1 Corinthians 3:23 And you are Christ's; and Christ is God's. means that we are dependent on Him and belong to Him. Note — I. CHRIST'S PROPRIETORSHIP. 1. In this is involved the denial — (1) That we are our own. We do not belong to ourselves in the sense that our own advantage can be the legitimate end of our pursuit, or that our will can be the legitimate rule of our conduct. (2) That we belong to the world, parents, friends, country, mankind in either of the above senses; that their good or their will can be the legitimate end or rule. (3) That we belong to the Church. It is a fatal error to live for and be governed by the Church, and know no higher end or rule or duty. 2. Positively the declaration includes that we are Christ's in such a sense that His glory is the end and His will the rule of our life. He, and He alone, has the right to us. To Him, and to Him alone, is devotion and submission due. II. ITS BASIS. 1. Not specially creation, for as creatures we belong to the Triune God. 2. But — (1) Gift. From countless orders of creatures the people of Christ were given Him, in the counsels of eternity, as a peculium, a speciality, in which He was to have exclusive right. God as Sovereign of the universe can give what He pleases, and His will is the only real and stable ground of property or possession. (2) Purchase.(a) This gives the right of property as founded on justice.(b) The purchase involving redemption from infinite evil gives the higher and tenderer obligation of gratitude.(c) The price paid being His own precious blood it gives the highest of all obligations, that of love. (3) Conquest. We were the captives of Satan. Christ has destroyed his power and delivered us who were led captive at his will. III. ITS VARIOUS FORMS. We are — 1. The servants of Christ, which expresses the relation as founded in justice. We are bound as His δούλοι to live for Him and obey Him. 2. His bride. This includes the ideas of — (1) Exclusive possession. (2) Preference and peculiar love. (3) Perfect community of interest. 3. His friends, bound to Him by mutual love and confidence. 4. His body. Nothing is so intimately a man's own as his body. It has a common life and consciousness with him. The pains and pleasures of the body are our own pains and pleasures. It has a common interest and destiny with us. So are we bound to Christ in all these ways. This is the nearest relationship of all. IV. THE BLESSEDNESS RESULTING FROM IT. 1. Security. If we belong to Christ as His servants, &c., we are secure for time and eternity. 2. Participation in Christ's excellence, both as to soul and body — in His happiness, glory, and dominion. V. DUTIES. 1. That we should act worthy of this relation. Remember that we belong neither to ourselves nor the world, but only to Christ. 2. Contentment. We may well be satisfied if we are Christ's, for all things are ours. 3. Joyful anticipation of Christ's coming. (C. Hodge, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's. |
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