I told you all in Gem 8 that we would look at #4 in John’s theme statement. ( I haven’t forgotten #3 – I am saving it. Giving you time to do some thinking and digging.) Through these Gems I hope to not only share gems that inspire you, encourage you, but also to stir up your passion and desire to know more of the Word of God.
Son of God / Son of Man what do they mean? Go dig.
And we haven’t investigated fully “believe” yet. We have just scratched the surface in fact.
- having life in His name – what is that about?
The life John refers to is ζωὴ [zoē]– this is more than just life as we know it. In Hebrew thought it is “the life of the age to come”. When all things are consummated on this earth and Jesus Christ comes to restore all that God intended for life in the Garden of Eden: that life will be restored. Life in all of its fullness lived with God. But In Him (Christ) the beginnings of that life can be lived now, while we await its fulfilment later. Life over abundant, Life flowing with His blessings. Life full and rich in every way. Life pregnant with shalom – and shalom means way more than peace or the absence of strife.
He came that you may have life and have it in all its fullness. That life is the restoration of what God intended in the garden. Wow. Do you want that sort of life? I sure do.
It comes by believing. Oh, of course there is more to that word. It’s not just mental ascent to something. Wait for it.
Most people don’t get beyond their first revelation. They enshrine it, build a fence around it and stay put.
Ian Vail
To backslide: you don’t have to go backwards. Just stay put and God will move on.
Ian Vail