The Works Volume 4 by Richard Sibbes (Available from Amazon or free here) - Conclude 'A Christian's portion'.
This week Sibbes finishes expounding his text, 'Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's' (1 Corinthians 3:21-23).
He is up to the last three components of the verse and so firstly Sibbes encourages us that all things are ours: 'We see than that a Christian is a great man, a rich man indeed; and only he is great and rich'.
Secondly Sibbes teaches us what it means that we are Christ's. We are Christ's by:
(i) creation;
(ii) gift;
(iii) redemption;
(iv) marriage;
(v) consent.
Thirdly, and lastly, we see that all things are the Father's: 'Christ is the Father's, and we are the Father's in Christ ; and all things are ours in Christ. There is no immediate communion between us and the Father, but Christ comes between God and us. '
I particularly liked this part: 'Again, if we be Christ's, why then should we fear want, when all things are ours, and we are Christ's? Can a man want at the fountain? Can a man want light that is in the sun ? Can a Christian that hath all things his ; and in this tenure his, all things are his, because Christ is his, can anything be wanting to him ? It should comfort us against the time to come, if we be stripped of all, yet we have the Fountain of all. We must be stripped of all at the hour of death, whether we will or no ; but if we be Christ's, and Christ be ours, all things are in him in an eminent manner. It is a wonderful comfort for the present, against all fears and wants ; and it is a comfort for the time to come, that when all things shall be taken from us, yet he that is better than all things, that is better than the world itself, will remain to us. Therefore let us think of these things. It is wondrous comfortable to be Christ's, and to be his in such a peculiar manner.'
Oh yes, it is comfortable to be Christ's!
Next week's reading
Read 'The spiritual man's aim'.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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