Focusing on Jesus
The Apostle Paul wrote something so simple, yet so profound, in his first letter to the church at Corinth: For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2). Of course, Paul knew much more than “Christ crucified”—but his point was unmistakable: nothing in life is more significant than the crucified Christ. It may sound simple, but it’s profoundly true.
Real change and growth will follow when our lives are centered on Jesus. Nothing saves us but Christ, and nothing will sustain or transform us apart from Him. This is the essence of the cross-centered, Spirit-empowered, and Word-shaped life. It’s living in light of the Gospel daily and declaring with Paul, “I know nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”
Because we are united with Christ by faith, everything has changed. That union defines our salvation, fuels our sanctification, and secures our glorification. Here are three practical ways to focus on living a Jesus-centered life.
1. Focusing on Jesus Guards Us from Legalism
When we fix our eyes on Christ, we are protected from slipping into legalism and mere behavior modification. Legalism seeks to gain favor or acceptance from God through external performance. It shifts the focus away from Christ’s finished work and puts it back on ourselves. But the Gospel tells us that we are not saved by what we do but by what Christ has done.
We need constant reminders that the same grace that saved us is the grace that sanctifies us. The power to grow comes not from our efforts but from Christ and the Holy Spirit working within us. The Spirit applies the Word to our hearts, renews our minds, and produces lasting fruit—not us. Looking to the cross frees us from trying to earn what Christ has already secured.
2. Focusing on Jesus and the Cross Frees Us from Shame
When we look to Jesus and His death on the cross, we rejoice that our past, present, and future sins have been forgiven. Without that cross-centered focus, we can easily become trapped by the guilt and shame of our failures. Over time, unaddressed shame can paralyze us. We become self-absorbed, stuck in our brokenness, unable to move forward in hope.
But when we fix our eyes on Jesus, we not only see the weight of our sin—we are overwhelmed by the greater weight of His grace. As 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us… and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Through Christ, we are washed clean. And through our union with Him, we are clothed in His righteousness. That’s not wishful thinking—it’s the Gospel truth.
All of us long for some sort of healing. However, healing is not found in self-esteem or self-help. It’s found in the cross of Christ and the power of the Spirit working through the Word, prayer, and the fellowship exemplified in the church.
3. Focusing on Jesus Grounds Us in Reality
Lastly, when we center our lives on Jesus, we see the world as it truly is. We often let our emotions and circumstances dictate our understanding of God and His love. We listen to ourselves instead of preaching the Gospel to ourselves.
But Scripture—not our feelings—is our final authority. Our emotions are real and matter, but they are not ultimate. When our gaze is fixed on Christ, we stop chasing emotional highs or circumstantial changes and begin living from the unshakable reality of God’s love. As we walk with Christ, our emotions are reshaped and redeemed for His glory.
This doesn’t mean we become stoic or detached. It means our joy and identity are rooted in Christ, not in the ever-changing landscape of our feelings. We begin to live out what Paul calls us to in Colossians 3—setting our minds on things above, where Christ is.
The Christian life is not about doing more or trying harder. It’s about knowing Christ, resting in Christ, and growing in Christ—together with His people, through His Word, empowered by His Spirit. It is a life lived by faith, through grace, under the cross.
May we focus our lives on Jesus Christ, who is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
