Article • Life in Christ
Stop Existing. Start Living.
A short word on the difference between existing and living, and on how a person passes from spiritual death to eternal life by faith in Jesus Christ.
“It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”
John 6:63 (KJV)
Of course, all those physically alive exist, but not everyone that exists is living!
Jesus said My words are spirit and they are life–John 6:63. Ponder the depth of Christ’s comment. Those words from the Son of God tell us that apart from a relationship with Jesus, only possible through faith in Him, an individual exists, has physical life, but is dead spiritually, cut off from the life, the eternal life of God–Ephesians 4:18; Ephesians 2:1, 4-5; Colossians 2:13.
Jesus also said that He is the way, the truth, and the life–John 14:6. That statement also tells us that life, eternal life, is not just in Jesus, but that He is life. When we enter into a relationship with Jesus, by faith in Him, we enter eternal life: John 3:16, John 3:36, John 5:24, John 6:40-47; John 20:31; 1 John 5:11-13; 1 John 5:20.
In John 11:25-26, Jesus tells us that those that believe in Him, have faith in Him, even while they physically exist, will pass from a state of eternal death to eternal life – John 5:24; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:4-5.
What you’ve read above explains why Jesus lamented that people will not come to Him, in faith, that they may receive life – John 5:39-40 and they will be filled with the bread of life – filled with Jesus Himself – John 6:35 – filled with eternal life and never-ending quenching – fulfillment of all needs: John 4:14; John 10:10, 27-28.
The requirement to pass from death to life – from eternal death to eternal life is to believe on Jesus as the scriptures say – John 5:39-40; John 7:38 and be filled with the promise of God - the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit within believers that gushes out and touches others with the river of life John 7:38-39; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9; Galatians 3:14; 1 Corinthians 12:13, and empowers believers in Christ to be effective witnesses of the love, mercy and salvation of God that comes through faith in Christ – Matthew 28:19-20 and Acts 1:8.
So, my plea from my heart to you today is to stop existing and begin living, living by faith in Christ, being transformed from spiritual death to life, all to the glory of God, in the precious, loving, merciful, redemptive name of Jesus Christ - Acts 4:12, and Acts 2:21, amen.
“And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
2 Corinthians 5:18-21 (KJV)
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