The Gospel
LESSON NINE
CHRIST IS LIFE
Hymn 1015
Scripture Reading:
Col. 3:4 When Christ our life is manifested, then you also will be manifested with Him in glory.
CHRIST BEING LIFE—
DIVINE, ETERNAL, UNCREATED, PERFECT, COMPLETE,
AND INDESTRUCTIBLE
The Bible says, “It is the Spirit who gives life” (John 6:63). But what is this life that the Spirit gives? We know that there are many forms of life. In this world there are the plant life and the animal life. The plant life is lower and the animal life is higher. Even higher than these two kinds of life is the human life. Today, various forms of plant life and animal life abound on this earth, and men with the human life also fill the entire globe. All these forms of life are wonderful; but there is a fourth kind of life—the divine life, which is God’s uncreated life.
What are the characteristics of this highest life? First, this life of God is divine. Being divine means being of God, having the nature of God, and being transcendent and distinct from all others. Only God is divine, so His life is divine. Furthermore, God’s life is eternal. God’s life is uncreated; it has no beginning and no end. All of us were born at a certain time and on a certain day, and all of us realize that our human life will have a definite ending in death. However, God’s life has no beginning, and it will continue in perpetuity. For centuries men have tried to build machines that will prolong their lives, but none has succeeded. But God is self-existing and ever-existing. His life is unfailing and unchangeable. God’s eternal life not only endures forever, but also in quality it is absolutely perfect and complete, without any shortage or defect. This eternal life is also indestructible and indissoluble. A piece of soap can be dissolved by placing it in water, and even gold and silver can be dissolved in some solutions. But nothing can dissolve the indestructible life of God.
EATING AND DRINKING CHRIST
Two very important things related to life are eating and drinking. Without eating and drinking, man cannot survive physically. Everyday we must eat and drink. The same is true with our spiritual life. The best way to eat and drink of Christ is to pray by calling on His name and to read the Bible by praying with the words of the Bible. This is not a religious exercise or a legal duty, but a way to enjoy Christ as our life.
GROWING IN THE DIVINE LIFE
When the divine life comes into us, we are regenerated; we have God’s life, and we become God’s sons. In our human life, after we are born we continue to grow by eating and drinking. In the same way, by eating Christ as the spiritual food and drinking the Spirit as the water of life, our spiritual life will grow. Day by day as we eat and drink of Christ, we will grow in the divine life. In this way we will be a people who are filled with God and will eventually express God in our living. This is the meaning of the Christian life. (Christ is Spirit and Life, pp. 8-11, 15-16)
References: Christ Is Spirit and Life; CWWN, Vol. 27, Christ and the New Life, ch. 4; CWWL, 1963, Vol. 1, The Enjoyment of Christ for His Increase, ch. 1; The Knowledge of Life, ch. 1.
