Life in Christ
T. Archer, D. D. 1 John 5:11 And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Mark the grammatical form. The statement is not part of the record, but "the record" itself, as if God had given none else. "This is the record," standing out alone in its sublime grandeur. "This is the record" that transcends all others by its brilliancy, upon which every conscience might rest. So in 1 John 2:25 he uses exactly the same emphatic expression — "This is the promise that He hath promised us, even eternal life," as if not a single star shone in the firmament above except this; as if not one promise had been given except this, standing out distinct, full, alone in hopes and comfort to all. And not only he, but St. Paul, so different in the characteristic order of intellect, uses the same kind of expression — "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23); "the gift," as if no other boon had been granted — the gift towering out above all, and standing in its holy Alpine grandeur, the noblest blessing God had ever given to His people. Put these three passages together, and then we have brought before us this glorious truth, that He is emphatically the gift, the record to us, the promise of God of life eternal through His Son. I. THE RELIGION WHICH WE PROFESS, TRUE PRACTICAL CHRISTIANITY, IS LIFE. This truth lies at the foundation of this passage; and what type can be more glorious of good conferred? The most despised creature upon earth clings to life. I need not say that the life here spoken of is not physical life, not a life in common with an ungodly man, not a life in common with the beasts that perish, but spiritual life, life in the soul, life in the thinking elements of our nature, life in that part of our nature which links us with God Himself, and which, if lost, consigns us to everlasting ruin. Such then is the boon; the Christian lives. Religion is no dead thing; it is not formalism, it is not mere professionalism, it is not the assent of the understanding to certain dogmas, it is not the experience in the heart even of certain sentimental emotions. Religion, if it be anything at all, is a living, practical reality. I have the conviction that I have spiritual life, because I think with God, I feel the presence of God, I move in the ways of God. The Christian, then, lives; that life may be mysterious, but it is the distinguishing character of the Christian man that he has this spiritual life in him. I add that it is, moreover, a progressive thing. Here religion harmonises with all the phenomena and rules of life. II. THIS LIFE IS DIVINE IN ITS ORIGIN — "God hath given to us eternal life." All life is of Divine production. Pierce as far as you may into eternity, the deeper and closer our examination of its realities, the more fully and simply are we thrown on our conviction of the Divine origin. All life is the production of the eternal God. The spiritual life of which I speak is, therefore, certainly of His production. The old Greek fable, myth, to use the fashionable expression of modern times, brings out the truth in a simple shape — "You may take a man and set him up by the pillar of the temple, but unless the god who inhabits it touches him he cannot move a step." Or, according to another Greek fable, you may take clay and form and fashion it into the mould of a man, but unless the celestial fire penetrates the frame and imparts life it has no power of action. "Paul may plant, and Apollos may water, but God gives the increase." All means and appliances are in vain until the power of God Himself shall visit the Church — all in vain until Jesus Christ, who, when His message is proclaimed, shall accompany that message with His own living power and waken up dead spirits into eternal life. III. THIS LIFE IS IN CHRIST. The source, I say, of that life which is the gift of God, the source of all life, is Christ Himself. Again, for this purpose He is described as having life in Himself. Mark the emphatic expression. It corresponds with that expression of the living God, "I am that I am" — Jehovah. Pray for this gift, but pray for it in union with Christ's sacrifice, for without His death the Spirit never had come down. IV. THIS LIFE IS NOT ONLY THROUGH THE SON, BUT IS IN THE SON, AND WILL JUST BE IN US AS IT IS IN HIM. In other words, the character of the life of the Son of God is a model character to all the brotherhood of Christ; every Christian is a Christian just in the degree that he is Christ-like. V. THIS LIFE, THIS DIVINE GIFT, IS ETERNAL. Now the soul is eternal, and as such, therefore, this life must endure forever. That man is a fool who tries to procure something by great labour which will last only till tomorrow. But this eternal life never conies to a close. Moreover it is a life which shall expand. I can set no limits to it. VI. WHO HAVE THAT LIFE? What man possesses it? Who has a distinct credential that he does possess it? "He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him." Tell me not of spasmodic enjoyments of spiritual elevation, of occasional paroxysms of spiritual life. I ask, is Christ's life in you? Is His law in your hearts, and is it exemplified in your lives? If so, you have clear proof of the possession of that gift which is everlasting. (T. Archer, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. WEB: The testimony is this, that God gave to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.