Genuine Life – BT4

 

 

 

Reflections of BT1 – BT3

 

 

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What in the world is keeping us separated from the genuine-life of God that is in Christ?  Ephesians 4:18 says people become “alienated/estranged from the zoe genuine-life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart and the darkened understanding.”  Christ’s unconditional love is the only thing that can bring us to our senses to see things as they really are and to soften our hard hearts!

 

Jesus says “Truly, I say to you, whoever does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child shall not enter it” (a).  I asked the Lord recently “what makes a little child so important to be like?” and I heard “they have no life yet to lose.”  Jesus said:  “Remember Lot’s wife.  Whoever seeks to preserve/save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep/save it” (b).  Lot’s life looked back at her life she left in Sodom and Gomorrah and was turned to stone.  The biggest block to the Holy Triune God is the unholy tri-unity of me, myself, and I.  Jeremiah 31:31-33 says that God will teach his people under the completely different-in-kind New Covenant directly, “from the least to the greatest” – no longer from the top-down (c).  No, God would teach directly by His Spirit to the least first, and then to the greatest.  Jesus said the last shall be first and the first last.  The more we “love our life” here, the harder it is to “lay it down” for Christ, but if we can be like a little child and look to our Father instead of “our own life,” then we will start hearing from God directly!  <Notes> a) Mark 10:15; Luke 18:17, b) Luke 17:32-34, c) Moses to the high priests who teach the priests under them, who teach the men, who teach the women, who teach the children, and finally teach the slaves and foreigners.

 

Is this like passively “welcoming” like the way we receive an email or a postal letter or voicemail?  No, it means to “hospitably welcome as with a guest, accepted into your home, taken a hold of or embraced for oneself, even with a holy kiss” and is used interchangeably with lambano, which mean “taking a hold of or seizing for yourself, or openly welcoming.”  Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 2:14 “The natural man does not welcome the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him.  He cannot understand them, because they are discerned by the Spirit” – see New Covenant Ways – BT16.

 

Paul explains in Romans 8:5-8 the importance of the Holy Spirit:  “For those who live down-from/according-to the flesh presently/ongoingly set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live down-from/according-to the Spirit presently/ongoingly set their minds on the things of the Spirit.  For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is zoe genuine-life and peace/harmony.  For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not surrender to God’s law/instruction; indeed, it unable.  Those who are in the flesh are unable to please God.”  The Greek word phroneo for “set the mind on” means to “be disposed to think, feel, or be preoccupied in a certain direction; to lean in one direction, to have a worldview of.”  So if we spend our time thinking or being preoccupied with the Spirit we move toward the Spirit’s life and are able to please God.  However, if we lean toward the desires of the flesh, we end up with more darkness and death, and are unable to please God.

 

For although Christians “have already put off the old self with its practices” during their conversion in water-baptism (a), Paul reminds them in to “presently/ongoingly put off [like soiled clothes] this old self, which belongs to the Christian’s former manner of life, which is corrupted through deceitful desires and/coupled presently/ongoingly be renewed by the Spirit belonging-to your minds, and presently/ongoingly put on [like fresh clothes] the completely different-in-kind New self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (b).  In other words, if you continually wear the old clothes of the old man you will still stink!  <Notes> a) Colossians 3:9, Roman 6:6, b) Ephesians 4:22-24.

 

Paul goes on in Romans 8:11 to say “If the Spirit of Him (the Father) who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead shall also give you zoopoieo genuine-life also/even/moreover to your mortal (perishable) bodies by the means of His Spirit who dwells in you.”  Zoopoieo is related to zoe meaning: revitalizes, invigorates, arouses, quickened into life as with germinating/springing up/growing seeds, or born alive as animal babies.  The context shows that this isn’t talking about a future resurrection, but that God’s living, indwelling Spirit will not only renew our inward spirit, but even renew our flesh – of course ultimately this is completed after our death at the resurrection.

 

Paul goes on in Romans 8:13-14: “But if by the means of the Spirit you presently/ongoingly put to death the deeds/practices of the body/flesh, you shall certainly genuinely-live.  For all who are presently/ongoingl led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”  This here-and-now victorious life also fits Romans 6:4 “We were buried therefore with Him by water-baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in completely different-in-kind newness of genuine-life.”  Finally, Paul concludes in Romans 12:1-2, “Therefore, do not be conformed to/shaped-into-the-image-of the world, but be butterfly-like-transformed by the renewing (a continuous process of renovation after the initial birth) of your mind so that you are able to test and approve of what the perfect, good, and well-pleasing will of God is.”  The Lord wants to give us new life now, not just in heaven!

 

So, is our freedom and salvation a one-time event or a lifetime process?  Jesus promised ion John 8:31 to newly “saved” believers that if they continued abide in My logos [gospel] message, then they really would be His disciples and then they would genuinely, experientially, relationally epiginosko know The Truth, and The Truth would set them free.”  But this is not doctrinal truth, but Jesus per John 14:6, for it is the Son who sets us free per John 8:36, not even truth about Him!

 

Paul also prayed “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,  give to you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the genuine, experiential, relational epignosis knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that you may eido mentally ‘see’ to perceive/know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward/into/onto/for/among us who have trusting-relying-faith” (a).  Paul also prayed “the trusting-relying-faith you share with us may become effectual by the means of the genuine, experiential, relational epignosis knowledge of every good thing/blessing that belongs to you in Christ” (b).  Paul prayed “that you may be filled with the genuine, experiential, relational epignosis knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the genuine, experiential, relational epignosis knowledge of God” (c).  Paul desires that “their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the genuine, experiential, relational epignosis knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ” (d).  Paul explains that the “completely different-in-kind New man is presently/ongoingly being renewed in genuine, experiential, relational epignosis knowledge down-from/according-to the image of the One (Jesus) who created it” (e).  This intimate, relational, experiential knowledge of God is important!  <Notes> a) Ephesians 1:17-19, b) Philemon 1:6, c) Colossians 1:9-10, d) Colossians 2:2-3, e) Colossians 3:10.

 

Peter says in 2 Peter 1:2-4, 8:  “May grace and peace be lavished on you by the genuine, experiential, relational epignosis knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord as his divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the genuine, experiential, relational epignosis knowledge of Him . . . by which He has granted to us His precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. . . . For if these qualities  – trusting-relying-faith, gnosis informational-knowledge [likely a reference to prophetic knowledge that belongs to Christ], self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly love, unconditional love – are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the genuine, experiential, relational epignosis knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Peter and Paul are on the same page!

 

Finally, even the meaning of “salvation” as “being restored to wholeness” implies something more than a one-time event:  “For the logos [gospel] message of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God (a), and “the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to logos message I preached to you (b).  Jesus didn’t “save” us to leave us on earth “as is” until heaven.  John says:  “Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning.  The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil” (c).  Paul says: “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (d). Paul also says: “For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (e).  He continues:  “He predestined us to be conformed (g) to the image (h) of God’s Son” (f).  <Notes> a) 1 Corinthianns 1:18, b) 1 Corinthiann 15:1-2, c) 1 John 3:8, d) Ephesians 2:10 , e) Philippians 2:10, f) Romans 8:29, g) complete and durable sameness of character, h) imprint or mold.

 

 

 

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Categories: Genuine Life

Genuine Life – BT3

 

 

 

Summary of BT1 and BT2

 

 

 

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The “light” we have and enjoy in this world is the result of the zoe genuine “real-thing” life that’s found forever in Christ.  It’s not a life that happens only when you get to heaven but then lasts for eternity.  It’s the Logos Communicating Expression of God that has always existed – the same Life that spoke light into the world.  Through Christ, God’s light brings us this zoe genuine-life.

 

Without the Light of God’s Life, there is only the darkness of death.  Satan, his angels, and his demons of darkness are what steals, destroys/corrupts/pollutes what we have, or ultimately kills us.  None of this is from God – even if the insurance companies call them “acts of God!”  When Jesus rebuked the violent wind and waves, he wasn’t rebuking God.  When Jesus healed all manner of disease and disability or rose people from death, he wasn’t rebuking God but demons and the “god of this world, the prince of the air, Satan.”

 

The only way to escape darkness and death is to embrace the genuine-life Jesus came to perissos super-abundantly give.  Jesus made it clear that he was the only way to God the Father – only Jesus has been given authority over all mankind to give eternal life to those the Father has given Him.  Some will say this is very narrow-minded!  However, Jesus said that His way was narrow and that few find it, though the way to death was broad and many travel on this road per Matthew 7:13-14.

 

Can’t our religious working for God get us more of this genuine-life?  No!  Only relying on the work of Christ can!  He alone is The Righteous One – “No one is good but God,” Jesus replied when asked “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”  When asked “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?”  Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God:  That you have trusting-relying-faith in Him whom he has sent” (a).  Paul says:  So that God’s purpose of election might stand, not because of works but because of God who calls – even as God chose Jacob over Esau, even though they had not yet been born or done either good or bad (b).  Earlier Paul says “there is none righteous, no, not one. . . . all have turned aside” (c) and “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (d).  It’s clear none of our “good” will be good enough!  <Notes> a) John 6:28-29, b) Romans 9:9-12, c) Romans 3:10, 12, d) Romans 3:23.

 

However, when we surrender our “not so good” lives to Christ, Jesus puts that on the cross to die with Him, and gives us His “good” Life to live within us.  Any message that isn’t about Jesus as God’s righteous Life revealed and given to us simply isn’t the Gospel or “Good News!”  It’s not often you hear this anymore, even from the pulpit!  You’ll hear A-Z about how to live a better Christian life, but rarely will you hear the Gospel that actually gives you the abundant Christian life!

 

What does this zoe genuine-life consist of?  Is it an abundance of health, wealth, comfort, etc. as many who preach dominion theology or ‘name-it-and-claim-it’ say?  Jesus clearly defines it:  “Now this is zoe genuine-life everlasting – that they experientially, relationally ginosko know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You sent” (a).  Jesus came to bring a life-giving relationship with the Father and the Son!  This isn’t a one-time event, but a progressive experience!  Even Peter preached that “His divine power has bestowed on us everything necessary for life and/coupled godliness dia through-the-realizing-channel-of the genuine, progressive, experiential, relational epignosis knowledge of the One who called us by His own glory and excellence” (b).  Sure, the denying of our flesh causes us to suffer and Jesus promised persecution from unbelievers, but our progressive experience of God “living on the inside” more than makes up for our temporary losses, like Paul says:  “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (c).  <Notes> a) John 17:3, b) 2 Peter 1:3, c) Rom 8:18.

 

How can you tell if you genuinely have zoe genuine-life?  You will share the nature of the Spirit of God, who is agape unconditional love – the descriptive “flavors” or qualities being peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control (a).  However, this isn’t just feeling God’s unconditional love, but experiencing this toward others.  Lack of such love is clear evidence you are deceived – you aren’t in the light and life of God, but still in darkness and death.  <Notes> a) Galatians 5:22-23; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

 

This genuine-life is given to those who inwardly join with Christ in his death on the cross for them.  If we try to hold onto what we call “life” here, we remain in a darkness and death that lasts forever – we lose the chance for the genuine, eternal life of God.  Paul tells Timothy: “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to  . . . set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, . . . storing up treasure for themselves [in heaven] as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly zoe genuine-life” (a).  The world promises life, but it can’t deliver!  Jesus warns “The deceitfulness of riches and the cares of the world choke the logos [gospel] message so it proves unfruitful” (b), and for that reason: “Only with great difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven” (c).  <Notes> a) 1 Timothy 6:17-19, b) Matthew 13:22, Mark 4:19, c) Matthew 19:23.

 

However, if we surrender our so-called “life” and join Christ in his death on the cross by turning our back on living for ourselves and turning toward Christ to live for him – this “turning of our attitude” is called repentance, then we have Christ in us, the genuine-life of God.   Through trusting-relying-faith in Christ’s death for us on the cross, a person crosses over a bridge from eternal death to eternal life.  They are no longer under the wrath of God expecting judgment for their sin.  They have been reconciled to God and their name is written in Christ’s Book of Life!  Though they may physically die, the genuine-life of Christ in them will then enable them to have Christ’s resurrected life forever – the indwelling Holy Spirit is our guarantee per 2 Corinthians 5:5.  Our “blessed hope” is that when we meet Christ, we will be fully glorified as Christ is with His resurrection body.

 

Physical food can only give us bios biological life for a little while, and we work so hard for it!  Jesus says it’s so much wiser to seek food that gives zoe genuine-life that satisfies forever – and that food is Jesus, the Bread of Life, which He gives to those who “eat and drink of Him.”  Though some believe this refers to partaking in communion (or the Lord’s Supper) which was instituted after Christ’s death, most agree that it means taking all of Jesus into your life, trusting Him completely with your whole life, and to rely on Him fully for your life.  You can’t just give a part of yourself to Christ and keep the rest for yourself – it’s all or nothing!  And you can’t just sample Jesus.  You must look to “His flesh (body) and His blood (‘life is in the blood’)” for your entire life.  See a 11-24-2021 Revelation about the Lord’s Supper.

 

The zoe life-giving Holy Spirit is Christ living on the inside of believers while they are still on earth, which is like an artesian spring that will forever bubble up zoe life-giving waters in order to give them more and more of Christ’s life.  This is the “living waters” spoken of in scripture – never water that has sat in a puddle or lake or even cistern, but water from the rains, water that is fresh, running, and that gives life.  The Holy Spirit is what Paul says to “be repeatedly filled by” in Ephesians 5:18 – see Spirit-Baptism!

 

Salvation, which is being rescued, delivered, and made whole again, isn’t just a one-time event during your water-baptism, but a lifetime process of “taking up your cross daily” by turning your back on ourselves and our fleshly desires, and “sowing to the Spirit” by feeding our spirits, in order to experience more of the life of Christ within us!  The life-giving Spirit of Christ within us is the only way to be freer from the slavery of sin that leads to more darkness and death.  I reflect on this more below.

 

The freshly-spoken rhema-words of Christ to a believer are of the Spirit and gives us zoe genuine-life!  This isn’t to be confused with logos messages from scripture we can read, memorize, or study.  Jesus made it clear to the students and teachers of Old Testament scripture that neither the scriptures nor the diligent study of them would give them genuine-life, even if they “supposed” they would – this misplaced faith will not give them genuine-life!  Only the person of Jesus that the scriptures point toward – only He can give genuine-life, but only if you come to Him!   Paul said “we are ministers of a completely different-in-kind New Covenant, not of the letter or a ministry of death of gramma letters carved in stone (a reference to the 10 commandments but also the writings about them) . . . but of the Spirit.  For the gramma letter kills, but the Spirit gives genuine-life” (a).  We have to be careful that we don’t place our faith in “letters” on paper to follow them, but in the One they talk about!  After going to 5 bible colleges (see Bible-Info), it seems that most learned Christians care to talk more about the bible and hold that up high as “the only thing you need for life” – I actually heard a preacher say that as he waived his bible in the air – than to talk about Jesus and hold Him up high as “the only person you need for life.”  Jesus said: “My sheep actually hear My phone Voice, and I experientially, relationally ginosko know them, and they follow Me.  I give them eternal zoe genuine-life” (b).  Phone, where we get “telephone,” is something you hear just as with freshly-spoken rhema words, never something you simply read like logos messages of scripture are.  <Notes> a) Colossians 3:5-7, b) John 10:27-29.

 

 

 

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Categories: Genuine Life

Genuine Life – BT2

 

 

 

Zoe Genuine-Life in other New Testament writings

 

 

 

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Matthew records in his Gospel some verses about zoe from Jesus:  But the gate is narrow and the way is difficult that leads to zoe, and there are few who find it (a).  And whoever has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal zoe (b).  And these will depart into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal zoe (c).  Luke adds in his gospel:  Watch out and guard yourself from all types of greed, because one’s zoe does not consist in the abundance of his possessions (d).  <Notes> a) Matthew 7:14, b) 19:29; Mk 10:30, c) 25:46, d) Luke 12:15.

 

Peter was commanded to preach this:  Go and stand in the temple courts and proclaim to the people all the prophetic-rhema words of this zoe (a).  Peter also said of this:  His divine power has bestowed on us everything necessary for zoe and godliness through the genuine, experiential, relational epignosis knowledge of the One who called us by His own glory and excellence (b).  <Notes> a) Acts 5:20, b) 2 Peter 1:3.

 

In Romans, Paul adds concerning this:  For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, since we have been reconciled, will we be saved/delivered/made whole by his zoe? (a).  For if, by the transgression of the one man, death reigned through the one, how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in zoe through the One, Jesus Christ! Consequently, just as condemnation for all people came through one transgression [of Adam], so too through the one righteous act [of Jesus] came righteousness leading to zoe for all people (b).  So that just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness to eternal zoe through Jesus Christ our Lord (c).  Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may live a new zoe (d).  But now, freed  from sin and enslaved to God, you have your benefit leading to sanctification/holiness, and the end is eternal zoe.  For the wages/payoff of sin is death, but the grace-gift of God is eternal zoe in Christ Jesus our Lord (e).  For the outlook of the flesh is death, but the outlook of the Spirit is zoe and peace (f).  But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is your zoe because of righteousness (g).  For the law/principle of the zoe-giving Spirit in Christ Jesus has set you free from the Law of sin and death (h).  <Notes> a) Romans 5:10, b) 5:17-18, c) 5:21, d) 6:4, e) 6:22-23, f) 8:6, g) 8:10, h) 8:22.

 

Paul adds elsewhere concerning this:  For you have died and your zoe is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ appears, who is the zoe of you, then you too will be revealed in glory with him (a).  Hope of eternal zoe, which God, who does not lie, promised before the ages began (b).  And so, since we have been justified by His grace, we become heirs with the confident expectation of eternal zoe (c).  Because the person who sows to his own flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal zoe from the Spirit (d).  By holding on to the logos message of zoe so that on the day of Christ I will have a reason to boast that I did not run in vain nor labor in vain (e).  He (Jesus) has broken the power of death and brought zoe and immortality to light through the gospel (f).  To Timothy, he said: Compete well for the faith and lay hold of that eternal zoe you were called for and made your good confession for in the presence of many witnesses (g).  For we groan while we are in this tent, since we are weighed down, because we do not want to be unclothed, but clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by zoe (h). <Notes> a) Colossians 3:3-4, b) Titus 1:2, c) Titus 3:7, d) Galatians 6:8, e) Philippians 2:16, f) 2 Timothy 1:10, g) 1 Timothy 6:12, h) 2 Corinthians 5:4.

 

Jude says:  Maintain yourselves in the love of God, while anticipating the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that brings eternal zoe (a).  James adds:  Happy is the one who endures testing, because when he has proven to be genuine, he will receive the crown of zoe that God has promised to those who love Him (b).  <Notes> a) Jude 1:21, b) James 1:12.

 

 

 

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Categories: Genuine Life

Genuine Life – BT1

 

 

 

What the apostles John says about zoe genuine-life

 

 

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The apostle John says much about this zoe genuine-life in his gospel account of Jesus:  In Him was zoe, and the zoe was the light of mankind (a).  So must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who has trusting-relying-faith in Him may have eternal zoe.  For this is the way God unconditionally-loved the world:  He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who has trusting-relying-faith in Him will not perish but have eternal zoe (b).  The one who has trusting-relying-faith in the Son has eternal zoe. The one who rejects  the Son will not see zoe, but God’s wrath remains on him (c).  But whoever drinks some of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again, but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up to eternal zoe (d).  I tell you the solemn truth, the one who hears My logos message and has trusting-relying-faith in the One who sent Me has eternal zoe and will not be condemned, but has crossed over from death to zoe (e).  For just as the Father has zoe in Himself, thus He has granted the Son to have zoe in Himself (f).  You (the Jewish teachers) study the scriptures thoroughly because you suppose in them you possess eternal zoe, but it is these same scriptures that testify about Me, but you are not willing to come to Me so that you may have zoe (g).  Do not work for the food that disappears, but for the food that remains to eternal zoe – the food which the Son of Man will give to you. For God the Father has put His seal of approval on Him (h).  For the bread of God is the One who comes down from heaven and gives zoe to the world (i).  I am the bread of zoe. The one who comes to Me will never go hungry, and the one who has trusting-relying-faith in Me will never be thirsty (j).  For this is the will of my Father – for everyone who looks on the Son and has trusting-relying-faith in Him to have eternal zoe, and I will raise him up at the last day (k).  I tell you the solemn truth, the one who has trusting-relying-faith has eternal zoe.  I am the bread of zoe (l).  I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats from this bread he will live forever. The bread that I will give for the zoe of the world is My flesh (m).  I tell you the solemn truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no zoe in yourselves. The one who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal zoe, and I will raise him up on the last day (n).  The Spirit is the one who gives zoe.  human nature is of no help!  The prophetic-rhema words that I have spoken to you are Spirit and are zoe (o). <Notes> a) John 1:4, b) 3:15-16, c) 3:36, d) 4:14, e) 5:24, f) 5:26, g) 5:39-40, h) 6:27, i) 6:33, j) 6:35, k) 6:40, l) 6:47-48, m) 6:51, n) 6:53-54, o) 6:63.

 

John continues with Jesus’ words:  I am the light of the world. The one who follows Me will never  walk in darkness, but will have the light of zoe (a).  The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.  I have come so that they may have zoe, and may have it abundantly (b).  I give them eternal zoe, and they will never perish.  no one will snatch them from My hand (c).  Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the zoe. The one who has trusting-relying-faith in Me will live even if he dies (d).  The one who loves his zoe destroys it, and the one who hates his zoe in this world guards it for eternal zoe (e).   I am the way, and the truth, and the zoe. No one comes to the Father except through Me (f).  Just as you have given Him authority over all humanity, so that He may give eternal zoe to everyone you have given Him.  Now this is eternal zoe – that they experientially, relationally ginosko know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you sent (g).  But these (h) are recorded  (by John) so that you may have trusting-relying-faith that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by having trusting-relying-faith you may have zoe in His name/authority (i).  <Notes> a) John 8:12, b) 10:10, c) 10:28, d) 11:25, e) 12:25, f) 14:6, g) 17:2-3, h) sample of many events & teachings of Jesus, i) 20:31.

 

In his letters, John adds:  This is what we proclaim to you:  what was from the beginning,  what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and our hands have touched concerning the logos message of zoe – And this zoe was revealed, and we have seen and testify and announce to you the eternal zoe that was with the Father and was revealed to us (a).   Now this is the promise that He Himself made to us: eternal zoe (b).  We know that we have crossed over from death to zoe because we unconditionally-love our fellow Christians.  The one who does not unconditionally-love remains in death. Everyone who hates his fellow Christian is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal zoe residing in him (c).  And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal zoe, and this zoe is in His Son. The one who has the Son has this eternal zoe.  The one who does not have the Son of God does not have this eternal zoe. I have written these things to you who have trusting-relying-faith in the name/authority of the Son of God so that you may eido mentally ‘see’ to perceive/know that you have eternal zoe (d).  And we eido mentally ‘see’ to perceive/know that the Son of God has come and has given us dianoia insight (e) to experientially, relationally ginosko know  Him who is true, and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This one is the true God and eternal zoe (f). <Notes> a) 1 John 1:1-2, b) 2:25, c) 3:14-15, d) 5:11-13, e) thorough, balanced reasoning of intellect, f) 5:20.

 

In the Book of Revelation, John adds:  The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers/overcomes, I will permit him to eat from the tree of zoe that is in the paradise of God (a).  The one who conquers/overcomes will be dressed like them in white clothing, and I will never erase his name from the book of zoe, but will declare his name before my Father and before His angels (b) because the Lamb in the middle of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of zao living water (c), and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes (d).  It is done!  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the one who is thirsty I will give water free of charge from the spring of the water of zoe (e).  And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let the one who hears say: ‘Come!’ And let the one who is thirsty come.  Let the one who wants it take the water of zoe free of charge (f).  <Notes> a) Revelation 2:7, b) 3:5, c) see Spirit-Baptism, d) 7:17, e) 21:6, f) 22:17.

 

 

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Categories: Genuine Life