Dr. Jim Tillotson challenges students with the fundamental question of who they are living for, using personal stories of close calls with death to illustrate the gratitude that should motivate Christians to live for Christ rather than themselves.
Scripture Text
2 Corinthians 5:14-17
Main Points or Ideas
- The reality of hell and salvation - All have sinned and deserve hell, but God's love provided salvation through Christ's sacrifice on the cross, giving believers a "close call" from eternal damnation
- The motivation of gratitude - Just as near-death experiences produce overwhelming gratitude, Christians should live with overwhelming gratitude for salvation, remembering what Christ did through communion
- The call to live for Him - Because Christ died for us, we should no longer live for ourselves but for Him who died for us and rose again, being bought with a price to glorify God
- The choice of focus - Students must choose whether to make plans based on what they want or to pray and seek God's will, living as soldiers carrying their corner of the bed to bring people to Jesus
Conclusion
Christians who truly understand their salvation should live with overwhelming gratitude that compels them to stop living for themselves and instead live for Christ who died for them, making their lives count for eternity.
