the meaning of abundant life

[Lufia]

'I came to bring life, abundant life' Not sure if i wrote it correctly, I don't have any english Bible but i'm sure you know what i mean. So can you explain the meaning of the abundant life? Is it an abundant spiritual life? And if so, what is an abundant spiritual life?

[Furstentum Liechtenstein]

Lufia has a French Bible and she has translated John 10:10. This is John 10:10b in English:

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (NIV)

This is John 10:10b in French: Moi, je suis venu afin que les hommes aient la vie, une vie abondante. (Version Semeur)

Who wants to tackle this one?

FL

[Cross.eyed]

Abundant life is salvation. Jn. 10:9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture.

Jn. 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck then out of my hand. K.J.V.

In context, this is no promise of health, wealth, or easy living by worldly standards.

Abundant life is eternal life with God.

FL, you are so handy thanks for the tip!

[Lufia]

But if it means 'only' eternal life why did He said it twice? I came that they may have life, and have it to the full.

We know that in heaven we will have life 'to the full', so why say it another time in the same sentence? I'm not so sure it means eternal life, but i sure can be wrong. For me it means that if i accept Christ, i'll have plenty of fruits and because of that i'll enjoy life to the fullest. Does it make sense?

[YLTYLT]

That is a good point that it says it twice.

This is how I view it, keeping in mind I am just a man and could be wrong:

The first time is referring to justification. The second time is referring to rewards given to those Christians that finish their race. This is the sanctification process. We are saved(justified) by grace though faith. But we also serve(sanctified) by grace through faith.

To finish your race:
1. Know what you spiritual gifts are and use them.
2. And don't quit.

If you are using your spiritual gifts, then you are contributing to either building or edifying the Church.

Those that finish their race will rule and reign with Christ. They won't just inherit heaven, they will inherit ALL things. (Revelation 21:7;Matthew 5:5)

Not all Christians will rule and reign with Christ, only those that finish their race, but that does not mean those that do not finish their race are not saved. But they will have regrets for not having served God in the way they know they should have. But after the 1000 year reign of Christ "all tears will be wiped away".


There are 2 types of overcoming in the Bible.

1 John 5:5
Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

Revelation 2:11
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

These verses above speak of overcoming to be saved.

Revelation 3:21
To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

But Jesus overcame as well. But He did not need to be saved.??? So it must mean something different in this context.
Those Christians that overcome, as HE overcame - the world, the devil, and the flesh - by grace through faith,...

Revelation 2:26
And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

and stay in their race...

Revelation 21:7
He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

shall inherit all things.

[Jac3510]

YLT nailed it. All that is especially visible if you look at the context. Jesus is the "door" (or "gate"). Yes, we can certainly go "in" for salvation, and we think of that as justification, but it is more than that, because Jesus says, "will come in and go out, and find pasture." We're talking about a lot more than just "going to heaven."

Against this, the thief comes to kill (gk. thusa, probably a play on words against "door", gk. thura), steal, and destroy. So, in Jesus, you are "safe" from those dangers. Jesus, therefore, came to give life, but to even give it more abundantly, that is, to experience the joy and rest of that salvation.

Pressing the point, Jesus says that He is the Good Shepherd. A hired hand WON'T protect the sheep from evil, but He will. And how far will He go? He will give His life and then "take it up again." This shows both His desire to protect His children as well as His power and authority to do so.

So, again, as YLT said, the abundant life is a life of joy with the Shepherd. It isn't just going to heaven, although it certainly includes that. It's finding rest and peace and joy, all the things that the rest of Scripture tells us is through the process of sanctification.

God bless

[YLTYLT]

Jac3510
Thanks for the encouraging words....



Jeff

[Cross.eyed]

Good post YLT. I appreciate it.

While searching scripture before posting, my thinking was elsewhere. You are correct ; there are two ways of "overcoming" (or being the victor) and you explained it well using scripture as evidence.

My apologies to you Lufia for my being so shortsighted, I'm delighted Jac and YLT answered your post.

Jac, I owe you an apology also, when I first read your post I was thinking it was a bit too syrupy for me but I read it again twice more and realized it was my own cloudy thinking.

I've been having some emotional afflictions lately and I needed to be reminded of the joy and peace of Christ in this life.

Indeed God does work in mysterous ways.

Thanks.

[Lufia]

Thanks to all of you

No offense Cross eyed