The Nature of Divine Life

From T. Austin-Sparks' message Discipleship in the School of Christ: 

". . . remember--'In him was life' (John 1:4). Is He [the Lord Jesus] different in nature from other men? Everyone can see that He is different from other men in His very nature, and the difference is made by this life that is in Him. This life brings with it a new and different consciousness. Look at the Lord Jesus! What was His real consciousness? This was a thing about which He was always speaking, and it was so very evident in His case. He said: 'I and the Father are one' (John 10:30); 'I do always the things that are pleasing to him' (the Father) (John 8:29); 'The works that I do in my Father's name' (John 10:25). Oh, this word 'Father' in John's Gospel!

"The consciousness of Jesus Christ every day was of His union with His Father, the oneness that existed between them: 'As thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee' (John 17:21). The consciousness of the Lord Jesus was of the very closest union with God as His Father, and that was because the very life of God was in Him.

"His life was a God-conscious life; but God-consciousness in the sense of perfect oneness. And that is what it means to have this life. Man never had that. Jesus came to bring it in His own person: not to talk about union with God, but to live out a life of union with God and to bring His disciples into the same union. 'I came that they might have life'--in other words: 'I am come that they may have the same consciousness of God as Father that I have and that they may have the same divine nature in them as I have.' (Not deity, but nature.)

"This life means another thing. Life must always grow. You know that very well! Whatever kind of life it is, if it is really life it must grow. You know that in your garden, and it is true in human beings. The law of life is constant development.

"This was true of the Lord Jesus. It is said of Him that He was made 'perfect through sufferings' (Hebrews 2:10) and that word 'perfect' means 'complete'. He was made complete, full-grown, through sufferings--'Though he was a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered' (Hebrews 5:8). Jesus was growing by the power of this life in Him, and if we possess this life we should grow. Paul says: 'That we may be no longer children . . . but may grow up in all things' (Ephesians 4:14,15) . . . 'Till we all attain . . . unto a fullgrown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ' (Ephesians 4:13). So, to possess this life really means that we ought to be growing, and if we are not there is something wrong with us.

"Now notice these things: a different nature--a different consciousness--a different relationship--and a constant growth."