1/1/13: “For Christ’s Sake” is more than a common expression. Biblically it is the reason for certain actions and events plus the basis for prayerful petition.
I realize it is a common expression. The common use accompanies a question as to “why did you do this? or What is going on?” Again the emphasis is on motive or benefit. An alternative use is an admonition as to not do something as in “For God’s sake do not do this or that!” In the vernacular it does not mean necessarily that God’s reputation is at stake, but rather invoking a generic higher power into the situation to caution another person’s action or behavior. I have no quarrel with the common use of this expression, but, since the expression has a foundation in Scripture, I thought it good to examine the use therein.
“For the sake of” is used many times Biblically related to petitioning for another person or one’s self. However, I want to examine the “For God’s or Christ’s Sake” expression. More specifically I want to see how and where God or His prophets use the expression and specifically the reason to do so. Or in other words, I want to learn the legitimate Biblical use of such. Therefore the following references are a result of a word search in the King James Bible.
God acts to protect His Name, His reputation, or reason for taking a sovereign act. In addition the Lord is petitioned to do something for His Name’s sake while also benefiting the petitioner. The petitioner recognizes that God has something at stake in this; His reputation and Word. The petitioner knows that what is being requested is within God’s nature and Word to grant such. The petitioner wants the Lord to know (which He does) that the petitioner is doing it for God’s stake.
Finally, in the New Testament the Word indicates events that will occur in the believer’s life for sake of the God, Christ and the Word.
I should add the “for heaven’s sake” is not in the Bible, but perhaps commonly used as a palatable generic substitute for the above.
Reading the following references you will the exact circumstances that God will do some things for His people to protect His own reputation, His sake. Also, it is legitimate to petition the Lord according to His nature or Word to do something for you or others based upon protecting His reputation; again for His sake.
References:
1 Samuel 12:22; For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.
2 Samuel 5:12; And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel’s sake.
2 Samuel 7:21; For thy word’s sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know them.
2 Kings 19:34; For I will defend this city (Jerusalem), to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.
Nehemiah 9:31 Nevertheless for thy great mercies’ sake thou didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for thou [art] a gracious and merciful God.
Jeremiah 14:7; O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou [it] for thy name’s sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against thee.
Psalm 23:3; He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Psalm 25:11; For thy name’s sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it [is] great.
Psalm 31:3; For thou [art] my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me.
Psalm 31:16; Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies’ sake
Psalm 44:26; Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies’ sake.
Psalm 69:7; Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face.
Psalm 79:9; Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name’s sake.
Psalm 106:8; Nevertheless he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.
Psalm 106:8; Nevertheless he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.
Psalm 109:31; But do thou for me, O GOD the Lord, for thy name’s sake: because thy mercy [is] good, deliver thou me.
Psalm 115:1; Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, [and] for thy truth’s sake.
Psalm 143:11; Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.
Isaiah 37:35; For I will defend this city to save it for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.
Isaiah 41:21; The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake; he will magnify the law, and make [it] honourable.
Isaiah 43:25; I, [even] I, [am] he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.
Isaiah 48:9; For my name’s sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off.
Isaiah 48:11; For mine own sake, [even] for mine own sake, will I do [it]: for how should [my name] be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.
Isaiah 62:1; For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp [that] burneth.
Jeremiah 14:7; O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou [it] for thy name’s sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against thee.
Jeremiah 14:21; Do not abhor [us], for thy name’s sake, do not disgrace the throne of thy glory: remember, break not thy covenant with us.
Jeremiah 15:15; O LORD, thou knowest: remember me, and visit me, and revenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in thy longsuffering: know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke.
Ezekiel 20:14; But I wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out.
Ezekiel 20:44; And ye shall know that I [am] the LORD, when I have wrought with you for my name’s sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 36:22; Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not [this] for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name’s sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.
Daniel 9:17; Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake.
Daniel 9:19; O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.
Matthew 10:18; And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
Matthew 10:29; And ye shall be hated of all [men] for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
Matthew 10:39; He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Matthew 16:25; For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Matthew 19:29; And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
Matthew 24:9; Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.
Mark 4:17; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.
Mark 8:35; For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.
Mark 13:9; But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.
Mark 13:13; And ye shall be hated of all [men] for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Luke 6: 22; Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you [from their company], and shall reproach [you], and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.
Luke 21:17; And ye shall be hated of all [men] for my name’s sake.
John 15:21; But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.
Act 9:16; For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.
Romans 15:30; Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in [your] prayers to God for me;
1 Corinthians 4: 10; We [are] fools for Christ’s sake, but ye [are] wise in Christ; we [are] weak, but ye [are] strong; ye [are] honourable, but we [are] despised.
2 Corinthians 4:5; For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.
2 Corintians 4:11; For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
Ephesians 4:32; And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Philippians 1:29; For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
Colossians 1:24; Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:
1 Peter 2:13; Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
1 John 2:12; I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.
3 John 1:7; Because that for his name’s sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.
Revelation 2:3; Because that for his name’s sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.