Abundant Life

I COME TO GIVE YOU ABUNDANT LIFE

John 10:10 comes in the middle of what are known as some of Jesus’s “I am” statements. In these statements, which are recorded only in the book of John, Jesus describes himself in many ways from which we understand him to be calling himself God. Before and after this verse he refers to himself as the gate by which the sheep are truly allowed into the fold, and as the good shepherd, who lays down his life for the sheep.

But he says in verse 10 that he has come to give “abundant life” to his followers. I believe that the concept taught in this verse has been misused by many false teachers throughout Christian history, but it gives hope and comfort when understood for what is actually meant. Today, we look at how we can have abundant life.

John 10:7-14: Jesus said again, “Truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. I am the gate. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. The hired hand, since he is not the shepherd and doesn’t own the sheep, leaves them and runs away when he sees a wolf coming. The wolf then snatches and scatters them. This happens because he is a hired hand and doesn’t care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and they know me.

OUT OF CONTEXT AND MISUSE

There are, have been, and always will be, preachers and churches that prey instead of pray. They use portions of the Bible either completely out of context or through misinterpretation to meet their own desires instead of the desires of the Creator. The idea that Jesus came to give abundant life is one of the biggest. The Greek word for abundant is “perissos” which literally means beyond measure, exceedingly abundantly, or much more than all, among other such phrases.

These “preyers” use this along with verses that say such things as “you reap what you sow” and “you have not because you ask not” in order to entice their listeners to give large sums of money in order to coax God into giving you back great wealth. These preachers such as Benny Hinn, Robert Tilton, Joel Osteen, Oral Roberts, and the wealthiest of all, Kenneth Copeland (estimated net worth over $300 million), rake in large sums of money without a care in the world as to the poverty of those they get it from. John 10:10 is considered their signature verse.

There is a major problem with this sort of theology: it leaves out the entirety of the rest of the Bible. In fact, the Bible actually warns against the spiritual pitfalls of wealth in numerous places. Proverbs 11:28 says, “He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.” Mark 10:23 says, “Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, ‘How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!’” Matthew 13:22 tells us, “And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.”

Now understand, the Bible never says that wealth in itself is evil, nor that one who is wealthy is determined to be evil. In fact, there are several persons mentioned in the Bible that were either probably or very likely wealthy who did great work or were used mightily. See King David, Lazarus, Lydia. However, it is clearly depicted as an impediment or at least distraction from real Christianity and therefore the wealthy are cautioned.

SO WHAT IS IT THAT JESUS IS PROMISING???

In order to really find out what Jesus is saying here, we need to learn how to read the Bible correctly. It really is a simple process. Let the Bible itself define what the Bible means. If the Bible is truly the word of God, then it should be consistent in its teaching and we should take its teaching as a whole in order to interpret the more difficult teachings. Allowing the Bible to speak to us is called exegesis. The concept by which you interpret the Bible is known as the hermeneutic. If we use the proper hermeneutic to exegete the Bible, then we are “rightly dividing the word of truth,” as taught in II Timothy 2:15. That is more than enough big words for today.

I Corinthians 2:9 says, “But, as it is written, what no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those that love him. The same writer, Paul, says in Ephesians 3:20, “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.” Now these are pretty lofty promises. Paul tells us in these verses in no uncertain terms that God has prepared for us more than we can imagine and wants to give us more than we could ever ask. The next question that we need to ask is more of what?

Jesus made it pretty clear when he says in Matthew that we are not to worry about what we have to wear or what we eat, as God will give us what we need. So the answer must not be in terms of materiality. We need only to look at the words of Jesus during his most difficult time of life to get the answer.

John 17 contains the prayer that Jesus voiced just before being arrested, beaten and crucified. In this prayer, he prayed for himself, he prayed for his disciples and he prays for future believers. That’s right, he prayed for you and me!!! In verse 3 of this chapter, Jesus says, “This is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and the one you have sent – Jesus Christ.” For centuries men have sought the fountain of youth and the entire time it was hiding in plain sight in the book of John. If we truly know God we have eternal life, and the more that we know him, the more abundant that life becomes.

James 1 tells us to consider trials to be pure joy because they produce greater faith. Romans 12 says to present your body as a living sacrifice and to renew your mind as that leads to knowing God’s will. Romans 5 teaches us that we can glory in our sufferings as that produces hope, and because God’s love is poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.

Probably one of the most popular, and misquoted of these verses is Philippians 4:13. The quote you have heard is that I can do all things through him who gives me strength. However, in context, what Paul is actually referring to is being able to live and be joyful regardless of what life may bring. Paul says, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through him who gives me strength.” Paul is not saying that Jesus makes me capable of playing in the NFL. He is telling me that the power and spirit of hope that God puts in us allows us to be joyful and hopeful and satisfied no matter what.

HOW WE GET THERE

Bible study doesn’t do much good without application. Hopefully, at this point, you have a better idea how to read your Bible, how to interpret your Bible, and what the teaching actually means. However, if you cannot make it a part of your life, then I have not fulfilled my role as teacher. God’s word provides that too.

Let’s dig just a little deeper into that Romans 12 section. This has been one of my favorite parts of the Bible for a long time. In Romans 11, Paul discusses how God is not finished with the people of Israel. Near the end of chapter 11, Paul discusses how in spite of our disobedience God uses it to show us his great mercy. Then at the very end of the chapter, verses 33-36, he basically breaks out into a hymn of praise to God. Now remember, this was not originally written in chapters and verses. It was a letter. Then he starts chapter 12 saying, “Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, this is your true worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God”

The bottom line is this: we must take in more of God’s word in order to move out the things of the world. II Corinthians says to take our thoughts captive. We do this through Bible study, prayer and spending time with others who will encourage us in this way and also hold us accountable. Hebrews tells us not to miss out on gathering together. II Timothy tells us to study. I Thessalonians tells us to pray without ceasing.

During probably the darkest time of my life, I had friends and family that held me close and loved me. I also had time alone, sitting on a riding mower, listening to God’s word and just coming closer to him. I learned about new ways that I had never considered that he reveals himself to mankind that I had missed for years. These things literally prevented me from ending my life and allowed me to write these words.

Abundant life is real. God can teach you to be joyful where you are. This is not because of your circumstances, or even in spite of them, as some have said. He teaches you to be joyful regardless of your circumstances. Because you see there is another wonderful verse out there that says, “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28. Then it goes on to say in verses 29 and 30, “For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called, and those he called, he also justified, and those he justified he also glorified.”

If we love God, an action not an emotion, we can look at our circumstances not asking why, but asking what. What are you going to do with this one, Father? How are you going to use this to make me look more like your Son. To make me feel more like one of the brothers and sisters. What an awesome thought.