Abundant life!

Now let’s examine this verse…John 10:10 says “The thief comes to steal, kill, and to destroy, but I am come that they might have life (Zoe), and that they might have it (Zoe) more abundantly (perissos).”


Life: Zoe – vitality, animated, usually applied to spiritual life (as in aionios zoas) as opposed to biological life (called bios)


Abundantly: perissos - exceeding some number or measure or rank or need; superior, extraordinary, surpassing, uncommon


It is clear that John here is speaking of Zoas life not Bios life….and the “more abundantly” is referring to a more abundant form of this life (Zoe).


You see the spirit man that makes human beings a living soul, just like angels, are created to exist forever. No one ceases to exist. Eternal life is not a continuation of this bios type life. It is NOT about the quantity of life, but a new quality of life. The one we were always meant to enjoy. Only those who know God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent have this quality of life. Only these can exist in the presence of God.


This passage (John 10:10) does not speak of His giving us an abundant “bios” life, OR a life of abundance. It is the promise of the Spirit of Christ in us (the hope of glory) by which we are His children (a new order of being, a new creation). It is not something we obtain upon death but it is a present reality that will never cease. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ in them are not His.


But yet, I hear and am asked all the time by Christian men and women “Where is this abundance we are supposed to have?” They somehow think that they are supposed to have wealth and health and the things of this world, but this is not speaking of such things.


Even so, if one thinks of the time and the people Jesus said this to, who lived then in what they thought modern times, to get from Damascus to Jerusalem took days and they travelled by foot or donkey. They had no entertainment or the joy of snacking or going out in the evening for a fun time. They had no transportation, no electric lights, no water from the faucets. In fact each day one would have to carry large pots to a well or river and carry water to the home making some days a number of trips just to drink and cook let alone wash their few sets of clothes. If they wanted some bread they had to grind the wheat first to make their own flour. Life was continuously laborious.


Now we on the other hand have all sorts of luxuries, foods to choose from, running water, healthcare, transportation, entertainment…and much more, and yet daily we complain and find ourselves stressed and bored. Therefore even if the materialist interpretation were true (which it is not) we in fact actually do have a more abundant life, but sadly I find less and less gratitude and more and more attitude.


Please, my brother and sisters, spread the gratitude. Be of good cheer. Be grateful for all you have or the little you have, but most of all rejoice for you know God not just OF God. You know Christ not just OF Christ. Believe Him not just IN Him…and pray for our family in other lands where they are oppressed and slaughtered for their faith for one day such things could come to your land. Remember from whence cometh your wine and your flax…if your day is a day with God it is a good day. Amen
 
Forgive me Lord!! Thank you for my wonderful life and massive abundance. I give it all to You for more of You in my daily walk. Bless Your Holy Name!
 
2Peter 1:3.. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,

zōḗ; gen. zōḗs, fem. noun from záō (G2198), to live. Life.
(I) Generally, physical life and existence as opposed to death and nonexistence.
(A) Particularly and generally of human life (Luk_16:25; Act_17:25; 1Co_3:22; 1Co_15:19; Heb_7:3; Jas_4:14; Rev_11:11). In Rev_16:3 (TR), psuchḗzṓsa (psuchḗ [G5590], soul, life; zṓsa [G2198], living), living soul; in other MSS psuchḗ zōḗs, soul of life, means every living soul (Sept.: Gen_2:7; Gen_25:7). Of life or existence after rising from the dead, only of Christ (Rom_5:10; 2Co_4:10-12). Metaphorically of the Jewish people (Rom_11:15).

Surly "abundant" life is more than just spiritual blessing, but also physical blessing. Read Deut chapter 28 that talks about the blessing that would come upon those who obey God's commandments. Almost every blessing has to do with physical blessing along with all that they put their hand to do. Not only are we recipients of these blessing as Jesus has redeemed us from the "curse of the Law", but we also are recipients of a New Covenant based on better promises.
 
2Peter 1:3.. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,

zōḗ; gen. zōḗs, fem. noun from záō (G2198), to live. Life.
(I) Generally, physical life and existence as opposed to death and nonexistence.
(A) Particularly and generally of human life (Luk_16:25; Act_17:25; 1Co_3:22; 1Co_15:19; Heb_7:3; Jas_4:14; Rev_11:11). In Rev_16:3 (TR), psuchḗzṓsa (psuchḗ [G5590], soul, life; zṓsa [G2198], living), living soul; in other MSS psuchḗ zōḗs, soul of life, means every living soul (Sept.: Gen_2:7; Gen_25:7). Of life or existence after rising from the dead, only of Christ (Rom_5:10; 2Co_4:10-12). Metaphorically of the Jewish people (Rom_11:15).

Surly "abundant" life is more than just spiritual blessing, but also physical blessing. Read Deut chapter 28 that talks about the blessing that would come upon those who obey God's commandments. Almost every blessing has to do with physical blessing along with all that they put their hand to do. Not only are we recipients of these blessing as Jesus has redeemed us from the "curse of the Law", but we also are recipients of a New Covenant based on better promises.

Great! Only...the Mosaic covenant (Deut. 28) was all about material blessings for their ability to maintain obedience (the land, your fruits, protection, etc.)! It as to teach that they could not therefore would fall on their face in seeking His grace and mercy. Salvation was still by grace through faith...plus the New Covenant is about spiritual blessings. Even few of the spiritually blessed were so blessed materially (even the Apostles died poor by this world's standards and suffered). Yes He promises a living (Matt. 6:33) but it is based on His righteousness (which He imparts by grace through faith) not our own. I believe we must not blend the covenants. If one wants the Mosaic covenant blessings, it is no guarantee of eternal life, plus you must keep the whole of the law (every jot and tittle) which I doubt anyone can maintain.
 
I believe we must not blend the covenants. If one wants the Mosaic covenant blessings, it is no guarantee of eternal life, plus you must keep the whole of the law (every jot and tittle) which I doubt anyone can maintain.

Brother, The benefits of the "law" are still in force, even though we are not under the law, but grace. What we the Church could not do, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and he fulfilled the law for us so we could receive it's benefits.

Rom 8:3.. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,
Rom 8:4.. in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (ESV)

Not only does the Church inherit all the physical blessings of the Old Testament law being fulfilled by Jesus Christ for us, but also all the benefits of the New Testament based on better promises.
 
What we the Church could not do, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and he fulfilled the law for us so we could receive it's benefits.

Believe me I am not trying to argue with you here but the passage you quoted does not mention us receiving its benefits but the "requirement" of the Law (that is, the fulfillment of it). We each and every one will now or at some time commit sin (granted it is the rarer exception not the lifestyle we once loved) and the wages of sin is spiritual death (which we by His grace get to avoid)...because He fulfilled the Law we are no longer under the curse.
 
What we the Church could not do, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and he fulfilled the law for us so we could receive it's benefits.

Believe me I am not trying to argue with you here but the passage you quoted does not mention us receiving its benefits but the "requirement" of the Law (that is, the fulfillment of it). We each and every one will now or at some time commit sin (granted it is the rarer exception not the lifestyle we once loved) and the wages of sin is spiritual death (which we by His grace get to avoid)...because He fulfilled the Law we are no longer under the curse.

Do you know what happens when you are "redeemed" from the "curse" of the law?

Gal 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

You become "beneficiaries" of it blessings!!!!
 
Do you know what happens when you are "redeemed" from the "curse" of the law?

Gal 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

You become "beneficiaries" of it blessings!!!!

I agree! We will inherit with Him all things, but not now! They are ours now but not available to us as we will. To assume so I would have to ask if you are now wealthy and if you never more get ill? Are you able to lend to all others? Do you?

The point was not however these things of this world but that what the passage was referring to is an abundance of that quality of "life"...at least that is how I see it. Without a doubt, even in this material view, we are truly more blessed than people in that time, but so aren't many unbelievers who if the Deut. 28 connection is the point why are some of them so healthy and wealthy???? The Romans were the healthy ad wealthy in Jesus time...did they unknowingly fulfill the law?

Now this is not to say I am not blessed because I am, but I still get ill, am not rich, and everything I put my hand to does not always work out (His will be done not mine), etc.

Do you agree that this passage (John 10:10) is NOT a promise for "a life of abundance"?

Also how do some of you others see this passage? I'm curious...
 
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