The Christian life: its effect upon the world.
I. How THIS EFFECT MAY BE OBSCURED. By murmurings (i.e. active rebellions against the will of God) and disputings (i.e. efforts of the intellect to persuade ourselves that God's voice is not speaking to us).
II. HOW IT IS MANIFESTED. Where God's will is accepted, it will render our lives blameless towards him and harmless towards our fellow-men. Thus are we manifested as the sons of God, being partakers of his life.
III. WHAT IT CONSISTS IN.
1. Shining as lights. The faithful are the illuminated, shining, not in their own light, but in the presence of the Light of the world within them. He so fills them with himself that their whole body becomes full of light.
2. Holding forth the Word of life. The light is the life of men. They who are possessors of the light must impart it. One light may be kindled from another without diminution of its illuminating power. It is the Word of God, i.e. the revelation of God, the Word of life (cf. 1 John 1:1), which is "a lantern unto our feet, and a light unto our path."—V.W.H.
The law of sacrifice.
St. Paul takes his metaphor from the methods of sacrificial worship in common use among heathen nations. He sees "the soul of good in things evil," and even in the notions of corrupt human imaginations a distorted reflection of truth. He compares the faith and devotion of the Philippian Christians to a sacrifice presented on the altar, and he is ready to pour out his own life's blood as the libation which shall complete this offering and render it acceptable.
I. THE TRUE CHRISTIAN SACRIFICE. The offering of ourselves, our powers, and possessions. How can these be offered? Only through our Lord Jesus Christ, who offered himself for us, because we had nothing worthy of God's acceptance. His sacrifice becomes ours, inasmuch as we are in him. By his being in us he now enables us to offer ourselves.
II. THE TRUE CHRISTIAN PRIESTHOOD. To offer ourselves for one another is the true privilege of priesthood. Christ is the one Priest, for he alone is worthy to offer anything acceptable to God. In as far as we are partakers of his spirit we share in his priesthood and are permitted to offer ourselves for each other.—V.W.H.