He's
our representative. For Christ's sake, that's why
God forgives you. because of who he is and what
he did. Listen to me. For Christ's sake, go back before
the foundation of the world. We were chosen in Christ. That's
what the Bible says. God hath from the beginning chosen
you to salvation. Blessed be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings
in the heavenlies, according as he chose us in Christ before
the foundation of the world. That's what it says. We were
chosen in him. We were redeemed in him. We were
accepted in him, we are loved in him, we are seated in him,
and when he comes, we're going to be like him. God shows mercy
for Christ's sake, not only because of who he is and what he's done,
but because of what he's doing. Wherefore he is able to save
to the uttermost them that come to God by him, seeing he ever
liveth to make intercession for them. God shows mercy for Christ's
sake, because right now, on the right hand of the Father, he's
there as our advocate, mediator, intercessor, our lawyer, pleading
our cause. And he doesn't plead our works
and our merit and our righteousness. That would be a poor case, wouldn't
it? He pleads his wounds. They tell me back during Caesar's
reign in Rome that There was a young man found guilty of some
sort of crime against the country, and they brought him before Caesar's
court. There were his soldiers and captains
and mighty men and the judge and the jury, and Caesar on the
throne, and this young man was brought before him charged with
some crime. Caesar was going to pronounce
sentence upon him, and just before he did, there was a soldier stepped
out from the ranks, a veteran. He had no arms, they were both
severed above the elbows. And he stood before Caesar, and
he said, whatever they call Caesar, your majesty, our worthy king
and lord, he said, this man's my brother. And I stand here
pleading for him, asking mercy. And I plead not his worthiness
and his merit, But I plead my wounds, which were suffered in
battle while fighting for you and my beloved nation." And he
held up those two armless stumps, and he says, are these not payment
enough to set him free? And our Lord Jesus Christ at
God's right hand, we're guilty, we're worthy of death, we ought
to be sent to hell, you know it, I know it. But our Lord stands
before the throne of glory as our advocate, and he pleads for
us. He doesn't plead, now, he's going
to be a good boy, God knows better. He's going to do the best he
can. Lord, he'll serve you, and he stands there and he holds
forth five wounds, scars in his hands and his feet, his side,
and he says, are these not enough? Are these not enough? Who is
he that condemneth, Paul said, it is Christ that died. rather
is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also
maketh intercession." See how Paul proceeds in that argument? He starts out here and he says,
who is he that condemns? He challenges heaven, earth,
and hell. Who can lay anything to the charge of God's elect?
Who can condemn us? It is Christ that died, yea,
rather. Much more. He's risen again. Who is even at the right hand
of God. The one who died and was buried
in Moses is even at the right hand of God, who also much more
prays for me, makes intercession for me. Let me give you this.
Move on. For Christ's sake. That's God's
motive for mercy. Only foundation. But for Christ's
sake is the motive for our service. Now Paul said, the love of Christ. I want you to listen. the love
of Christ constrains me. If he died for me, I ought to
live for him. It's the love of Christ, Paul
says, that motivates me. It's the love of Christ that
encourages me. When you talk about witnessing
and giving and preaching and praying and living for God and
sharing and all these things, it's the love of Christ that
motivates me, worshiping God. I do not serve God to gain a
reward at the judgment seat in glory, do you? I do not serve
God out of fear of losing a reward at the judgment. I do not serve
God in order to inherit eternal life. I don't serve God because
I'm scared not to. I serve him because I love him,
I love him. He sat down beside Peter there,
and he said, Peter, do you love me? And Peter said, Lord, you
know I love you. Then feed my sheep. He asked
him a second time, Peter, do you love me? Lord, you know I
love you. Then feed my sheep. Peter, do you love me? Lord,
you know all things. You know I love you. Then feed
my sheep. That's the motive for service
upon which our Lord challenged Peter. I'm tired of hearing people
challenged to go to church so you can break a record. It makes
me sick to my stomach. I'm tired of hearing people challenged
to give money to the church so we can go over the top in 1976.
I'm sick and tired of hearing people challenged to live for
God because Jesus may come and catch you in a place you don't
want to be called. Isn't that a rotten motive for serving God?
When I think what men have done for discovery's sake, they've
sailed uncharted seas, they've fought disease and wild beasts
and starved to discover a new world. When I think what people
have done for their country's sake, they've gone to war, they've
bled and they've died to preserve a government, an idea, a constitution. When I think what people have
done for science's sake, while they've burned the midnight oil
and studied and given their health to discover cures and causes,
I ask myself, If these people can do that for discovery's sake,
or country's sake, or conscience's sake, or science's sake, what
shall I do for Christ's sake? History records that the old
Moravian missionaries, you won't believe this, but this is true.
Maybe we don't have enough grace to understand it, but they actually
sold themselves into slavery so they could preach to the slaves.
Some of them actually had themselves committed to leper colonies and
became confined there so they could preach to the lepers. Be
ye kind, this is the motive for every grace, be ye kind, tenderhearted,
forgiving. He says let all bitterness and
wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking with all malice
be put away from you and be ye kind one to another. tenderhearted,
forgiving, even as God for Christ's sake forgave you. You want to
learn to love? Go to Calvary. Greater love hath
no man than this. You want to learn to forgive?
Get to Calvary. Father, forgive them. They know
not what they did. You want to learn to give? I'll
tell you how to learn to give. You go to Calvary where Christ
gave himself. He who was rich for our sakes
became poor, utterly poverty-stricken. He gave everything, gave his
life, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
You want to learn how to be humble? Go to Calvary. There hanging
naked on that cross is none other than the Son of God himself,
who humbled himself and became obedient. You want to learn how
to be gracious and merciful? Then you go to the place where
you receive grace and mercy, Calvary. And try to join us next
week for the broadcast. Until then, Henry Mahan, bidding
you a very pleasant good day.

For Christ's Sake

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