The Spirit and Life

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John 6:60-65

Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?…

I. THE LIFE OF THE SOUL IS DERIVED FROM A SPIRITUAL SOURCE.

1. The Scriptures teach that the Holy Spirit is the Communicator of life —

(1)  Physical (Genesis 1:2; Psalm 33:6).

(2)  Intellectual (Proverbs 8:12, 14; Job 32:8).

(3)  Spiritual (Acts 2:36-38).

2. The spirit of the new man inspires him to attend to the things that are appropriate to his life, and so he grows in grace (Romans 8:5).

3. A careful consideration of the ordinances of Christianity, anal their underlying truths, are conducive to spiritual results.

(1)  Baptism, the symbol of death to sin, separation from the world, and the commencement of a new life.

(2)  The Lord's Supper, the memorial of the sublimest self-sacrifice.

(3)  The Scriptures, which contain the will of God and eternal life.

II. LIFE FROM THE FLESH IS IMPOSSIBLE (Galatians 5:17).

1. However imperceptible the path of a soul under the control of the unregenerate senses is a downward one (Romans 8:8).

2. The fleshly spirit divided Jewish society into hypocritical formalists and icy sceptics; and the same spirit has continued to work in priestly corruptions and theoretical and practical infidelity within and without the Church.

III. THE POWER OF CHRIST'S WORDS IS SPIRITUAL.

1. They are spiritual in their nature.

2. They are life-giving. Flesh and Spirit.

(1)  Flesh here means the outward and sensuous, which appeals to the eye, ear, etc. There was much of this in the old Jewish faith; but whenever they rested in it, it profited them nothing.

(2)  Spirit does not mean the Holy Spirit, but the inward part of religion which the soul understands and lives upon.

I. THE UNPROFITABLE FLESH. The external observances of religion in themselves.

1. The "real Presence." If Christ were really eaten carnally, then He could only profit carnally like other food. Does grace operate through the stomach? On the contrary, the real reception consists in belief in the Incarnation, trust in the death, realization of the spiritual indwelling of Christ.

2. Baptism. The putting away of the filth of the flesh is nought, the answer of a good conscience towards God is the vitality of baptism.

3. Apostolical succession. The mere fleshly connection between bishop and bishop, established by successive laying on of hands, supposing it could be proved, is valueless: the apostles' successors are those who preach apostolic doctrine, display apostolic piety, and do apostolic work.

4. The value of ornate worship must be determined by what in it is sensuous and what spiritual.

5. The same applies to architecture and symbolism: do they gratify a carnal taste or minister to spiritual life?

6. Eloquence often excites the same emotions as the theatre is as sounding brass, and only profits as the vehicle of a truth that moves the inmost soul.

7. Revivalistic movements frequently engender a mere carnal enthusiasm, and, unless their excitements stir the spirits of a man towards God and holiness, they are based upon a lie.

8. Prayer and ordinances of any kind as mere matters of form and habit profit nothing. Their power lies wholly in their spirituality.

II. THE QUICKENING SPIRIT.

1. It is the spiritual nature which quickens a man. He who has not received this from the Holy Ghost is dead in trespasses and sins.

2. This quickens all ordinances and makes them vitalizing means of grace.

3. So with spiritual acts and moral duties.

4. This spiritual nature has for its Author the Divine Father and is the actual operation of the Holy Spirit.

5. The mark by which it is discovered is faith.

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