Ver. 4. Christ our Life.
I. The vital principle recognised.—“Christ who is our life.” 1. The life is spiritual in its nature. 2. Eternal in its duration.
II. The splendid spectacle predicted.—“Christ shall appear.”
1. The manner.—In the glory of His Father, with His angels.
2. The purpose.—To judge the quick and the dead.
III. The glorious hope awakened.—“Then shall ye appear with Him in glory.” 1. The great hope of the Christian life is that one day we shall be with Christ. 2. That we shall participate in Christ’s glory. 3. These words are full of comfort to those drawing near to death.—J. T. Woodhouse.
MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.—Verses 5–9.
Mortification of the Sinful Principle in Man.
Practice follows doctrine. The genuineness of a precept is tested by its adaptability to the practical working out of life’s problem. The apostle has laid down his doctrine clearly and emphatically, and now he proceeds to enforce the use of the best methods for securing the highest degree of personal holiness. These methods are in perfect harmony with the exalted experience into which the believer is introduced when he is risen with Christ and participates in that glorious life which is hid with Christ in God.
I. That the sinful principle in man has an active outward development.—1. It is mundane in its tendencies. “Your members which are upon the earth” (ver. 5). It is earthly, sensual, depraved. It teaches the soul to grovel when it ought to soar. It is in sympathy with the whole mass of earthly things—riches, honour, pleasure, fame—which stand opposed to the higher aspirations of the soul, whose affection is fixed on things above.