“I have come that you might have Life, and that you might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10b).

Abundant (Def): (Gr): Perissos from Peri and Ek): Ek (Gr.) denotes origin, Peri (Gr) Superabundant (in quantity) Superior (in quality), Preeminence, Beyond Measure

In the teachings of Jesus there is an emphasis on Life (the Divine Life, Life in the Spirit, Eternal Life) that has its focus on the Life Christ came to impart to the spirit in Man that conforms the soul into the character, nature, and virtue of the perfect Life Christ Himself lived while in His human body in the Incarnation.

Many have replaced the emphasis on the Divine Life of Christ with the focus being placed on earthly riches, wealth, prosperity in terms of being financially successful, owning property, aircraft, autos, stocks, bonds, silver, gold, fine apparel, and other worldly treasures.

The Apostle understood the right focus on the Life More Abundant when he wrote to the Church at Ephesus:

“Now unto Him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly (Perissos) above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Ephesians 3:20).

In the true meaning of the Life More Abundant there is a working in us by the power of the Holy Spirit that conforms our being into the image of the Son of God. The Apostle expressed it well in his Epistle to the Romans:

“For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son that He might be the firstborn among many Brethren” (Romans 8:29).

The Life More Abundant is for the Brethren. Christ, the Firstborn, the Elder Brother, has brought us into His Life, the Life of Glory, Honor, Immortality.

The writer to the Hebrews gives us this thought:

“For it became Him for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Captain of their Salvation perfect through suffering” (Hebrews 2:10).

The aspect of suffering is little taught when it comes to the Life More Abundant message to the Church, but the Apostle did not neglect to teach it as he wrote to his “son in the faith” Timothy:

“If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He also will deny us” (II Timothy 2:12).

So then, we can conclude from these passages that the Life More Abundant is not inherited through earthly parentage, or earned through wise investments, ingenious inventions, or best practices in the corporate world. Life More Abundant has its origins (Ek) from the Life of Christ dwelling in our hearts by faith. This Life working in us will cause us to endure suffering, be “patient in tribulation” (cf. Romans 12:12); allowing the “dying of the Lord Jesus” to have its work done in us so that the abundant “Life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body” (cf. II Corinthians 4:10).

The Apostle wrote of these things to the Church at Colosse, saying:

“If you then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above where Christ sits on the right hand of God. Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth; for you are dead, and your Life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:1-3).

Beloved Brethren, we are the sons of God in Christ Jesus, our Elder Brother. We have become of His Divine Seed, His Kind, of His Spirit; indeed, of His Life. These are the true riches (cf. Luke 16:11) of the Life More Abundant. In Christ there is a superabundance and superior Life that manifests in us the glorious expression of the Life of the Son. Therefore, let us endure hardship and suffering, and let us go on to know Him more and more every day, ever growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ to whom pertains Eternal Life and the Eternal Glory of God our Heavenly Father in the power of His Spirit that is working in us mightily.

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