Friday, May 6, 2016

....all are yours; And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's. 1 Cor 3:22-23

.....1. We do then heartily consent to be Christ's, when we give up all we are and have to him; so that after this choice of Christ, we look upon ourselves thenceforth as none of our own, but bought with a price, to glorify God in our body and soul, which are his, 1 Cor. 6:19, 20.  Soul and body are all that we are, and both these parts of ourselves do now pass, by an act of our own consent, into the Redeemer's right; we are not to have the dispose of them; that belongs to him that purchased them.  You know in all purchases, property is altered:  You did live as your own, followed your own wills, lusts, passions, were under the dominion, and at the beck of every lust; but now the case is altered; Tit. 3:3.  "We ourselves were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures."  So many lusts, so many lords.  But now the case is altered, we have given ourselves to Christ, no more to be swayed this way or that against his word, and the voice of our own consciences.  Thus our souls and bodies are his, hallowed, dedicated things to Christ, temples for God to dwell in.  And then all other things follow of course; if I am the Lord's, then my time, my talents, and all that I have are his.

2.....God hath stored up in Christ all that you want, a suitable and full supply for every need; and made it all communicable to you, 1 Cor. 1:30.  "Who of God is made unto us, wisdom and righteousness, sanctification and redemption."  All the believer's fresh springs are in Christ.  Have I any difficult business to do that requires counsel? then I must repair to Christ the fountain of wisdom:  Am I under any guilt? then I must repair to Christ for  righteousness:  Is my soul defiled by corruption? then must I go to Christ for sanctification:  Do I groan under troubles of soul or body, temptations, afflictions? etc., then must I relieve myself by the faith and hope of that complete redemption, and final deliverance, procured by Christ from all these.  If you consent to be Christ's, you must not look for justification, partly upon his righteousness, and partly upon your own graces and duties; but must make mention of his righteousness, even of his only.  If there be but one conduit in a town, and not a drop of water to be had elsewhere, then all the inhabitants of that town repair thither for water.  In the whole city of God there is but one conduit, one fountain, and that is Christ; there is not one drop of righteousness, holiness, strength or comfort to be had elsewhere.  Then we fetch all from Christ, when we live upon him, as the new-born infant doth upon the mother's breast.

3.....How dear soever our liberties, estates or lives are to us, if the Lord have need of them, we must let them go.  Thus you read, Rev. 12:11.  "They loved not their lives unto the death.".....

.....Union with Christ is the steady foundation on which the hopes of heaven are laid....."I will come unto him;" that is, to dwell in his soul for ever, never to leave him more; therefore (Eph. 3:17.) he is said to dwell in our hearts by faith; not sojourn for a night, but abide there for ever.  Nothing can separate Christ and that soul, Rom. 8:35.  Thy soul shall never be an habitation for Satan any more.  When Christ comes in, he saith, as of the temple, "Here will I dwell for ever.".....This coming in of Christ entitles the soul to all spiritual privileges, 1 John 5:12.  "He that hath the Son, hath life:" and, 1 Cor. 3:22-23.  "All is yours, for ye are Christ's.".....This is the highest honour that ever God put upon a creature, I will come in to him.  O, how should the soul feel itself advanced by such an honour as this!  What, to be the living temple of Jesus Christ! for Christ to dwell, and walk in thy soul! as it is 2 Cor. 6:16.  I tell you, this is an honour beyond and above the honour done to angels.....
                                                                                                                                            John Flavel

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