What Is Life?

                The formal definition of “life” as specified in the Webster’s Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary is an organism having “functional activities including metabolism, growth, and reproduction.” Metabolism is defined in the same dictionary as, “the chemical changes in living cells by which energy is provided for vital processes and activities and new material is assimilated to repair the waste.” And “the sum of processes in building up and destruction of protoplasm incidental to life.” When a human life is conceived the processes of metabolism are initiated and growth begins. Life, from the formal definition, has begun. The body in which the life abides is not fully developed or functional at first but develops and grows rapidly. Once the body is born it continues rapid development and growth for around eighteen to twenty years until reaching physical maturity. Even at physical maturity the metabolic processes continue through the prime years and eventually into old age. When that physical body dies the metabolism stops. The life ceases.

This “life,” as described in the formal definition, is very temporary. It typically lasts seven, eight, or nine decades. It may also cease much sooner, sometimes even before birth. Humans were created to live forever, but our ancient ancestors, the original man and woman from whom all humans descend, were tricked into distrusting the provision given to them by God. That distrust introduced sin into our world, resulting in pain and death.

God, however, provided a restoration of that “forever” life for those who desire it, those who hunger and thirst for a life with God. Jesus declared, “Blessed [happy, favored] are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Matt 5:6. Righteousness is a right standing with God. It is a restoration of fellowship with God which the originator of humanity lost when distrusting God and introducing sin. John wrote of that righteousness but called it life. “In Him [Jesus Christ, the Word of God] was life; and the life was the light of men.” John 1:4. Jesus also taught the idea of a new life, a restored life, when talking to Nicodemus. “Except a man be born again [receive a new life], he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3. Nicodemus did not understand, so Jesus explained a little more. “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” John 3:5-6. Jesus was explaining that the new life came directly from God (Spirit). John explained that concept earlier in his book, “As many as received Him [Jesus Christ, the Word of God], to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:11-13.

 God is the one who gives this new “forever” life. When one believes the gospel, the message of Jesus Christ, the one believing receives the Spirit of God, is born of God. And that new birth is the birth of the new life. John recorded more of Jesus’ teaching on this new life, the life that is eternal. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. … He that believeth on Him [Jesus] is not condemned.” John 3:16-18. Jesus told the woman in Samaria, “Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” John 4:14. Jesus was obviously talking about something other than natural (physical) water and referencing something more than the natural, physical life. Jesus also spoke to the Jewish religious leaders explicitly telling them that His words bring life to those who listen and believe, “He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life” John 5:24. Jesus also admonished them to search the scriptures and they would find that the scriptures referenced Him as the Messiah, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life; and they are they which testify of Me.” John 5:39. But Jesus knew that they would not believe, so He followed the admonition with, “And ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life.” John 5:40. Jesus also explained that His words are life, “It is the Spirit that quickeneth [makes alive]; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” John 6:63.

     Jesus described the new life as full, abundant. “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10. This abundant life Jesus described is not our natural physical lives. He does provide for our physical needs, but the life He is talking about is the new life, the everlasting life. It is abundant. Nothing more is necessary or desirable. He has provided all. Too often we focus on our physical life and look for abundance here and now. Such was a man coming to Jesus asking for Jesus to take his side against a brother in an inheritance issue. Jesus’ response was pointed directly at the man making the request, “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” Luke 12:15.

  Peter describes the new life given to us by God as an inheritance. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope [living expectation] by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation…” 1Pet 1:3-5. This inheritance will not, cannot lose value. It will not lose its effectiveness, “Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation [manner of life] received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: … that your faith and hope might be in God. … Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” 1 Pet 1:18-23. Titus also wrote of that new life, “But after the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, … Which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:4-7.

Paul explained how the new life changed him, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Gal 2:20. Paul also gave a detailed explanation of the loss of life because of Adam’s sin and the restoration of life through the accomplished work of Jesus Christ, “God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. … Being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. … We were reconciled to God by the death of His Son … We also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Wherefore, as by one man [Adam] sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: … For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ … for the judgement was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offenses unto justification. … by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. … by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.” Rom 5:8-18.

The disciples were preaching and teaching in the temple and on the streets that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, and that He rose from the dead. Many people were hearing and believing, but the Jewish religious leaders were not happy with what the disciples taught. “Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees) and were filled with indignation, And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.” Acts 5:17-18. The ruling council of the Jews put the apostles in jail and planned to interrogate and punish them the next day. What happened? God opened the jail, let them out, and gave them a commission, “But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth and said, ‘Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.’” Acts 5:10-20. They were commanded to go and speak the words of this new life, this eternal life, that one receives from God when he or she believes Jesus Christ is the Messiah and therefore accomplished the total work of salvation for all people.

What is life? Jesus Christ has given us true life. We are forgiven. We can claim the righteousness that God gives. This new life is forever. We have been made truly alive and are no longer dead in sins. We are now, by Jesus Christ, truly alive and free.

LORD, open my heart and spirit to fully sense that life and freedom. I know Your salvation but teach me to fully joy in that new life, to feel the life of Your Spirit flowing through me. Amen.