CHRIST OUR LIFE by William Covert

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Oct 11, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 41.

CHRIST OUR LIFE

By William Covert

By William Covert.

Conditions of Life

MAN formed from the dust of the ground was told that perpetuity of life depended on obedience to His Creator. If his conduct harmonized with the law that governed his life, he would continue to live; but if he took a contrary course, he would separate himself from life and die. He was permitted to choose for himself, and the choice he made brought him death. Having taken the evil course, the Lord pronounced penalty upon him, saying, "Cursed is the ground for thy sake; . . . thorns . . . and thistles shall it bring forth to thee, . . . for out of it wast thou taken, for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." Gen. 3:17-19.

His relation to life as it now stands is pathetically told by the ancient patriarch in the land of Uz: "Man that is born of woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down; he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not." Job 14:1, 2. A few days of sunshine, a few nights of storm, and his race is over. A little springtime of budding and blooming, a short period of summer in which to build up and grow strong, a fleeting while of autumn life for ripening, an hour of snowy cold in December,—and then comes the funeral procession to the tomb.

Having sinned he must die. 1 Cor. 15:12. Being of the earth, he is earthy (1 Cor. 15:47), and must return to his dwelling in the dust (Isa. 26:19).

'Alienated from the Life of God'

Following Satan in transgression darkened man's understanding, and in so doing he was alienated from the life of God through ignorance and blindness of heart. Eph. 4:18. Having been alienated from the life of God, he can not live. Thus situated, the apostle declares he has "no hope," and is "without God in the world."

This is a lamentable state for one to reach, who, a little while before, was created in the image of his Maker, and crowned ruler of the world. But he could rightly reproach none but himself for bringing about the sad change. Through open transgression he connected himself with the Father of lies, the author of corruption, the rebel against God, and the source of death. If he still abides in such connection he will most certainly be consumed root and branch, with all other refuse of the earth and the universe, in the fires of Gehenna, which are prepared for the devil and his angels. Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:9. The immutable law that governs sowing and reaping calls upon man to gather his harvest. "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption." Gal. 6:7, 8.

A Way of Escape

But notwithstanding the deep, dark gulf into which fallen man has been plunged, a way to escape from the horrible pit has been provided. God through His love created man, and God's love is the greatest and the strongest power in the universe. The sinning and the dying of deluded men can not satisfy that love, therefore man must be given another opportunity for life. The way and the working of this love in providing this way of life is made known in that wonderful announcement of Jesus, where He said, "God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.

Since man failed to fully comprehend and to carry out the Father's purpose in the creation of man, it became necessary to make substitutionary provision for him. To accomplish this, the Son of God came to our world, and in human form and in human flesh took man's place, and in that relation lived a life perfectly conformed to the will of God. When He had accomplished this most fully, He gave His life an offering to pay the penalty of man's transgression. Thus, through the living and the dying of Jesus, atonement was provided for the sinner.

The obedience rendered in humanity by Jesus is imputed to all who believe in Him. Not this only, but the blood of the Son of God, upon whom no condemnation rested, can atone for the forfeited life of the transgressor who trustingly accepts of the reconciliation.

The apostle tells how the Father hath set forth Christ, "to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; . . . that He might be just, and the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." Rom. 3:25, 26.

The Son of God, having lived for man, and having also died for man, has the right to impart His life to all who are willing to be transformed into His image.

Necessity of the New Birth

There is safety for the kingdom of God in doing this since the person must be born again in order to get this new life. The new birth is of incorruptible parentage, and has in it the germ of eternal life. Thus the beauty of the scripture which says "God sent His only-begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him." 1 John 4:9. This statement agrees with the scripture where it is written, "He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." 1 John 5:12.

The teaching in much of the current theology of to-day which declares that man has a deathless soul or spirit which survives the decease of the body, and that every son and daughter of Adam's race must therefore live eternally, contradicts the plain Word of God set forth in this article. It is based upon the proposition of the tempter in Eden, who said death would not come to man even tho he did sin. Gen. 3:4. Were such teaching true, then the Gospel of Christ could not be true. This, of course,

is what Satan wants men to believe, because it robs Christ of His glory as man's Redeemer. Christ came to bring life and immortality to light through the Gospel. 2 Tim. 1:10. But if man possessed immortality apart from the Gospel, then it was not brought to light through the Gospel. If man in his own nature had that which Christ came to bestow upon him, then were the offering of Christ in vain, yea, superfluous and null.

But the blessed One in whom were hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, most fully understood man's need, and in His offering and ministration has made just such provision for it as exactly meets the case. Nothing superfluous was done, nor is anything lacking to make it perfect. Complete obedience has been rendered, and this covers with a robe of righteousness the sinner who believes. The vital power of God's Spirit takes hold of his heart and transforms him into "a new creature [creation]; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Cor. 5:17. The sinner can by faith unite with Christ in His crucifixion and thus pass through the ordeal of death. He is then buried with Him in baptism. By faith a new man comes forth to live with Him. No condemnation rests upon the new man. The penalty of death which held the old man was met in Christ, and in his

stead is a free man living through the life of his Lord. Gal. 2:20.

Christ Our Life, Our All

Because he died with Christ he can, and does, live with Christ. By letting go of his old sinful life, he can, and does, take hold upon the life of Christ and live by and through Him. He has passed from the state of death where sin placed him, into a state of life where Christ's righteousness has raised him.

There is no other name under heaven by which the sinner can be saved except the name of Jesus. There is no other road by which heaven can be reached than by the way of the cross. The sinner's own name will not do. The name of no friend except that of Jesus, who is the sinner's true Friend, will avail to save. No plea except the plea that Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life will be acceptable. You, friendly sinner, must make the plea yourself. Plead the efficacy of the life, the power of the blood, and all in the name of Jesus, who joins you in this plea for your salvation. Fear not to make the plea, for Jesus Himself will present it to the Father in His own name for you. He is your life. Because He lives, you can live also. Claim your life in Him. He pleads for you to do it.

Bethel, Wis.