[It is not in his death only that the believer is conformed to Christ, but in his resurrection also. As the believer has an " old man," which dies, so he has also " a new man," which lives : and in the latter, no less than in the former, he resem- bles Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ, in his risen and ascended state, lives with God, and to God, employing for his God and Father all the power that has been committed to him. Thus the believer lives in a state of intimate fellowship with God, consecrating to him all his newly-acquired powers, and im- proving for him every faculty that he possesses. This is his privilege, no less than his duty : and therefore we may be fully persuaded that the weakest believer, if truly upright, shall attain this high and honourable employment.]
This persuasion is founded on a firm and solid basis —
[We " know that Christ dieth no more." Those whom he raised to life, as Lazarus and others, were constrained at last to pay the debt which our nature owes, and to yield to the stroke of death : but " over Christ death hath no more dominion." He so fully expiated sin, that none of its penal consequences attach to him any longer. But the life which he possesses has both perpetuity and perfection, being wholly and eternally devoted to the care of his people, and the honour of his heavenly Father. And here is the believer's security : " Because Christ liveth, he shall live alsoV The believer's " life is hid with Christ in God ;" yea, " Christ himself is his life :" and therefore we may be assured, that his believing peo- ple shall be preserved to "appear with him in glory c." We do live in him : and therefore we shall live with him for ever- more.]
From hence is deduced,
III. The duty he inculcates —
[" Reckon ye yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." This should be a point fixed and settled in our minds : I am a Christian : I am dead to sin : I have no more to do with " my former lusts in my ignorance d," than Christ himself has with the " sins which he once bore in his own body on the tree." " The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life," have no more charms for mee : those " lords which once had domi- nion over me," are now dead ; and I am liberated from theii yokef. As a Christian, I possess a new and heavenly life : 1
b Johnxiv. 19. e Col hi. 3,4.
d 1 Pet. i. 14. and iv. 2, 3. e 1 John ii. 15, 16.
f This is the precise idea contained in ver. 7.