John 10:10 — 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (NKJV)
One of Satan’s most successful methods for keeping many people from being interested in Christianity is his ability to convince them that it is the dullest, most miserable life possible. Unfortunately, he has convinced some “Christians” of this too.
However, Jesus said that He came to give us the abundant life. One might consider this and wonder when we should expect to have this life. Looking at the whole verse we know that He was referring to our life on earth, as well as our future life in heaven. Notice that Jesus emphasizes the purpose of his coming with the purpose of the thief’s coming. When and where do we face the problem of thieves? Jesus said it was on earth, not in heaven.
Matthew 6:19–20 — 19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. (NKJV)
The true Christian lives the abundant life here on earth, now. What makes the Christian’s life “abundant”?
Misconceptions of the term “abundant life” causes some to deny or at least to doubt that it is real. “Abundant” is a relative term used to contrast what the “thief,” or Satan, promises with what Jesus gives.
Remember Satan is a liar (John 8:44).
John 8:44 — 44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. (NKJV)
Satan and his servants promise a more fulfilling, happier life. Let’s make some honest comparisons and see who really gives the abundant life.
Satan promises “liberty” saying, “Life is for living. Live it up!” But he then enslaves his victims in addictions to an array of vices.
Sometimes our “friends” entice us to participate in their “liberty” to be free, to do what we want to do. But this is a false liberty.
Satan promises what he does not give, and he gives what he did not promise.
2 Peter 2:19 — 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. (NKJV)
Jesus is “truth” (John 14:6). His promises are sure.
John 14:6 — 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (NKJV)
Jesus said: “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.” (John 8:34)
On the other hand, Jesus always keeps His promises and richly blesses His true disciples. The apostle Paul suffered great persecution from the Jews because he was a Christian. However, look at his unwavering confidence in God as he wrote Titus:
Titus 1:2 — 2 in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, (NKJV)
The apostle Peter, close to the end of his life, wrote:
2 Peter 1:2–4 — 2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (NKJV)
Notice the words, “exceedingly great and precious promises.” What makes Jesus’ promises precious? It is the absolute confidence we can have in Him fulfilling or doing what He says.
Peace of mind
Jesus said: “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” (John 14:27)
Again He said: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
The true Christian does not waste time worrying about the necessities of life (Matthew 6). While I have seen raw poverty in a third-world country, I have never seen a faithful Christian who did not have more than the bare necessities. Here in the U.S., many of us have forgotten what really are the “bare necessities.” For example, we take electricity for granted, without thinking of it as a blessing beyond what God has promised.
The true Christian does not waste time worrying about the future. While the world seeks for peace by avoiding thoughts of the future, the Christian looks ahead with great anticipation. He is not worried about death—he looks forward to a better life ahead. He is not fearful of the Lord’s sudden, unexpected return—He’s our Lord, Savior and Friend. The Christian is not fearful of judgment—it means our entrance into that eternal city, our reward, our crown. It means going home for our family reunion!
Jesus promised: “Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:1-3)
The true Christian does not waste time worrying about the past. He knows, his sins have been forgiven and forgotten. The inspired author of Hebrews wrote: “For I will be merciful to their iniquities, And I will remember their sins no more.” (Hebrews 8:12)
This peace of mind comes from God. Just as surely as no man can give it, no man can take it away. In fact, the apostle Paul says that man cannot even understand it. “And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)
Someone might say to a Christian who has suffered some great difficulty: “Well, I just don’t know how you keep going.” It would be true! The non-Christian would not understand, but the peace of mind that God gives is not based on circumstances. How confusing it must have been to those who were persecuting Christians in the first century! Think about the following:
“And they took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them to speak no more in the name of Jesus, and then released them. So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.” (Acts 5:40-42)
Paul wrote: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4)
He did not write this in the comfort of his office, sitting at his computer. He wrote this from a prison cell!
Even though this peace is beyond the comprehension of the non-Christian, it is freely offered to all! Are you living the abundant life? Do you know the joy of serving Jesus? This “peace of God,” or that God gives, is only for those who have made peace with God, by doing His will.
The Divine Helper
Another of God’s promises that makes the Christian life the abundant life is the promise of His help. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews said:
Hebrews 13:5–6 — 5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (NKJV)
This is what Jesus said.
Matthew 6:31–33 — 31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (NKJV)
This blessing is for the serious Christian, for those who “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” God is not promising any help for the superficial Christian. It would be foolish to think a person could attend the church service only on the first Sunday of the month and then God would help pay that month’s bills.
God helps us in much greater ways than the material necessities of life. Here is a short list.
God helps the serious Christian with temptations.
1 Corinthians 10:13 — 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (NKJV)
God helps in time of grief.
2 Corinthians 1:3–4 — 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (NKJV)
The serious Christian can count on the many blessings from God’s presence, as our opening text stated, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
There is supreme power for help by God’s presence.
Psalm 97:5 — 5 The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord, At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. (NKJV)
No wonder Paul could say:
Romans 8:31 — 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (NKJV)
In this article on “The Abundant Life,” we let Paul summarize for us.
Romans 8:37–39 — 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NKJV)
God’s Family
Jesus taught His disciples to direct their prayers to the heavenly Father.
Matthew 6:9 — 9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. (NKJV)
Paul referred to Christians as sons of God.
Galatians 4:6–7 — 6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. (NKJV)
That makes us “heirs” of God and joint-heirs with Christ.
Romans 8:16–17 — 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. (NKJV)
We are members of the “household” (family) of God.
Ephesians 2:19 — 19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, (NKJV)
“One who belongs to a particular household or extended family—‘member of a family, relative.’ – Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 112.
Not only are members of a local congregation a family, but also, all true Christians are members of the same family. That means anywhere there are faithful Christians we have brethren.
Those of us who have been blessed with traveling to other parts of the world have experienced this firsthand. Just as the song we sing, written by Charles Towler, “His Blood Has Made Us One.” We are treated as old friends, kinfolk, as brothers and sisters in Christ. There are many blessings within this blessing.
Mutual encouragement
Hebrews 3:12–13 — 12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. (NKJV)
Mutual joy and grief
Romans 12:15 — 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. (NKJV)
Mutual servitude
Galatians 5:13 — 13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (NKJV)
Mutual forgiveness
Colossians 3:13 — 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. (NKJV)
Mutual edification
1 Thessalonians 5:11 — 11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing. (NKJV)
Colossians 3:16 — 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (NKJV)
In fact, Paul told the Ephesians that ALL spiritual blessings are IN Christ! – Ephesians 1:3
- To enjoy the abundant life, we must be IN Christ. The only way to get IN Christ is the way the Bible says. After hearing the gospel, we must believe that Jesus is the Son of God – Romans 10:17, John 8:24.
- Upon that faith we will repent of our sins – Luke 13:3.
- We will confess openly, before others, acknowledge that faith – Matthew 10:32-33, Matthew 16:16,17.
- Then we are ready to be baptized into Christ – Romans 6:3-6; Galatians 3:27.
If we can help you with this, please let us know!
