1 Corinthians 3:22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; I. THAT ONLY GODLY MEN LIVE. First, the godly man only liveth, because he is united to God and Christ, the fountain of life. David doth often style God "the fountain of life" (Psalm 36:9). And in His favour there is life. And in the New Testament, especially by John, Christ is made the Author of all life. Secondly, only the godly man liveth, because he hath a spiritual and a new life added to his animal life. Thirdly, the godly man only liveth, because he only hath the true blessedness and comfort of this life. He only hath true joy and peace of conscience, and this only the Scripture calls life. Fourthly, the godly only live, or life is theirs, because they only know how to improve the days of their life for God. Fifthly, life is only the godly man's, because he hath an interest in eternal life. He hath passed from death unto life (John 5:24). He shall never die that liveth this life. Sixthly, the godly man only liveth, because he taketh his life from God, and referreth it to His glory. "Whether we live, we live to the Lord," said Paul (Romans 14:8). Seventhly, the righteous only live, because they mortify and subdue those sins that kill our bodies, that take away our lives. Lastly, the godly man only liveth, because, even in the last breathings of this life, his hopes and comforts do most remain. "The righteous hath hope in his death" (Proverbs 14:32). And this hope is called a lively hope. II. HOW CAN IT BE SAID THAT THE WICKED DO NOT LIVE, WHEN THEY ARE SAID TO HAVE THEIR PORTION CHIEFLY IN THIS LIFE? 1. They are dead in their sins, and hereby their faith, their religion, their Christianity is all dead. 2. They do not live, because they are in a condemned estate; they are appointed to wrath. 3. They do not live, because all their time is lost, so all the time of a man's unregeneracy is no life. 4. They make everything an instrument of death — their health, their wealth, their honours, are all deadly herbs in the pot; their tongue speaks the words of death; their hands work the works of death. (A. Burgess.) Parallel Verses KJV: Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; |
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