1 Corinthians 3:23 And you are Christ's; and Christ is God's. Where we may observe the apostle in a climax rising higher, "All things are yours, you are Christ's, and Christ is God's." So that the highest round in this ladder teacheth to heaven as Jacob's did, and the lowest one is in the earth. "All things are yours," there is your privilege; but "you are Christ's," there is your duty; even to see that whatever you are, or can do, it be in reverence to Him. So all things are for the godly, and the godly is for Christ. I. Let us consider IN WHAT RESPECTS THE GODLY MAN IS CHRIST'S. 1. He is bought and purchased by His blood, so that he oweth all his being, comforts, and privileges to Christ (1 Corinthians 6:19, 20). So then, well may the godly man be said to be Christ's, for he cometh to be His at a dear rate. Never did king get subject, or master a servant, at so dear a price as Christ obtained thee. 2. The godly they are Christ's because by His Spirit they are made new creatures. They have a new being. For it cannot be theft any should be Christ's who live in the flesh and are carnally minded. 3. They are Christ's because He is the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. He is the Alpha; He is the Author and Fountain of all the spiritual good we have; and the apostle calls Him "the Author and Finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2). It is He that giveth life and motion and all spiritual strength to us. Now every effect is more the cause's than it is its own. Seeing, therefore, thou hast no good but what thou hast received from Christ, thou art wholly to depend on Him, as the stream is on the fountain, as the light is on the sun — for take them away and these immediately perish. We are not to live to ourselves, but to Him (Galatians 3:20). All our graces are to carry us out of ourselves to Christ, our faith in Christ, our love and affections to be pitched on Christ. 4. We are Christ's in that all our Christian completeness is in Him (Colossians 1:19). It pleased the Father that in Him should all fulness dwell. The privileges of justification, and adoption, and sanctification, that we have by Him, are to be more than meat or drink unto us. 5. We are Christ's because we are wholly to be disposed by Him in all conditions, in all exercises and temptations. For Christ being made a Lord and King over us, He orders us in all things. II. Now in the next place let us consider SOME CHARACTERS OR PROPERTIES OF SUCH AS ARE CHRIST'S. 1. They desire more knowledge of Him, more acquaintance with Him; they prize Him above all worldly things (Philippians 3:8). 2. Those that are Christ's abhor and have no communion with any sin or wickedness, because that only Christ hateth. 3. Those that are Christ's, they live not to themselves but to Him. They please not themselves or others in a sinful way. Exhortation to those who are Christ's to be self-denying, to take up Christ's cross, to love Him more than all they have; for Christ is not for thee, but thou for Christ. (A. Burgess.) Parallel Verses KJV: And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's. |
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