THE words at the head of this paper do not ask a question: they are a beautiful statement of the Holy Spirit by the apostle Paul as to a weak believer, whose conscience might be grieved or stumbled by the question of “meats.” The apostle led by the Spirit of God regards him as one “for whom Christ died.” He must then belong to Christ. It may be asked, Did not Christ die for all? Yes, so Scripture speaks, but with what intent is this said? If Christ went down into death for all, it was because all were in death ― dead to God, though alive in the world. The same passage of Scripture speaks of some who have been made alive to God; the proof of it is, that they have faith in Him Who died for them and rose again. Such can sing:
“Thou least washed us in Thy blood,
Made us live, and live to God.”
They are those “for whom Christ died.” As we sec from Romans 14, some may be weak in the faith, but the Holy Spirit teaches the apostle to look at the weakest believer as one “for whom Christ died.” What a sweetness that gives for our regard for one another.
Can my reader put his name before those words, saying, Yes, I am one of those “for whom Christ died”? They are four simple words, but how much they mean! The oldest and most established believer can use them with deep and true affection, out of a heart moved by the love of the precious Saviour who died for him; and the youngest believer with newly kindled affection for that Saviour will delight to speak of himself as one “for whom Christ died.”
In a previous portion of this chapter we read, “For none of us liveth to himself and none dieth to himself; for whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord; whether we live therefore or die we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ both died and lived again, that He might rule both over dead and living” (vss. 7-9). How sweet it is to think that He who has the title as Lord of dead and living is OUR Saviour Jesus Christ who died for us. When we are able thus in faith to claim Him as ours, we can say also that He lives out of death for us, and the sense of belonging to Him makes us happy. We may think of the trouble we have given Him, the watchful care which He has taken to hold us to Himself, and wonder and adore His love, for He does not reproach us. Not a word did the Shepherd say of the load upon His shoulders as He brings the wandering sheep home, but He rejoices; not a word of reproach from the father to the prodigal son, as he falls on his neck and kisses him. The tale of Calvary’s woe tells of how deeply sin has been felt by the Holy One of God. Whether it be the Father or the Son, the past has been felt as it ought to be felt, but that is not to come in and dim the greatness of the grace that gives the kiss of love and forgiveness, for if forgiveness is assured by the kiss, we may be assured that sins and iniquities are no more in remembrance. Oh, how we shall delight in that heaven above in nearness to Him who died for us! What happiness it will be, and so it is now, when the love that died for us possesses our souls. Sweet also it is to think, while we are down here, of every saint as one “for whom Christ died.” And sweet also it is to think of these who have departed to be with Him, because we can say of them, they are those “FOR WHOM CHRIST DIED.”
T. H. R.