3 LIVES, 2 AIMS, 1 GLORIOUS GIFT

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The Bible talks about THREE TYPES OF LIFE:

  1. NATURAL: It is the one that began when God breathed into the man he formed out of dust and ends when people breathe their last. “Then the Lord God formed man out of the dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils and the man became a living being” (Gen 2:7).  When God created humans, He elevated them above other creation. Humans had to cooperate and rule over creation. When humans sinned, they were corrupted and rather sought to dominate, humiliate and even murder other humans. They even began to worship nature which they were supposed to rule (Rom 1:23, 25, 29-32). Vengeance was the main justice they knew, so the endless cycle of retribution condemned humanity to eventually wipe itself out without redemption.
  2. ABUNDANT: It is the return of humans to the glory of God whereby they no longer seek to dominate other humans made in the image of God, nor worship creation. “I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance” (John 10:10b). God alone is worshipped as the source of all, every single human is the object of care as a partner in God’s gift of creation, and creation is managed to continue sustaining natural life. It is life at peace with God. It is not a selfish accumulation of abundance, but a sacrificial catering to the needs of all. According to Jesus, person’s life does not consist in the abundance of his resources (Lk 12:15). Abundant living sacrifices the comforts of natural life for eternal life. You can only have abundant life if you live by God’s word, and are enabled and led by the Holy Spirit.
  3. ETERNAL: Is the life of God that is not limited by time. Because God set eternity in the heart of humans, we are sometimes able to have some imaginations of life after death (Eccl. 3:11).  It is a gift of God promised to those who believe in Jesus, who are given the right to become children of the Eternal God. It is guaranteed by the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. (John 1:12; 3:16; 10:28, 1Co 15:22)

Jesus came to the Earth for TWO PURPOSES:

  1. TO IMPACT ABUNDANT LIFE: By His life Jesus demonstrated that an offended person can decide not to revenge but rather seek the good of the offender, and leave vengeance to God. This way the cycle of vengeance is broken and the offender has no choice but to appeal to God Himself for mercy. People so impacted by the mercy of God also impact others and more people are prepared to be set free from sin, through repentance and forgiveness. “For you were called to this, because Christi also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in His steps… when reviled, He did not revile in return…” (1 Pe 2:21, 23)
  2. TO PURCHASE ETERNAL LIFE: By His death Jesus atoned for humanity’s sins and paved the way to inherit God’s gift of eternal life. “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him” (1Thess 5:9-10)


In Christ God has promised us ONE GLORIOUS GIFT:

It is the life promised by Jesus to those who believe in him, repent of their sin and live in a way that bring others to obtain the mercy of God. “And this is the promise that He himself made to us: eternal life” (1 John 3:25) Jesus’ interaction with the thief on the cross shows that it is the most important reason why He came: “We are punished justly…, but this man has done nothing wrong…Jesus, remember me when you come into Your kingdom!”…and Jesus said to Him, “I assure you: Today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Lk 23: 41-43). The thief BELIEVED Jesus, REPENTED of his sin, CONFESSED Him before men, and Jesus granted him ETERNAL LIFE. Natural life is unpredictable and limited to this realm. Those who live within its brackets live by very low ideals, occupied by only their selfish interests and things that will perish. Those who are convinced of eternal life live in purity, willingly sacrifice their comfort and their lives for the unimaginable glorious gift of God- ETERNAL LIFE

NB: All Bible quotations are form the Holman Christian Standard Bible



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