[March 10th, 1861].
The two ideas of dependence and possession are here expressed. “We are Christ’s,” means that we are dependent on him, and also that we belong to him. In the preceding verse the apostle had said, “All things are yours;” that is, all things are designed and overruled to promote your welfare, and all things are comprehended in that dominion or kingdom to which you are destined. Still you are nothing, you belong to Christ.
In this is involved, 1. The denial that we are our own. We do not belong to ourselves, in the sense that our own advantage can be the legitimate end of our pursuit, or that our own will can be the legitimate rule of our conduct.
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The denial that we belong to the world, to parents, friends, country, mankind, in either of the above senses; that the good of parents, friends, &c., can be the legitimate end, or their will the legitimate rule.
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Nor do we thus belong to the Church. This could not have entered the apostle’s mind. But in after years it became a common form of apostacy from Christ, and still is. Men feel that they belong to the Church, live for and are governed by it, and know no higher end, or rule of duty.
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Positively, the declaration includes, that we are Christ’s in such a sense that his glory is the end, and his will the rule of our life. He, and he alone, has the right to us. To him, and to him alone, is this devotion and submission due.
II. This proprietorship is founded,
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Not specially on creation, for as creatures we belong to God, the Triune God, but,
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It is founded on gift. We were given to him in the counsels of eternity. From the countless orders of creatures, and from the countless millions of the race of man, the people of Christ were given to him as a possession, as a peculium, a specialty, in which he was to have a peculiar and exclusive right. This ground of proprietorship is supreme. God as sovereign of the universe can give what he pleases, and his will is the only real and stable ground of property or possession.
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It is founded on purchase. This gives, (a.) The right of property as founded on justice. (b.) The purchase involving redemption from infinite evil gives the higher and tenderer obligation of gratitude, and (c.) The price paid being his own precious blood, it gives the highest of all obligations, that of love.
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It is founded on the right of conquest. We were the captives of Satan. Christ has destroyed his power, and delivered us who were led captive by him at his will.
This general idea of possession is illustrated in various ways in the Scriptures. 1. We are the (servants) of Christ, which expresses the relation as founded in justice. We are bound as his to live for him, and to obey him. Any failure in this devotion or obedience is a violation of our relation to him as his servants or slaves.
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We, i.e., the Church, are his bride. This includes (a.) The idea of exclusive possession. (b.) Of preference and peculiar love. (c.) Of perfect community of interest.
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We are his , (friends) bound to him by the bond of mutual love and confidence.
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We are his body, the members of his body. Nothing is so intimately a man’s own as his body. It has a common life with him. It has a common consciousness with him. The pains and pleasures of the body are our own pains and pleasures. It has a common interest and destiny with him. So if we are Christ’s body, we are bound to him in all these ways. This is nearer and higher than , , (bride).
III. The blessedness resulting from this relationship.
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Security. If we belong to Christ, as his , , and (body), we are secure, here and hereafter, for time and eternity.
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Participation in Christ’s excellence, both as to soul and body; in his happiness, in his glory and dominion.
IV. Duties.
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That we should always act worthily of this relation; remember that we belong neither to ourselves nor to the world, but only to the Lord.
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Contentment. We may well be satisfied if we are Christ’s; for if we are his, all things are ours.
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Not merely contentment, but joyful anticipation of Christ’s coming and glory.
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