1 Corinthians 3:22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; "Death is yours" if you look at it — I. IN REFERENCE TO OTHERS. 1. It is so when you seriously regard its universal appointment. There are multitudes who acknowledge this mournful fact, but who derive no advantage whatever from the solemn occurrence. It is otherwise with the Christian; he beholds a number of lessons which, by Divine grace, he is enabled to learn. (1) He sees the evil and malignity of sin; for there is no rational explanation of the cause of death, but as a penalty due to the violated law of God. (2) He discovers, also, that "the creature is made subject to vanity"; for it is not the old and decrepid alone who die. 2. It is so when you are impressed by the deaths of particular characters. (1) When "the wicked is driven away in his wickedness," he is shocked to reflect on their awful doom, and makes the earnest appeal, "Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men."(2) When he hears of the righteous who have expired in the expression of a firm faith and joyful hope of immortality, he pours forth the fervent petition, "May I die the death of the righteous, and may my last end be like his." There is also something in the aspect of the death-bed experience of many a fellow-Christian which has a tendency to banish the fears and animate the holy courage of the fellow-believer. II. IN REFERENCE TO OURSELVES. "Death is yours," as it is — 1. A complete deliverance from sin. 2. A final termination of suffering. 3. A retreat from injurious and distressing associations. 4. Secures your admission to the enjoyment of all possible good. (J. Clayton.) Parallel Verses KJV: Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; |
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