THE POSSIBILITY OF LIVING IN ABUNDANCE
"Imagine your life without fear," says the subtitle of the bestselling book FEARLESS by Max Lucado. Can you imagine living like that?
t's known that nothing good will manifest in our lives if we don't first believe it in the spirit; however, once we desire it inwardly through faith, we can come to enjoy it!
Therefore, I would also encourage you: Imagine your life in abundance, flowing in a stream of love, resting in a state of complete peace. Imagine knowing yourself completely protected and waking up each day without doubts. Imagine being certain that you will triumph and overcome, conquering every obstacle and achieving remarkable victories.
Is this possible, even amidst what is happening around us and despite the most adverse circumstances? According to the Word of God, yes, but only when we hold onto God's hand closely and practice His company!
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want... You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies... My cup overflows" (Psalm 23:1, 5).
In order to attain and fully seize this life, I want to analyze with you this type of life announced by Christ in that famous verse, which was taught to me since I was a child: "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10).
Let's delve into several passages of the Bible that speak of this promise, in order to understand it well and personally appropriate it.
THE ABUNDANCE OF GOD: ATTAINABLE "BY PRIORITIZING"
The Bible clarifies that Jesus purchased for us a very abundant kind of life, one that we can enjoy to the fullest. He said he came "so that they may have life, and have it in abundance" (John 10:10). Its quality of "abundant" means that it goes beyond just the eternal security of the soul, as it includes a holistic well-being filled with purpose and meaning, experienced in intimate relationship with Him.
This "condition of daily fullness" available in connection with Jesus represents a total contrast to the reality experienced apart from him, and it is literally the opposition "between death and true life."
The "abundant life" is "eternal life and spiritual abundance" at the same time, as opposed to living for perishable things (as in Luke 12:15, which says: "Then he said to them, 'Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions'").
What an exchange! God promises that He can bless, increase, and prosper us as a result of seeking Him first. We have the promise of being fully supplied at all times if we only prioritize Him. Other verses also advise us in this manner, such as these:
"If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God" (Deuteronomy 28:1,11).
"Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name" (Psalm 91:14). "May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not consider Jerusalem my highest joy" (Psalm 137:6). "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:33). "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:3). "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment" (1 Timothy 6:17).
PRECISE DEFINITIONS
What exactly does this "abundant life" that Jesus offers mean? What did the Master mean precisely by "life in abundance"?
Let's first analyze its most vital sense, and then consider all its implications.
In its most urgent application, abundant life refers to the spiritual life that God offers us through the new birth, the life we had lost through Adam by death that entered through disobedience, our disconnection from God caused by sin. From that moment on, and from this perspective, living without Him is not truly living at 100%, but merely "biologically existing as thinking beings within physical bodies"... but completely lacking supernatural communion with our Creator. We are all born in this condition of "spiritual death," which, through believing in Christ for salvation, is changed by the life that God imparts to us again by giving us His Spirit through conversion by faith. "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1).
This kind of life is what Saint Paul points out in his Letter to the Romans when he writes: "For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ... Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 5:17, 20-21 ESV).
Various Bible versions have translated the words "abundant life" that Jesus referred to in several ways, for example:
"But abundantly."
"Overflowing."
"To have it to the maximum."
"To have it superabundantly."
"So that they may enjoy life."
"That which is excellent."
"In a greater measure."
"In all its fullness."
"To have it widely."
"To have it to the point of overflowing."
"By having it in superabundance."
"So that they may have abundance."
"To have it more and more."
"To have it abundant."
"So that they may have the best."
"To have it in fullness."
"To give them a full and abundant life."
"So that they may live it fully."
In all cases, it primarily refers to living life at a higher level than the common one experienced by all people simply by being born physically, and which is enjoyed naturally, a dimension "so common" that pales in comparison to the dazzling brilliance of the dimension so exalted and excellent that is received and enjoyed when one knows and serves God.
HUMANITY BLESSED BY DIVINITY
Based on its elementary meaning, and considering that the relationship with God is restored and preserved, the provision of "abundant life" has a wide spectrum of applications for us, as we are ministered to by God in all areas of our need. "For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace" (John 1:16).
In the original biblical language, the term "abundance" is the Greek word "perissos," which carries the sense of "going beyond," "superabundant in quantity or superior in quality." By implication, it indicates something excessive, preeminent, more abundant, highly above what is assumed, an advantage, something beyond all measure, something greater and more vehement.
But this Greek word does not only appear as "abundance" in our New Testament, but it has also been translated as "exceedingly," "greatly," "greater," "advantage," "too much," and "beyond measure" (in the sense of "to spare"). It means "more than enough," and "above all else." In its secular usage, it described "an amount more than sufficient," something "extraordinary," "excessive," or "unusual," and something executed or achieved "in every possible way."
Its synonym in the Old Testament carried the sense of "gain" and "advantage" (as in Proverbs 14:23, "In all toil there is profit"), and as "extraordinary" or "outstanding" (as in Daniel 5:12, "An excellent spirit was found in him").
Thus, by its original meaning, the Greek word used by Jesus to say "abundance" indicates a superior and extraordinary life, surpassing the common, more eminent, prominent, and excellent. It is a kind of life that exceeds what is necessary. Glory to God!
Are you living this kind of life?
"Jesus answered her, 'If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, "Give me a drink," you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water. The woman said to him, 'Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water?... Jesus said to her, 'Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life'" (John 4:10, 13-14 ESV).
LIVING WIDELY... "BY TRANSFER"
This new "kind of life" that we experience is based on the transfer from the past life we lived to the new life, that "newness of life" that Saint Paul says is like the experience of Christ rising from the dead, going from death to life (Romans 6:4, LBLA).
Several passages speak of this contrast and abundance, testifying to the glorious condition of life that was granted to us in Christ when we were saved, which includes the enormous and glorious benefits of being children.
To appropriate something, one must first understand it, and for this, the following facts are beautifully "graphic" and descriptive about this life, which is "literally" passing:
From death to life: "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life" (John 5:24). "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1).
From curse to blessing: "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us" (Galatians 3:13). "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 1:3).
From condemnation to righteousness: "And Jesus stood up and said to her, 'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?' She said, 'No one, Lord.' And Jesus said, 'Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more'" (John 8:10-11). "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1).
From scarcity to abundance: "For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing out in the valleys and hills, a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey, a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you can dig copper" (Deuteronomy 8:7-9). "Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul" (3 John 1:2). "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19).
From the kingdom of evil to the kingdom of good: "For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light" (Ephesians 5:8). "He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son" (Colossians 1:13).
From distance to communion: "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ" (Ephesians 2:13). "That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ" (1 John 1:3).
From orphanhood to adoption: "For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!'" (Romans 8:15). "In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will" (Ephesians 1:5). "And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!'" (Galatians 4:6).
From spiritual darkness to the light of truth: "But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away" (2 Corinthians 3:14). "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:6).
From slavery to freedom: "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36). "But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life" (Romans 6:18, 22). "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery" (Galatians 5:1). "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom" (2 Corinthians 3:17).
From lack of protection to inheritance: "And if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him" (Romans 8:17). "And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise" (Galatians 3:29). "Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints" (Ephesians 1:18).
This life is gloriously high! Optimal and desirable, emanating from the inexhaustible river of God's love for us, "so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:7).
APPROPRIATING ABUNDANCE
Review these scriptures and realize the glory of your position in Christ. Enjoy the fullness of your life in God, in all aspects of its enjoyment. "Bless the Lord... and forget not all his benefits" (Psalm 103:2).
Sometimes we don't access it by focusing on our human frailty, and consequently, we don't feel "entitled" to it... as if it depended on us, as if our salvation had not been freely given to us!
"All things that pertain to life and godliness have been given to us by his divine power, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire" (2 Peter 1:3-4).
Sincerely, and with love...
ARIEL ROMERO LÓPEZ
General Pastor - Wine and Oil Ministries International
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Bibliography used for this study:
Strong's Bible Dictionary
The Complete Biblical Library
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
King James Version Bible
Beck Translation Bible
Moffat Translation Bible
Concordant Translation Bible
Fenton Translation Bible
Murdock Translation Bible
ALBA Bible
Williams Translation Bible
Wuest Translation Bible
One New Man Bible
Besson Translation New Testament
Nacar-Colunga Translation Bible
Peshita Bible
Latin America Bible
Contemporary English Version Bible
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