---

1. Life is seen around us striking out in tender beauty in the tiny flower which opens its delicate bosom to the light of the sun, or developing into majesty and grandeur in the giants of the forest — this is vegetable life.

2. Life is seen breaking out in the songs of birds, and displayed in the movements of the lower creatures and in the manifold activities of men — this is animal life.

3. Life is seen in the speculations of the philosopher, the research of the historian, the musings of the poet, and the contrivances of the architect and mechanician — this is intellectual life.

4. Life is seen in that hatred to sin, those yearnings after holiness, those graces of faith, hope, etc., the anticipation for heaven which characterize the true Christian — this is spiritual life, To Christ all these may be traced, but Paul is here speaking of the last.

I. CHRIST ON THE CROSS IS THE SOURCE OF OUR LIFE. Spiritual life is no new principle; it was bestowed by Christ as the Almighty Creator. But here we have to view Christ not as the Lord of life, but the victim of death. What an amazing contrast. Yet by the latter He brought life and immortality to light. From this His life flows out to those dead in sin.

II. CHRIST IN THE HEART IS THE ESSENCE OF OUR LIFE. He not only procures, but is our life. "I am the life." When we receive life we receive Him. The faith which saves embraces not an abstraction, a truth, but a Person. Many are satisfied with knowing about Christ — the Christian has vital union with Him.

III. CHRIST IN HIS ORDINANCES IS THE SUPPORT OF OUR LIFE. All life requires sustenance. A flower that receives no rain or sunshine withers. God has appointed means for the nourishment of our life.

1. Secret prayer. What is this? An interview with a Person, not the mere utterance of desire breathed into the vacant air; growing intimacy with Christ; the soaring of the soul into the atmosphere of love and joy which makes the pulse of life beat more firmly. "The Christian's vital breath," etc.

2. The Sabbath, and its opportunities for sustained intercourse with Christ in sanctuary services (Psalm 63:2). The want of profit in these arises from not seeking God in them. Those who find Him receive augmentation of life.

3. The Lord's Supper, in which Christ brings Himself specially near, and to realize Him in it is to receive out of His fulness grace for grace.

IV. CHRIST ON EARTH IS THE PATTERN OF OUR LIFE. All life has some outward manifestation. Every grace embodies itself in act. "Work of faith," etc. God has given us a rule in His Word after which we should conform ourselves. But He has taught us also by example. In Christ's lowly condition He has taught us not to be ashamed of our poverty. As a workman He ennobled trade. The sorrowful may be comforted by thinking of the Man of sorrows. What an example we have in Him of self-sacrifice, love, forgiveness, courage, etc. The closer we study His life the more we shall be assimilated to it as Moses was to the glory of God (2 Corinthians 3:18).

V. CHRIST IN HEAVEN IS THE CONSUMMATION OF OUR LIFE. Here we have but grace, glory lies beyond. His presence in glory is a pledge that we shall share it. The bonds of union will be drawn closer. "For ever with the Lord," etc. Conclusion: There is no true life but in Christ. Let us beware lest Christ's lamentation, "Ye will not come unto Me," etc., be over us.

(W. Steele, M. A.)

---

---

KJV: When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

WEB: When Christ, our life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with him in glory.