"Christ, who is our life."
Text: Colossians 3:4
Intro:Paul’s rich expression in our text indicates marvelously that Jesus the Christ is the source of our lives.
Now, the concept of Jesus as the life-giver is explained and expanded in Ephesians 2:1 (KJV), "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;..."
Universally there is a kind of spiritual death is ascribed to all. Before their salvation men rebel against the one and only true God because the evil rule of Satan is working vigorously in their lives. Galatians 4:3 attests, "Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:..."
Walk closely with God. Set the heart on heaven, and take it off of this world.
Christ has gone before to secure to us the heavenly happiness. Therefore, it behooves us to ..."seek and secure what he has purchased at so vast an expense, and is taking so much care about. We must live such a life as Christ lived here on earth and lives now in heaven, according to our capacities."__Matthew Henry
Paul’s marvellously rich expression indicates, that Christ is the source of our life.
"You hath He quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins." (Eph. 2:1)
Substance
Sustenance
Solace
Object
Exemplar (something to be imitated)
The Crown of Our Life in Glory
I. He is now the substance of our spiritual life.
A. That same voice which brought Lazarus out of the tomb
B. raised us to newness of life.
1. It is by His life that we live.
2.He is in us, the hope of glory.
3. the spring of our actions
4. the central thought which moves every other thought
II. Christ is the sustenance of our life.
A. What can the Christian feed upon but Jesus’ flesh and blood?
1. "This is the bread which cometh down from heaven (Jn 6:50)..."
2. that a man may eat thereof, and not die."
3. O wayworn pilgrims
a. in this wilderness of sin
b. you will never get a morsel to satisfy the hunger of your spirits
c. except ye find it in Him!
III. Christ is the solace of our life.
A. All our true joys come from Him.
B. In times of trouble, His presence is our consolation (2 Cor. 4:8-11).
C. There is nothing worth living for but Him.
D. His lovingkindness is better than life!
IV. Christ is the object of our life.
A. As speeds the ship towards the port,
so hastes the believer towards the haven of his Saviour’s bosom.
B. As flies the arrow to its goal, so flies the Christian towards the perfecting
of his fellowship with Christ Jesus.
C. As the soldier fights for his captain,
1. and is crowned in his captain’s victory,
2. so the believer contends for Christ,
3. and gets his triumph out of the triumphs of his Master.
4. "For him to live is Christ."
V. Christ is the exemplar of our life.
A. Imitators of Christ
1. same life within
2. same developments without (Jn. 14:12)
B. If we live in near fellowship with the Lord Jesus
1. We shall grow to be like Him.
2. We shall set Him before us as our Divine copy/prototype.
3. We shall seek to tread in His footsteps.
VI. The Crowns of Our Life in Glory
A.Incorruptible-1Cor. 9:25
B.Rejoicing-1Thess. 2:19
C. Righteousness-2 Tim. 4:8
D. Life-James 1:12; Rev. 2:10
E. Glory 1 Peter 5:4
Conc: Oh! how safe, how honoured, how happy is the Christian, since Christ is our life!
