The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 239

Yer. Ul.-L(fe in Ohrist. Sir Philip Sidney when on his dcnth-bed reviewed tho m'l!!Ons upnn ,,hich we base ~ur hope of a conscious oxistonco hereafter. First, he hll<l related to him the arguments ildduced by heathen philosophel'll, and then the dccbm- tions and promi~es to be found in Holy Scripture. When the rllm light yielded by tho fonn<'r source brithtened into the glorious daylight of Christinn revelation, the dying hero's mind was satillfied, and he died in hope of lir-3 immortal. Upon tbo decease of dear friends, upon the •approach of l\ge, My, oftell in the silence of the night, tho question cornea before our minrl-Shl\11 we live hereafter? Christianity alone can give a clear and satisfactory answer to this question. And that answer docs not take tho fom1 of argument.. But onr religion teaches us to connect our individnnl pro~pccts with our Dinne Redeemer, and with our personal rolation to him. Jesus him~elf teaches us to do this, and nowhere more succinctly and effectively than in these words~ "Bt'ci1usc I lirn, ye shall li,e also.n I. TnE Gnom.-n OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS m THE LIFE OF THE Lono UIMSF.LF. 1. The true life of the Saviour wns not suspended by hi:! death upon the cross. 2. Its continuance was manifested by the i:lorious resurrection from tho dead of him over whom dcnth had no power. 3. Christ's life is te\'lialcd in the apocalyptic vision 118' powerful nnd benevolent. He spako as the one Being who bad known denth only to vanquish it, and who had the keys of death and of the unseen world. 4. The means- and the power of the spiritual life are provided by wisdom and the loving kindness of the li1·ing Lord. The ontpouring of the Spirit is the life of the Church. II. 'l'HE LIF'E OF CHRISTIANS IS ACCODDINOLY AKIN TO THAT OF TREIB Lono. L By "life" here and elsewhere in Scripture we are not to understand the mere continu- ance of being, or even of consciousness, which would be an interpretation very deroga- tory to our Lord, bnt the life or tbe sensitiveness and energy of the spiritual nature. 2. This life pnrt.ak:es in the moral qualities of him from whom it is derived. Even in the- physical realm the life which is derivative partakes of the character of its origin. As Christ Jives in holiness, in wisdom, and in Jove, it is reasonably to be believed that such attributes of spiritnnl life are reflected in the character of 0hrist'.s people. And, this is actually the case; the "notes" or symptom11 of the Christian life are not to be- mistaken. III. Tm: SPIRITUAL LIFE IS THE Ill!UOBTAL Lll"l!l. In a -memorable conversation which oar Saviour held with the Sadducee.~, this great principle was plaioly nsserted:: "God is not the God of the dead, but of the living; for all live unto him." 'l'hrough-• Christ, those who believe on him, and live in fellowship with him, share the life of Goel,,. and are partakers of the highest kind of immortality. As surely as Christ Jives, who purchued his people with his blood, laying down bis life that their-lire might_be hid: with him in God, so surely they shall be delivered from the death which is the doom of the unbelieving and the ungodly. Jesus says to us as we pursue the walk of faith- and the words reach our ears like music in the darkness of earth's night-" I will see. yon again." And our hearts, cheered and -emboldened by the promise, reply in loving confidence, in exulting aspiration and hope," We shall see him as he is.'' • . "If my immortnl Saviour lives, Then my immortal life is sure: Bis Word a firm foundation gives: Here let me bnild and rest aecaro." T. Ver. 23.-Fidelitg ,·ewarded. Christ's manifest.ation in the body, in the earthly life. was one thing; his manifestation after his departure to the Father was quite a different tLina. This change, or rather development of the Divine plan, was difficult even for tho apostlee to understand. Observe bow Rimpl.y and yet h~"'. fully, in answer to Jnde'.s perplexed &11d anxious query, the Lord explo1ns the cond1l!on and the method of his own manifestation of himself in the approaching spiritual d.ispensation. I. FIDELITY TO Cmnsr 1B THE CONDITION OF THE DIVINE MANIFESTATION. This fidelity is both emotional and practical; it ii displayed in the hl'llrt aud in tho life. 1. Love is the inward principle and motive. The- personal nature of the Christian lire iB here strikingly exhibited. "If a man love me "-langua;:e this which brings the fodivldual believer clot1e to the living Christ. What a rebuke to all merely sacerdotal on. xiv, 1-31.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. 217