The Unconquerable Life by E.J.Waggoner

The Unconquerable Life
E. J. Waggoner
01 "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
And the light shineth in the darkness, and the darkness
apprehended it not." John 1:4, 5 (RV). The marginal
rendering, "overcame," gives us the exact meaning of the
text, and conveys a message of great comfort to the
believer. Let us see what it is.
02 Christ is the light of the world. See John 8:12. But
His light is His life, as the text quoted states. He says, "I am
the light of the world; he that followeth Me shall not walk
in darkness, but shall have the light of life." The whole
world was in the darkness of sin. This darkness was due to
lack of knowledge of God; as the apostle Paul says that the
Gentiles are "darkened in their understanding, alienated
from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in
them because of the hardening of their heart." Eph. 4:18.
03 Satan, the ruler of the darkness of this world, had
done his utmost to deceive men as to the true character of
God. He had made the world believe that God was like
men—cruel, vindictive, and passionate. Even the Jews, the
people whom God had chosen to be the bearers of His light
to the world, had departed from God, and while professedly
separate from the heathen, were enveloped in heathen
darkness. Then Christ came, and "The people which sat in
darkness saw a great light, and to them which sat in the
region and shadow of death, to them did light spring up."
Matt. 4:16. His name was Emanuel, God with us. "God was
in Christ." God refuted the falsehoods of Satan, not by loud
arguments, but simply by living His life among men, so
that all might see it. He demonstrated the power of the life
of God, and the possibility of its being manifested in men.
04 The life which Christ lived was untainted by sin.
Satan exerted all his powerful arts, yet he could not affect
that spotless life. Its light always shone with unwavering
brilliancy. Because Satan could not produce the least
shadow of sin in the life, he could not bring it within his
power, that of the grave. No one could take Christ's life
from Him; He voluntarily laid it down. And for the same
reason, when He had laid it down, Satan could not prevent
Him from taking it up again. Said He: "I lay down My life,
that I might take it again. No man taketh it from Me, but I
lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I
have power to take it again. This commandment have I
received of My Father." John 10:17, 18. To the same intent
are the words of the apostle Peter concerning Christ:—
05 "Whom God hath raised up having loosed the pains
of death; because it was not possible that He should be
holden of it." Acts 2:24. Thus was demonstrated the right
of the Lord Jesus Christ to be made a high priest "after the
power of an endless life." Heb. 7:16.
06 This endless, spotless life Christ gives to all who
believe on Him. "As Thou hast given Him power over all
flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou
hast given Him. And this is life eternal, that they might
know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom
Thou hast sent." John 17:2, 3. Christ dwells in the hearts of
all those who believe on Him. "I am crucified with Christ;
nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and
the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of
the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me."
Gal. 2:20. See also Eph. 3:16, 17.
07 Christ, the light of the world, dwelling in the hearts
of His followers, constitutes them the light of the world.
Their light comes not from themselves, but comes from
Christ, who dwells in them. Their life is not from
themselves, but it is the life of Christ manifest in their
mortal flesh. See 2 Cor. 4:11. This is what it is to live "a
Christian life."
08 This living light comes from God in a never-failing
stream. The psalmist exclaims: "For with Thee is the
fountain of life; in Thy light shall we see light." Ps. 36:9.
"And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as
crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the
Lamb." Rev. 22:1. "And the Spirit and the Bride say,
Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him
that is athirst, come. And whosoever will, let him take the
water of life freely." Rev. 22:17.
09 "Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you,
Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His
blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth My flesh, and
drinketh My blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up
at the last day." John 4:53, 54. This life of Christ we eat
and drink by feasting upon His Word, for He added, "It is
the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing; the
words that I speak unto you, they are Spirit, and they are
life." Verse 63. Christ dwells in His inspired Word, and
through it we get His life. This life is given freely to all
who will receive it, as we read above; and again we read
that Jesus stood and cried, saying, "If any man thirst, let
him come unto Me and drink." John 7:37.
10 This life is the Christian's light, and it is that which
makes him a light to others. It is his life; and the blessed
comfort to him is that no matter how great the darkness
through which he has to pass, no darkness has power to put
out that light. That light of life is his as long as he exercises
faith, and the darkness cannot affect it. Let all, therefore,
who profess the name of the Lord, have the confidence that
can say,
11 "Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy; when I
fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a
light unto me." Micah 7:8.˜
—The Present Truth, Vol. 8, No. 17, August 25, 1892;

The Bible Echo, October 15, 1892;
Lessons on Faith, pp. 72-74.

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What is the light that Christ brings according to the passage?

How does Christ give eternal life to believers?

The Unconquerable Life

—The Present Truth, Vol. 8, No. 17, August 25, 1892;

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