2 Corinthians 5:15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not from now on live to themselves, but to him which died for them… By virtue of Christ's death and resurrection Christians obtain the grace of a new life. I. THERE IS A SPIRITUAL LIFE. Note — 1. The correspondence between common life and this life of grace. (1) The natural life supposes generation, so does the spiritual (John 3:3; 1 John 2:27), (2) Where there is life there is sense and feeling, especially if wrong and violence be offered to it, and so is the spiritual life bewrayed by the tenderness of the heart and the sense that we have of the interest of God. Can a man be alive and not feel it? And can you have the life of grace and not feel the decays and interruptions of it, and neither be sensible of comforts or injuries? (3) Where there is life there is appetite, an earnest desire after that which may feed and support this life. So spiritually (1 Peter 2:2; John 6:27). The new nature hath its proper supports, and there will be something relished besides such things as gratify the animal life. In correspondence with this there will be a desire that carrieth us to that which is food to the soul, to Christ especially, and to the ordinances in which He is exhibited to us. (4) Where there is life there will be growth; so do the children of God grow in grace (Psalm 92:13). (5) Life is active and stirring. So spiritual life hath its operations; it cannot well be hid. Some only "have a name to live, and are dead." 2. The differences. They differ — (1) In dignity. Natural life is but a "wind," a "vapour," a continued sickness, but this is the life of God, and was a life bought at a dearer rate than the life of nature (John 6:51). (2) In origin. The natural life is brought down unto us by many generations from the "first Adam." All that our parents could do was to make way for the union of soul and body together. But by this life we mid Christ are united together, and He becomes a life-making spirit unto us. (3) In duration. All our labour here is to maintain a lamp that soon goes out, or to prop up a tabernacle that is always falling. But the spiritual life begins in grace and ends in glory. II. THE RESPECT THAT IS BETWEEN THIS LIFE AND CHRIST'S RESURRECTION. Christ's resurrection is — 1. An example of it. (1) Christ died before He rose, and usually God killeth us before He maketh us alive. The word is a killing letter before it is a word of life (Romans 7:9). (2) The same Spirit of holiness that quickened Christ quickeneth us (Romans 1:4; Romans 8:14). (3) Christ, being raised from the dead, dieth no more (Romans 11:9). So is a Christian put into an unchangeable state; sin hath no more dominion over him (John 11:25, 26). 2. A pledge of it. And therefore He is called the firstfruits from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:20). His resurrection was in our name; therefore we are said to be raised with Christ (Colossians 3:1), and quickened together with Christ (Colossians 2:13; Ephesians 2:4, 5). 3. A cause of it. That Spirit of power by which Christ was raised out of the grave is the very efficient cause of our being raised and quickened (1 Peter 1:3; Ephesians 1:19, 20). (T. Manton, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. |
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