0809. The Life and Its Precedence
The Life and Its Precedence
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, bat Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me" (Gal_2:20).
Our key verse clearly sets forth two lives: (1) My own life–"Nevertheless I live." (2) The life in Christ Jesus–"Christ liveth in me."
Our key verse places the precedence upon the life in Christ Jesus. "Yet not I, but Christ."
Let us consider two important lessons:
1. The dying of the self-life. "I die daily" (1Co_15:31). "The Cross by the which I am crucified."
There are some passages which fit in just here.
(1) Mat_10:39 : "He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for My sake shall find it."
The word "life" in this passage refers to the natural man. It covers the whole existence from the cradle to the grave. It includes the daily walk, the social, mental and business life of the natural man.
If any one finds his life–that is, if any one lives for things beneath and holds back his life from God–he shall lose it. But, if he loses this life–that is, if he yields it, crucifies it, denies it, that he may serve Christ–he will find it in the life to come.
(2) Rev_12:11 : "And they loved not their lives unto the death." This is an example of some who lost their lives for Christ, and who will find them in the life to come.
(3) Act_15:26 : "Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Another example of two men, Paul and Barnabas, who gave the new life precedence over the old and who were willing, at any moment, to lay down their earth life.
(4) Act_20:24 : "Neither count I my life dear unto myself." Paul is about to enter into new scenes, knowing that nothing but bonds and afflictions await him. Yet Paul did not hesitate. He gave right value to the life in Christ Jesus, and was ready to lose the life that now is.
Some dear saints wept over Paul and besought him to shield his life from so great a conflict, but Paul said, "What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."
2. The new life in Christ Jesus should become our chief concern. We should not only die, be crucified to the old life and its claims, but we should be alive to the new life and follow, its aspirations and demands.
Some passages again:
(1) 2Co_4:10-11 : "Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh."
Paul was happy in dying to the old life. Why? In order that the Life in Christ Jesus might be manifested. What cared he for troubles and perplexities and persecutions? He knew that as he died, Christ would be made alive.
(2) Joh_12:24 : "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit."
This is the same thing, as we saw exemplified in Paul's experiences. The dying of the old life and the birth of the new life. Out of the grave where the old man died, the new man comes forth.
(3) Php_3:10 : "That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death."
Paul counted all things but loss, he reckoned them as no more than refuge. What, all things? His own selfish life–his life in the Sanhedrin; his life with its honors and accomplishments; his life with its splendid preparation; his life with all that future application might have brought to him. He counted it all refuge. Why? He estimated the life in Christ Jesus as his goal. He sought to know Him, and the fellowship of His sufferings and the conformity with His death, in order that he might be found in Him.
Moses counted all things but loss. He is a splendid Old Testament example of this same reckoning as Heb_11:24-26 bears witness.
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR