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Natural human life (psuche) is a lower life form. It is earthly and temporal. In contrast, the life (zoe) of God is the highest form of life. It is heavenly and eternal.
Life from the Father The biblical message of life (zoe) reveals that divine life (zoe) originates from the heavenly Father. He is its source: |
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Affirming the Father as the source of divine life (zoe), He sent the Son to earth. (John 3:17, 34, 5:23-24, 30, 36-38, 6:29, 38-39; 6:57; 7:16, 28-29; 8:16, 18, 26, 29, 42; 9:4; 10:36; 11:42; 12:44-45, 49; 13:16, 20; 14:24; 15:21; 16:5; 17:3; 20:21; Galatians 4:4; 1 John 4:9-10, 14) Jesus plainly stated, "I came forth from the Father and have come into the world…” (John 16:28)
Further indicative of the heavenly Father as the source of divine life (zoe), He also sent His Spirit to earth. (Luke 24:49; John 14:26; 15:26; Acts 2:33) Jesus said, “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me.” (John 15:26) Life through the Son According to the biblical message of life (zoe), the living (zoe) presence of the Father was sent to the degenerated earth through the incarnate Son: |
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God is one indivisible being manifested in three distinct personalities; Father, Son and Spirit. Thus, the incarnate Son is one with the Father and Spirit. By the Spirit, His humanity on earth was indwelt by the heavenly Father:
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God in human flesh, the incarnate Son, Jesus Christ, was representational of the heavenly Father. He was the embodiment and expression of the life (zoe) of the Father on earth. (John 1:18; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Philippians 2:6; Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3)
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Life Mediated
The reception of life (zoe) by fallen mankind is from the Father. It is mediated through the Son: |
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By the mediatorial death of Jesus the Son, God established the legal precedent by which He could justly restore fallen mankind to shared life. (John 3:16; 5:24; 6:27-28; 40; 17:3; 1 John 1:1-3; Romans 3:21-5; 1 John 5:11) His sacrificial death constituted the price necessary to redeem humanity from the transgression of law (sin). (Romans 4:25a)
Because of His resurrection, the righteousness of the living (zoe) Christ could be imputed to the account of every human being who would respond by faith. (Romans 4:25b) His righteousness divinely imputed and declared in eternity; human beings are made legally suitable to share life with God. |
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Life by the Spirit
Shortly after the ascension of Christ, the Father sent His promised Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, to assemble the New Testament church on earth. (Luke 24:49; John 14:26; 15:26; 16:7; Acts 2:33; 1 Corinthians 12) Throughout the Church Age, the “message of…life (zoe)” has been propagated on earth and its benefit imparted to the elect by the Spirit. (John 3:34; 6:63; Acts 1:8; 1 Thessalonians 1:5-6; 1 Peter 1:12; 2 Peter 1:21) |
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Amazingly, the redemptive, living (zoe) presence of God is manifested on earth. It was accomplished from the Father, through the Son, by the Spirit.
The life (zoe) of God is graciously imparted to the elect by the Spirit. By His presence within, the New Testament church is representational of God on earth. During this present age, it is the embodiment and expression of divine life (zoe) on earth. (cf. John 4:14; 5:39; 6:63; 2 Corinthians 3:6; 4:11; 5:20; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:1-4; 1 Timothy 6:12; 1 John 3:14; 5:11-12; etc.) |
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Progression of Life
The progression of divine life (zoe) from heaven to earth is a gracious act of God. It progresses from the Father, through the Son, by the Spirit. The Church Age was initiated when eternal life (zoe) progressing from the Father through the Son was imparted by the Spirit to the elect who comprised the early New Testament church. The impartation of eternal life (zoe) then progressed by the Spirit through instrumentation of the church to succeeding generations until present day. According to the will of God, His life (zoe) will be imparted to future generations by the Spirit until the end of the age. During the Church Age, the progressive, gracious sharing of divine life (zoe) from heaven to earth occurs as follows: |
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God alone is responsible for the progression of His life (zoe) from heaven to earth. As predetermined before the foundation of the world, the will and work of mankind does not influence the plan of God to progressively establish His redemptive, living (zoe) presence on earth.
© 2023 James Hiatt |
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