John 10:10 – The thief does not come except that he may steal, slaughter, and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
The life Jesus has given to all who will receive is one full of the Holy Spirit. The abundant life is an extraordinary life as the Greek word ‘perissos’ indicates (1 John 3:24, 4:13, 5:12; Galatians 2:20; John 14:23, 17:21). The contrast is so great between the life in God and the life without the Spirit that it is like life and death (John 5:24; 1 John 3:14). Whereas before we were under the law of sin and death, now we are under the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1-2).
The abundant life in Christ Jesus is the life that Father intended all men to have when He created Adam and Eve (Genesis 1:26; Ephesians 1:4, 2:10, 4:23-24; Colossians 3:10). It is a life that not only reveals His glory, but enjoys all of His goodness (John 17:22, 1:16; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 5:9; and Philippians 1:11; Romans 5:17, 15:13, 14:17). This life in Christ Jesus has joy unspeakable, peace that passes understanding, and divine love (1 Peter 1:8; Philippians 4:7; John 13:34, 15:12). All of these glorious expressions of life flow out of us like rivers of living water (Psalm 46:4; John 7:38-39).
The life of God produces the righteousness of God and the Holiness of God (Galatians 3:21-22; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 14:17). The abundant life in Christ Jesus is eternal life – which is not only a duration of time, but a quality of life. Eternal life is not only for the future, but something God’s people possess now – and is a light to the world and the salt of the Earth (1 John 1:2, 3:15, 5:11,13, 5:20; John 3:15, 6:54, 17:3; and Romans 5:17,21, 6:23; 1 Peter 2:9; Matthew 5:13-16).
Blessings, Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
