Christian, survey yourself. You call yourself “Christian,” which once was a pejorative, but now is a self-applied appellation of faith. How often do you consider the implications of having laid claim to this title?
As Christians, we are called as His disciples not only to follow Christ and His teachings but also to reflect Christ Himself. For we were “predestined to become conformed to the image” of Christ (Rom. 8:29). According to Paul, we are as He is, for “as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly (1 Cor. 15:48).
Paul says this in a comparison of having been born in Adam to having been born in Christ (1 Cor. 15:47-48). We have been born in Christ, and therefore are “those who are heavenly.”
What then, Christian? Do you live as if still of Adam? Are you “earthy” instead of “heavenly”? Or have you been crucified with Christ, and now allow Him to live through you, living this life in the flesh by faith in the Son of God who loved you and gave Himself up for you (Gal. 2:20)?
Brethren, let us live as those worthy of the calling to which we have been called (Eph. 4:1), and be no longer conformed to this world, but transformed by the renewing of our minds (Rom. 12:2) that we may make known to this world the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 1:16).
——————
Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotions
Morning, December 6
"As is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly." 1 Corinthians 15:48
The head and members are of one nature, and not like that monstrous image which Nebuchadnezzar saw in his dream. The head was of fine gold, but the belly and thighs were of brass, the legs of iron, and the feet, part of iron and part of clay. Christ's mystical body is no absurd combination of opposites; the members were mortal, and therefore Jesus died; the glorified head is immortal, and therefore the body is immortal too, for thus the record stands, "Because I live, ye shall live also." As is our loving Head, such is the body, and every member in particular. A chosen Head and chosen members; an accepted Head, and accepted members; a living Head, and living members. If the head be pure gold, all the parts of the body are of pure gold also. Thus is there a double union of nature as a basis for the closest communion. Pause here, devout reader, and see if thou canst without ecstatic amazement, contemplate the infinite condescension of the Son of God in thus exalting thy wretchedness into blessed union with His glory. Thou art so mean that in remembrance of thy mortality, thou mayest say to corruption, "Thou art my father," and to the worm, "Thou art my sister"; and yet in Christ thou art so honoured that thou canst say to the Almighty, "Abba, Father," and to the Incarnate God, "Thou art my brother and my husband." Surely if relationships to ancient and noble families make men think highly of themselves, we have whereof to glory over the heads of them all. Let the poorest and most despised believer lay hold upon this privilege; let not a senseless indolence make him negligent to trace his pedigree, and let him suffer no foolish attachment to present vanities to occupy his thoughts to the exclusion of this glorious, this heavenly honour of union with Christ.
As Christians, we are called as His disciples not only to follow Christ and His teachings but also to reflect Christ Himself. For we were “predestined to become conformed to the image” of Christ (Rom. 8:29). According to Paul, we are as He is, for “as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly (1 Cor. 15:48).
Paul says this in a comparison of having been born in Adam to having been born in Christ (1 Cor. 15:47-48). We have been born in Christ, and therefore are “those who are heavenly.”
What then, Christian? Do you live as if still of Adam? Are you “earthy” instead of “heavenly”? Or have you been crucified with Christ, and now allow Him to live through you, living this life in the flesh by faith in the Son of God who loved you and gave Himself up for you (Gal. 2:20)?
Brethren, let us live as those worthy of the calling to which we have been called (Eph. 4:1), and be no longer conformed to this world, but transformed by the renewing of our minds (Rom. 12:2) that we may make known to this world the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 1:16).
——————
Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotions
Morning, December 6
"As is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly." 1 Corinthians 15:48
The head and members are of one nature, and not like that monstrous image which Nebuchadnezzar saw in his dream. The head was of fine gold, but the belly and thighs were of brass, the legs of iron, and the feet, part of iron and part of clay. Christ's mystical body is no absurd combination of opposites; the members were mortal, and therefore Jesus died; the glorified head is immortal, and therefore the body is immortal too, for thus the record stands, "Because I live, ye shall live also." As is our loving Head, such is the body, and every member in particular. A chosen Head and chosen members; an accepted Head, and accepted members; a living Head, and living members. If the head be pure gold, all the parts of the body are of pure gold also. Thus is there a double union of nature as a basis for the closest communion. Pause here, devout reader, and see if thou canst without ecstatic amazement, contemplate the infinite condescension of the Son of God in thus exalting thy wretchedness into blessed union with His glory. Thou art so mean that in remembrance of thy mortality, thou mayest say to corruption, "Thou art my father," and to the worm, "Thou art my sister"; and yet in Christ thou art so honoured that thou canst say to the Almighty, "Abba, Father," and to the Incarnate God, "Thou art my brother and my husband." Surely if relationships to ancient and noble families make men think highly of themselves, we have whereof to glory over the heads of them all. Let the poorest and most despised believer lay hold upon this privilege; let not a senseless indolence make him negligent to trace his pedigree, and let him suffer no foolish attachment to present vanities to occupy his thoughts to the exclusion of this glorious, this heavenly honour of union with Christ.
Christian, survey yourself. You call yourself “Christian,” which once was a pejorative, but now is a self-applied appellation of faith. How often do you consider the implications of having laid claim to this title?
As Christians, we are called as His disciples not only to follow Christ and His teachings but also to reflect Christ Himself. For we were “predestined to become conformed to the image” of Christ (Rom. 8:29). According to Paul, we are as He is, for “as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly (1 Cor. 15:48).
Paul says this in a comparison of having been born in Adam to having been born in Christ (1 Cor. 15:47-48). We have been born in Christ, and therefore are “those who are heavenly.”
What then, Christian? Do you live as if still of Adam? Are you “earthy” instead of “heavenly”? Or have you been crucified with Christ, and now allow Him to live through you, living this life in the flesh by faith in the Son of God who loved you and gave Himself up for you (Gal. 2:20)?
Brethren, let us live as those worthy of the calling to which we have been called (Eph. 4:1), and be no longer conformed to this world, but transformed by the renewing of our minds (Rom. 12:2) that we may make known to this world the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 1:16).
——————
Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotions
Morning, December 6
"As is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly." 1 Corinthians 15:48
The head and members are of one nature, and not like that monstrous image which Nebuchadnezzar saw in his dream. The head was of fine gold, but the belly and thighs were of brass, the legs of iron, and the feet, part of iron and part of clay. Christ's mystical body is no absurd combination of opposites; the members were mortal, and therefore Jesus died; the glorified head is immortal, and therefore the body is immortal too, for thus the record stands, "Because I live, ye shall live also." As is our loving Head, such is the body, and every member in particular. A chosen Head and chosen members; an accepted Head, and accepted members; a living Head, and living members. If the head be pure gold, all the parts of the body are of pure gold also. Thus is there a double union of nature as a basis for the closest communion. Pause here, devout reader, and see if thou canst without ecstatic amazement, contemplate the infinite condescension of the Son of God in thus exalting thy wretchedness into blessed union with His glory. Thou art so mean that in remembrance of thy mortality, thou mayest say to corruption, "Thou art my father," and to the worm, "Thou art my sister"; and yet in Christ thou art so honoured that thou canst say to the Almighty, "Abba, Father," and to the Incarnate God, "Thou art my brother and my husband." Surely if relationships to ancient and noble families make men think highly of themselves, we have whereof to glory over the heads of them all. Let the poorest and most despised believer lay hold upon this privilege; let not a senseless indolence make him negligent to trace his pedigree, and let him suffer no foolish attachment to present vanities to occupy his thoughts to the exclusion of this glorious, this heavenly honour of union with Christ.
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