The cause of Christ refers to the life, ministry, and mission of Jesus Christ as described in the Bible. Christ came to earth to fulfill God’s redemptive plan for humanity by dying on the cross for the forgiveness of sins and rising again to conquer death. Through faith in Christ, believers are reconciled to God and receive eternal life. The Bible shows that Christ’s cause involved proclaiming the kingdom of God, calling people to repentance and faith, demonstrating compassion, and ultimately giving his life as a sacrifice for sin. Jesus said that he came “to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). The cause of Christ is motivated by God’s love and grace extended to all who believe.
The Gospels provide a detailed account of Christ’s life and ministry which revealed his cause. As the Son of God, Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecies about the coming Messiah (Luke 24:27). His miraculous birth to a virgin (Matthew 1:18-25) and sinless life (Hebrews 4:15) set him apart. Jesus began his public ministry by proclaiming the arrival of God’s kingdom and urging people to “repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:14-15). He called 12 disciples to follow him and learn his ways (Mark 3:13-19). Jesus taught with authority and spent much time instructing the disciples and preaching to the crowds that followed him. His sermon on the mount (Matthew 5-7) established the ethical standards of God’s kingdom. Jesus also displayed his power through healings and miracles like turning water to wine (John 2:1-12), feeding the five thousand (Mark 6:30-44), and raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-44). These signs pointed people to faith in Christ as the Son of God.
A core part of Christ’s mission focused on compassion and mercy for those in need. Jesus spent time with outcasts like tax collectors and sinners, even eating with them (Luke 5:29-32). He treated women, children, and minorities like the Samaritans with value and respect (John 4). Jesus exemplified servant leadership by washing his disciples feet (John 13:1-17). His famous parables like the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) and Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) emphasized mercy. Jesus healed many sick people and cast out demons as demonstrations of God’s power and compassion. Even from the cross, Christ showed mercy by asking God to forgive those crucifying him (Luke 23:34). Jesus summed up his entire cause with two great commandments – to love God and neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40).
While proclaiming the kingdom and modeling God’s love, Christ never wavered from his ultimate mission to provide atonement for sin through his death on the cross. The Gospels interweave predictions by Jesus of his coming death and resurrection (Mark 8:31, Luke 9:22). He foretold how he would suffer many things, be killed, and rise on the third day. This sacrificial death served as payment for the sins of humanity. The Last Supper connects Christ’s physical death with spiritual atonement, as Jesus called the bread and wine symbols of his body and blood sacrificed (Luke 22:19-20). Though innocent, Jesus was condemned to death on a cross and crucified between two criminals. His sacrificial death fulfilled the atoning work foreshadowed in the Old Testament temple system. Jesus willingly gave up his life to redeem mankind from the curse of sin and death.
The redemptive work of Christ did not end with his death. On the third day after his crucifixion, Jesus physically rose again from the dead, conquering sin and death as proof of God’s power and divine blessing (Romans 1:4). The Gospels record multiple appearances by the resurrected Christ to his disciples and others (Matthew 28:9, Luke 24:13-49, John 20-21). Christ’s resurrection established the promise of new life both now and eternally for those who put their faith in him. Jesus appeared to his disciples over a forty day period, commissioning them to take his message of salvation and hope to the ends of the earth (Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:3-8). Before ascending to heaven, Jesus promised his continual presence through the sending of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost to empower believers (John 14:15-21).
In summary, the Bible shows that the cause of Christ focused on proclaiming and demonstrating the kingdom of God through his life, death for sin, and resurrection. Jesus accomplished the grand mission of providing the way of salvation for a lost world. All who respond to his message in repentance and faith receive the gift of eternal life. This transformative message continues to spread today through Christ’s followers empowered by the Spirit. The cause of Christ remains furthering the redemptive plan of God to reconcile humanity and defeat sin and death once and for all.
In Luke 19:10 Jesus himself explained his cause: “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” This succinct statement characterizes Christ’s entire earthly ministry. As the Gospel accounts show, Jesus spent his time proclaiming God’s kingdom, calling sinners to repentance, teaching truth, healing the sick, and ultimately going to the cross to die for the sins of the world, rising again victoriously over death. Jesus was singularly focused on offering himself as a sacrifice to atone for human sin so that through him, all who believe could be forgiven and restored to a right relationship with God both now and for eternity (Romans 3:21-26, Hebrews 10:1-18).
The Apostle Paul summarized it this way in 1 Timothy 1:15: “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” This was the driving motivation behind Jesus’ actions. He lived on mission to seek and save the lost. Jesus explained that he came “not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). From his birth to his death and resurrection, Jesus lived with the specific purpose of providing a way for sinful humanity to be reconciled to a holy God. This cause revealed God’s amazing grace, unfailing love, and redemptive plan for the world.
Jesus focused intently on accomplishing this mission. He proclaimed the arrival of God’s Kingdom and repentance from sin (Mark 1:14-15). He offered eternal life to those who believed in him (John 3:16). He demonstrated authority to forgive sins (Luke 5:20-24). He endured scorn, rejection, torture and the agony of the cross in order to complete his atoning work (Hebrews 12:2). Had Jesus wavered from his cause at any point, there would be no hope of salvation for mankind. But Christ remained steadfastly obedient to the purpose for which he came. After dying for the sins of the world, Jesus rose victorious from the grave (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). His resurrection proved that his sacrifice was accepted by God, that the work of atonement was finished, and that Jesus had power over sin and death.
Because Jesus completed his mission, the Bible offers assurance of forgiveness and eternal life to all who repent and believe in him (Acts 3:19, Romans 10:9-10). By taking on the due penalty for human sin himself, Jesus opened the way for sinful man to be pardoned and reconciled to God. Christ’s cause made salvation possible by grace through faith. As Jesus prepared to ascend to heaven after his resurrection, he commanded his followers to continue spreading the good news of salvation across the world (Matthew 28:18-20). Sharing the story of Jesus remains the central cause and purpose of believers today.
In summary, Christ’s cause was centered completely on redeeming lost humanity through his sacrificial death and victorious resurrection. He lived with unwavering commitment to seek and save the lost. Jesus accomplished the mission he came for, providing the way of salvation for all who believe. The transformative power of Jesus’ purpose continues spreading in the lives of followers today. Christ’s selfless example stands as the ultimate model of living for a cause greater than oneself – to glorify God and reconcile humanity. As he declared, “the Son of Man came to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).