What did Jesus mean when he promised an abundant life? In John 10:10, Jesus said, The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it to the full Unlike a thief, the Lord Jesus does not come for selfish reasons. He comes to give, not receive. Comes so that people may have life in Him that is meaningful, helpful, cheerful and eternal. we receive this abundant life when we accept him as our Savior. This rich is perisson Greek word meaning too highly, beyond measure more superfluous, so abundant as to be considerably more than what one would expect or anticipate amount. In short, Jesus promises us a much better life than we might imagine, a concept that reminds us in 1 Corinthians 2: 9: Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things God hath prepared for them that love him. . The apostle Paul tells us that God is able to do all things more abundantly than all that we ask or think, and does it for His power, a power that is at work within us if we belong to Him (Ephesians 3: 20). Before you start having visions of luxury homes, expensive cars, cruises worldwide, and more money than we spend, we have to pause and think about what Jesus taught about the abundant life. The Bible tells us that wealth, prestige, position and power in this world are not Gods priorities for us (1 Corinthians 1: 26-29). In terms of economic, academic and social status, most Christians do not come from the privileged classes. Clearly, then, an abundant life does not consist in an abundance of material things. If that were the case, Jesus would have been the richest men. But the opposite is true (Matthew 8:20). The abundant life is eternal life, a life that begins when we come to Christ and receive Him as Savior, and continues throughout eternity. The biblical definition of life - specifically eternal life - is provided by Jesus himself: And this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (John 17: 3). This definition does not mention the length of the days, health, prosperity, family or career. In fact, the only thing mentioned is the knowledge of God, which is the key to a truly abundant life. What is the abundant life? First, wealth is spiritual wealth, not material. In fact, God is not overly concerned about the physical circumstances of our lives. He assures us that we need not worry about food or clothing (Matthew 6: 25-32; Philippians 4:19). The physical blessings may or may not be part of a God-centered life; neither wealth nor poverty is a sure sign of our standing with God. Solomon had all the material blessings available to a man but found all nonsense - vanity of vanities (Ecclesiastes 5: 10-15). Paul, on the other hand, was happy in any physical circumstance that was (Philippians 4: 11-12). Secondly, eternal life, life why a Christian really cares, is not determined by the length, but a relationship with God. This is why, once we become and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, is said to have eternal life now (1 John 5: 11-13), though not, of course correctly. The length of life on earth is not synonymous with the abundant life. Finally, the Christian life revolves around the principle of grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). This teaches us that the abundant life is a continuous learning process, practice, and maturation, and failure recovery, setting, perseverance, and maturity because, in our present state, see through a glass, darkly (1 Corinthians 13 : 12). One day we will see God face to face, and know fully as we will be fully known (1 Corinthians 13:12). No longer struggle with sin and doubt. This will be the abundant life finally realized. Although we are naturally eager to material things, as Christians, our perspective of life must be revolutionized (Romans 12: 2). As we become new creations when we come to Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) and must be transformed our understanding of the abundance. True abundant life is an abundance of love, joy, peace and the rest of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5: 22-23), there is an abundance of stuff. Is a life that is eternal, and therefore, our interest is in the eternal, not temporary. Paul admonishes us, Set your affection on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3: 2-3).
Posted on: Thu, 01 Jan 2015 17:47:49 +0000
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