First, life is the essence of existence. It is the purpose for which man exists. It is the truth in existence. The world's view is that man exists for "himself". However, from a Biblical stand point, Genesis 1:1 starts with God. "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." Man does not exists for himself, but for God. Satan who had life with God fell because he chose to exist for himself apart from God. Adam and Eve lost their life because they chose to reject the truth of God. True life is in God in that He is the creator and source for all life. "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul" (Genesis 2:7). The Hebrew language indicates that man had more than one type of life (a spiritual life, a soulish life, and a physical life). The manifestation of the life of God in the purest sense is found in Jesus. "In him was life; and the life was the light of men" (John 1:4). "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life" (1 John 1:1). "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1). Jesus, himself is the source of spiritual life. "And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit" (1 Corinthians 15:45).
Second, life is having a personal relationship with God. "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6). Apart from this relationship with the Father through Jesus, man has no life. "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him" (John 3:36). "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live" (John 11:25). This relationship comes about on our part through a faith commitment to Jesus as our Lord. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Romans 10:9-10). This new spiritual life is based upon the new birth (John 3:1-8). In this new birth, the Spirit of God unites with the spirit of man giving it life. Through this personal relationship with God, man is set free from the power and bondages that come with sin and is given a new life. "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them" (Ezekiel 36:26-27).
Third, life is having a quality of existence. A dead dog has existence, but no life. A spiritually dead man has existence, but no spiritual life. "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23). The Bible says that the way of a sinner is HARD. But Jesus said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30). "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). The word "abundant" literally means "above measure". God promises, "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not" (Jeremiah 33:3). The Father gave Jesus everything, but Jesus in turn gives the inheritance to Believers. "All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you" (John 16:15). "For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us" (II Corinthians 1:20).
Fourth, the life that God offers endures for ever. "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand" (John 10:28-29). The language indicates an action with continuing results into the future. In other words, when one receives Jesus as their Lord, the result is God give him life that continues into the future. It is a life that does not spoil or "perish". Jesus confirms this view by saying, "But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life" (Mark 10:30). John the apostle also states, "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son" (I John 5:11). Paul wrote, "Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (I Thessalonians 4:17).
Fifth, the
life that God offers is with Him. The person that is
born of the Spirit of God is by the spirit also seated with God in Heaven.
"And hath raised us up together, and made us sit
together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:6).
Furthermore, Believers have an eternal home in heaven. "Let not your heart
be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house
are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told
you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for
you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am,
there ye may be also" (John 14:1-3). "Surely goodness and mercy shall
follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the
LORD for ever" (Psalms 23:6).
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