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There are two things in daily life which exert a great influence over men — fear and hope. A man will work hard through fear that want may come or through hope of bettering his condition. God appeals to both to awaken conscience and stir up the heart to diligence. "Flee from the wrath to come." "Lay hold on eternal life." "Mortify," etc. (vers. 5, 6, and text).

I. CHRIST OUR LIFE. Many are Christ's glorious titles, but none more precious than this. Christ is our life inasmuch as He negatively delivers from death. But He does much more. In a positive sense He is our life.

1. In bringing spiritual and eternal life to the soul dead in sin. There is no life without light. When God said, "Let there be light," life soon came. So "in Him was light, and the light was the life of men." We cannot believe Christ till we know Him; when we know Him we believe, and by faith comes life. "This is life eternal," etc.

2. In being the indwelling life of the soul. An infidel once said to a man, "How can God dwell in man and man in God?" "How can fire be in iron and iron in fire? When the bar is in the furnace," was the reply. "In Christ." "Christ in you."

3. Through the soul's going out to Him for spiritual life and blessing. Plants stretch towards the light. If they are closed in a dark house, and there be a chink through which the light shines, they will stretch in that direction. Where there is spiritual life it will move towards Christ in faith and love.

4. In being the strength of our life. Herein lies alone our power for good against evil. It is no easy thing to live the Christian life; and forms afford little help against temptation and for duty. The old man must be thrown off and the new man put on, and Christ only is sufficient for that. .and just as we are strong in Christ shall we be able to discharge the duties here laid down.

II. CHRIST OUR HOPE.

1. The present position of the Christian is good: his prospect is equally good. Hence not only Christ crucified, but Christ coming was the subject of apostolic Leaching. Christ's first coming was the desire of all nations; His second the grand hope of the Church.

2. His redeemed people will appear with Him.

(1) They will for ever emerge from their obscurity.

(2) They will be made glorious. The ambition of many is to shine in positions of honour; but surpassing every earthly distinction will be that of appearing with Christ. "If we suffer we shall also reign with Him," and "be like Him" A dying soldier said to his friend, "I am going to the front." The front is a position of danger and honour. This good soldier of Christ was going to the front to meet the last enemy, and also to receive the crown of victory.

(T. West, B. A.)

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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.