DISCOURSE: 1688
OUR LIFE DEPENDENT ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
John 14:19. Because I live, ye shall live also.
AMONGST the various sources of consolation which our Lord opened to his Disciples, to support them under the disappointment that would be occasioned by his death, a very principal one seems to have been, that they themselves would be greatly benefited by his departure: for that he would send to them his Spirit, who should more than supply the want of his bodily presence; and that he himself would more effectually advance their eternal interests than he could do if he were to continue upon earth. He assures them, that though dead as to the body, he would still live; and that, “because he lived, they should live also.”
From this declaration of his we shall make two inquiries;
I. What connexion has the life of Christ with his people’s life—
Those who are not altogether ignorant of Christ are yet more apt to think of him as a dying, than as a risen Saviour; whereas his life is not at all less connected with our salvation than his death.
His life is the ground and confirmation of all our hopes—
[What do we most wish to be assured of, in reference to Christ? We wish to know that he was indeed the Son of God, and not a common man—that he was sent of God on purpose to redeem a ruined world—and that what he did and suffered for us has been accepted in our behalf. These are points of infinite importance, and that lie at the foundation of all our hopes. But by the resurrection of Christ they are all clearly and satisfactorily ascertained: “By that he was declared to be the Son of God with power [Note: Romans 1:4.]:” by that was the sign, which above all others he himself appealed to in proof of his divine mission, fulfilled [Note: Matthew 12:38; Matthew 12:40.]: and by that is the acceptance of his sacrifice made known, since the release of our Surety is an undeniable evidence that our debt is paid [Note: Romans 4:25.].
Hence the testimony borne by the Apostles to the resurrection of Christ, was considered as a complete and sufficient proof of every thing that they asserted respecting him.”]
It is also a pledge and earnest of all our joys—
[Do we feel happiness in the thought of our being made partakers of eternal life, and in the prospect of a speedy possession of it? Behold him risen, him ascended, him seated at the right hand of God: in what capacity enjoys he all this exaltation? As a mere individual? No: but as the Head and Representative of all his people: in his resurrection, he is “the first-fruits” of which there remains a whole harvest to be gathered [Note: 1 Corinthians 15:20.]: in his ascension, he is gone as “our Forerunner,” “to prepare a place for us [Note: Hebrews 6:20; John 14:2.]:” and even enthroned as he is at the right hand of the Majesty on high, he sits not there alone; for we, though personally on earth, are mystically “made at this very hour, to sit with him in heavenly places in Christ Jesus [Note: Ephesians 2:6.].”
What then is his life but a pledge of ours, or rather an earnest? since it not only assures to us a future blessedness, but is itself the very commencement of our bliss?]
But the expression in our text intimates, that the life of Christ is not merely intimately but also inseparably, connected with the life of his people.
Let us proceed therefore to notice,
II.
What security it affords them that they shall live— Here let it be considered how our Lord is occupied, and what he has engaged to do for his believing people:
1. He intercedes for them—
[As the high-priest, after offering his sacrifice, went within the vail to sprinkle the blood upon the mercy-seat, and to burn incense before it, so did our Lord ascend to heaven on purpose to complete the work he had begun, and to offer continual intercession for us at the right hand of God. Now we are assured that “him the Father heareth always;” and consequently the benefits of his intercession cannot but be poured out on all his people. Hence there is peculiar stress laid on this act of his, as ensuring to us the benefits of his death [Note: Hebrews 7:25.Romans 8:34.]. His death indeed is represented as making the atonement for our sins, and reconciling us to God; but it is his resurrection to a life of glory in heaven, that completes our justification, and perfects our salvation [Note: Romans 4:25; Romans 5:10; Romans 8:34.]
2. He works effectually in them—
[By his Spirit he yet dwells in all his saints [Note: See ver. 17, 18.]: and he has engaged that “his grace shall be sufficient for them,” so that the weakest of them all shall be “enabled to do all things through his strength” communicated to them [Note: Philippians 4:13.]. It is this which renders them invincible: “their life is hid with Christ in God;” yea, “Christ himself is their life;” and therefore, when he shall appear in his glory, they will assuredly appear there with him [Note: Colossians 3:3-4.]
3. He will come at last, and take them to himself—
[When they shall have fought the good fight of faith, and gained the victory over all their spiritual enemies, they will not be forgotten of him: he will send his angels to bear up their spirits to the realms of bliss; and in due time he will restore also their bodies to life; that, in a re-embodied state, they may inherit the kingdom prepared for them. This assurance he gave to his Disciples in the preceding context [Note: ver. 3.]; and when, by that event, death shall be swallowed up in victory, then will the promise in our text be finally accomplished; and their life of grace will be completed in a life of glory.]
Behold what encouragement this subject affords to all;
1.
To believe on Christ—
[Were Christ unconnected with us in his present state, we might well doubt the expediency of putting our trust in him: but when we are informed that his almighty power is always occupied in forwarding our salvation, we should instantly commit ourselves into his hands, and expect from him all that our necessities can require. Do we, as creatures dead in sin, desire life? or, as persons quickened from the dead, do we desire more life? or, being possessed of life, do we desire an assurance that we shall never lose it? Behold, Jesus, who “came that we might have life, and have it more abundantly,” meets your case with exactly such a promise as you want [Note: John 10:10; John 11:25-26.]—Let me then put the question to you, “Believest thou this?” O beg of God that he would enable you so to do: say, “Lord, I believe; help thou my unbelief!”]
2. To suffer for him—
[Sufferings of some kind you must expect: there is not one of his people but has some cross to bear. You will find too at times that your trials are heavy: but the heavier they are, the more will his power be magnified in you. This thought afforded inexpressible consolation to the Apostle Paul [Note: 2 Corinthians 4:8-10.], and made him even “take pleasure” in his multiplied afflictions [Note: 2 Corinthians 12:9-10.]. Your enemies think little respecting Christ as actively engaged in behalf of his people: but in you they shall see his power and grace: and, whilst his death is exhibited in your sufferings, his life shall be manifested in your support [Note: 2 Corinthians 4:11.]. Only take the promise in the text, and you need fear nothing.]
3. To press forward for universal holiness—
[You are not called to beat the air, or to engage either in an uncertain or an unproductive contest: you have a living Saviour, that is pledged both to give you the victory, and to reward your conflicts. Will you not then fight? Will you leave a sin unmortified, an enemy unsubdued? Gird you to the combat: put on the whole armour of God: quit yourselves like men: and know assuredly, that “your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord.”]