John, in his gospel, recorded Jesus saying the following:
“I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 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 10:9-10.
Just exactly what did Jesus mean? What is the “abundant life” He came to give?
There is a presumption, with many adherents, that Jesus was referencing an abundance of material goods, money, things that make a pleasant, comfortable, abundant life on this earth. This presumption, and the resulting doctrine, essentially declares that anyone not living in material wealth; anyone not having an abundance of money cannot be living in the “abundant life” that Jesus gives. Is material abundance really what Jesus referenced and what God promised? In our current culture there are a number of well-known preachers and “performers” who espouse the monetarily wealthy “abundant life” doctrine and are great examples of an opulent lifestyle. They proclaim their “faith” and the “abundant life” message using themselves as examples and proofs of God’s “abundant life.” The message is certainly attractive.
What about other cultures? What about other places and countries where Christianity is persecuted or not allowed? Are Christians who are being persecuted not living the “abundant life?” There are places where Christians cannot obtain jobs, which means they have no, or very little, income. Does God consider these Christians “lessor” in faith and therefore unworthy of the “abundant life?” Do those who are persecuted and murdered for their testimony of Christ have less faith than the wealthy preachers in our society?
Paul stated the following in his letter to the Corinthians:
“For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise . . . And base things of the world, and things which are despised hath God chosen . . . That no flesh should glory in His presence.” I Cor 1:26-29.
Not many “wise” or wealthy of Paul’s day were Christians. In fact, the few secular historians of the first century of Christianity indicated that the Christian movement consisted mainly of the lower classes, such as servants, laborers, slaves, etc. and were therefore unworthy of historical notice. These Christians were not educated or wealthy, and they did not become wealthy by becoming Christians. It was not until Constantine sanctioned and legitimized the Christian sect that more of the noble and wealthy joined the movement.
Actually, there is no evidence that the apostles of Jesus were wealthy or “upper class.” Most were murdered because of their testimony of Jesus; all were persecuted heavily. This persecution and martyrdom was not limited to the apostles. The other believers received the same treatment. In light of the “abundant life” doctrine, this raises a significant question: did the early Christians not receive the promised “abundant life?” Was their faith inferior to those in our day who preach and possess the material blessings?
Jesus Himself did not have a place to lay His head,
“And Jesus saith unto him, ‘The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head.’” Matt 8:20.
When it was time for Jesus to pay a tax, He did not have the money to pay. He sent Peter to catch a fish which had a coin in its mouth to pay for Peter and Himself. (Matt 17:24-27). The religious leaders also attempted to trick Jesus with a question about paying taxes to Caesar:
“ ‘Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?’ But Jesus perceived their wickedness and said, ‘. . . Show me the tribute money.’ And they brought unto Him a penny.” Matt 22:17-19.
The interesting point is that Jesus did not have a coin of His own to show them. Was Jesus Himself having a little trouble living the “abundant life?” The sacrifice of two doves after Jesus’ birth indicated the financial status of Joseph and Mary; they were poor. (Luke 2:22-24; Lev 12:8). A wealthier couple would have offered a more valuable animal such as a lamb. Apparently Jesus did not grant the “abundant life” to Joseph and Mary.
If Jesus was actually referencing material gain when proclaiming the “abundant life,” He was referencing something very temporary. Everything in this life is temporary. How long does wealth last? A small change in the stock market and one may become wealthy. Another small change in the stock market and the wealthy can be reduced to nothing. Our best plans could still be thwarted. A new car may last for a decade or two, but it will eventually decay. Junk yards are full of what once were the new owner’s pride and joy. Look at them now: wrecked, rusted, left to decay or sold for scrap metal. If the promised “abundant life” consists only of the things we buy or build, it carries no eternal weight. It will not last.
Even our own life is temporary. It will end. We will die. It is inevitable. If the “abundant life” consists of things, they will provide no benefit when we die. From the time a person is born, that person begins to deteriorate, to die. When we are young it is not apparent. Our bodies are healthy; we are strong; we can go and do. As we age, changes occur. Our strength is not the same. Our joints are not the same. Our eyes are not the same. We deteriorate. If the “abundant life” references the temporary, only the things that will eventually disintegrate, we are left with nothing. What then is the “abundant life?”
From the time we are born we are subject to sin. Sin is a destroyer. Think about it. A man marries a woman, they have a good relationship, all is well. Then children come along with the incumbent financial and time constraints and stresses. A destroying thought enters the man’s mind and he begins to imagine that his wife is no longer interested in him. He entertains thoughts of another woman (or women, and these may be real or pornographic). The thoughts eventually become actions and a divorce ensues. What kind of destruction is induced for the wife and children? By entertaining these thoughts the man causes damage to himself, but the collateral damage to his wife and children are disastrous (This example could also be a woman, but my perspective is male). What about addictive behavior? Can it not lead to the same kind of destruction?
Even if the behavior is not as destructive as addictions or marital infidelity (in mind or in practice), decay and destruction still occurs. Oscar Wilde wrote a book titled, “The Picture of Dorian Gray.” The story is of one Dorian Gray, who at 19 years of age had a portrait made. The portrait had an interesting quality: it absorbed and reflected all of Dorian’s evil and aging, allowing Dorian to retain the youthful appearance of a 19 year old. Dorian took advantage of the portrait’s quality in his treatment of others. As he grew older, the portrait became more hideous. The concept is that we are all affected by the things we do and think, even if we can hide the appearance of the effect for a while. Sin, even if it consists of “little sins” or thoughts, brings destruction and death.
The scripture teaches that since the fall (sin) of Adam, we are all born in sin. It is our nature:
“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: . . . Therefore as by the one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; . . . For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners . . .” Rom 5:12-19.
Essentially, we are born dead. Sounds odd, doesn’t it? Because of sin we are born dead. Our propensity is to sin, to decay, to rot on the inside. We do not like to see it that way, but that is our state. That is our life, abundant or not.
When Jesus came to give us life, and give it more abundantly, He was referencing the freedom from the death that sin brought. The internal decay of sin is relentless and absolute. Even if the decay is not manifested as flagrantly as sexual sins or addictions, it is still there. Even when a person is qualified as “good” in our eyes, there are attitudes, thoughts, and imaginations that degrade and degenerate (rot) the individual having the attitudes, thoughts, and imaginations.
There exists a universal principle called the Law of Entropy that can be observed. This principle states that disorder never decreases. By observation it demonstrates that given time everything changes from order to disorder (chaos), from complex to simple. When a body dies, it decomposes. It goes from order to chaos. It decays from a complex organism into more simple organisms. The decomposition may be retarded, but it cannot be stopped. The Roman Catholic Church attempted to preserve some of the bodies of revered saints when the saints died. In some of the cathedrals in Europe there are glass cases with bodies of saints on display. They were encased in the display with grand attire. What is left is the attire wrapped around what once was a body that is now only a fragile collection of some very old bones. The deterioration was slowed, but it was not stopped.
In the spiritual sense it is the same. We were born in sin and practice sin. The decay, the internal deterioration, may be somewhat retarded (like the physical decay of the venerated saints), but it cannot be stopped. It is relentless. It is unavoidable. That is death, the same death earned by Adam because of his sin and imposed on us as our inheritance. It starts the day we are born and continues to destroy and decay all the days of our life, and stays with us even after our physical death. This death, just like the physical death we also inherited, cannot be avoided.
This death cannot be avoided unless and until one entrusts himself or herself to Jesus. When one entrusts himself or herself to the work of Jesus Christ, He bestows life. This is new life. This “abundant life” does not conform to the same universal principle of decay. It is not subject to the Law of Entropy. This new life follows a different principle that changes us from decay to wholeness, from corruption to purity. We were dead, we were decaying, we were corrupted; but by believing in Jesus Christ, by entrusting ourselves to His complete work, we are made alive (given life), and are able to reverse the decay and corruption, promoting a healing and purification.
“Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him: . . . Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body . . . but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead . . . For sin shall not have dominion over you . . . Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. . . . But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom 6:6-8, 11-14, 18, 22-23.
The “abundant life” is one in which we are able to see and turn from our shortcomings, our sins. The “abundant life” is for eternity. This change, this purification, is not temporary, but everlasting. As we are being changed to reflect righteousness, this positive change will last forever. The “abundant life” is one in which God is able to show us our shortcomings, our errors, our sins, and we will have a desire to put the sins aside. If sin destroys, the gift of life (abundant) from Jesus Christ heals. If sin causes decay, the gift of life (abundant) from Jesus Christ purifies. If sin is death, the gift of life (abundant) from Jesus Christ is true life.
The “abundant life” Jesus came to give has nothing to do with temporary things, and nothing to do with material wealth. It is much more enduring and eternal in its message and scope. That is why the apostles and early disciples could live an “abundant life” without wealth. That is why Christians being persecuted and killed in our day are living the “abundant life.” That is why Christians who lived in the previous centuries since Christianity was born, lived the “abundant life.” We are to produce fruit to God; love, joy, peace, kindness, gentleness, goodness, etc. This fruit comes through the “abundant life” because of God’s Spirit living in us.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: . . . If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
Gal 5:22-25.
The things we do and the growth we experience in this “abundant life” will last throughout eternity. That is why it is called an “abundant life.” It is not temporary, it does not rot or decay, it is not corruptible. It is eternal, it is pure, it is everlasting, it is true life, and it is abundant.
Break the Bread 