Recently I’ve been writing about death in a 2 part series. In this exposition categorized in Wonderful Words of Life I will define how life has a two-fold meaning in the Bible. Both meanings of life consisting of:

1. The holy life in the present tense

2. Eternal life in the future tense

Life relates to the soul of man and man’s connection with God in the Spirit. Life is spiritual. Life is physical. Life is produced by God Almighty. Life is not natural existence on Earth without Christ. Life is not Eternal without Christ. Life is not holy without the Spirit of Christ.

Adam was created with life from God. Adam was God-breathed and God created. Adam had a God-given holy life and God-given Eternal life before the Fall. Adam was innocent and without sin before the Fall. Adam was Eternally existent before the Fall. When Adam disobeyed God he died spiritually and physically. Adam had life from God…but lost it when he sinned against God. The sin of Adam brought spiritual death into existence. Sin separated man from God…both spiritually and physically. Since the Fall of Adam spiritual death and physical death has “reigned” over humanity. The wages of sin is separation from God. When sin conceives it bringeth forth death. Death is a spiritual separation from God that brings Eternal separation from God in the unseen world of the wicked dead called Hell.

There is no spirit life in death. There is no holiness in sin. There is no future hope in a natural state without a spiritual connection with God Almighty. Life is only a spiritual union with God through Christ. Death is a spiritual separation from God consisting of rejection of Christ with no spiritual union with God in Spirit. God’s Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we become children of God. Both Spirits are joined together. Death caused from sin is a broken union from God without spiritual connection. As a result of sin when union with God is broken…life is no longer found from God’s Holy presence. The only thing that has power over death and spiritual separation from God is life found through the power of a resurrected Christ.

Life is man’s inner quickening from God’s Holy Spirit. Both Spirits are joined and become one. The spirit of a just man is delivered from sin and death. The spirit a just man is made clean and holy because of God’s deliverance from death. A new creation is made by God. This believer’s personal faith and trust in Christ’s redemptive work brings Justification unto life. In mercy and love for fallen man God pardons the sinner and gives him spiritual life and pardon from sin. It’s called the “holy life” on this side of Heaven. The holy life forms from the holy heart given in the new creation. The holy life is not guaranteed and must be maintained through personal belief and obedience. The holy life is taken hold of through personal belief in Christ, but some let go or turn away because they quit believing in Christ. The holy life is only made holy because the Spirit of God produces inward holiness through a union made with God. Not man himself. Holiness is God’s gift to fallen man to become a partaker of the heavenly call. To remain a partaker of the heavenly call man must never “draw back” into darkness through unbelief or losing faith in Christ. Disobedience to God is a direct product of unbelief, therefore continuity with God in Spirit is broken, and spiritual death is the outcome.

Life from Christ is continuity with God in the Spirit. Sin that brings death (separation from God) breaks continuity with God in the Spirit. In sin, life is lost and death is found. Spiritual life was continuity with God. Spiritual death becomes an existence of broken continuity from God’s Holy Spirit. When continuity with God is broken sin brings condemnation and guilt into the human soul and unbelieving conscience. Why guilt? Innocence is lost. Why condemnation? Fear of God’s Eternal penalty for sin. The unsaved world has never tasted abundant life given from Christ. Those who are saved have tasted life in the Spirit and should treasure abundant life in Christ above all sinful things. Life in Christ is not to be automatically considered Eternal life. Why? Because the holy life in the present tense is the only thing that guarantees Eternal life at the end when we die. Without holiness no man shall see the Lord. Holiness of heart is lost in a disobedient act against God.

If you don’t believe a man can pass from a life to death. Adam did! Adam is a perfect illustration of passing from God-given spiritual life unto death.  Adam rebelled. Adam sinned against God. Adam lost his divine nature and became a natural man without the Spirit. Adam lost his eternal state of being. Adam thus became subject to physical death. Sin and death does the same thing today as it did to Adam. If you’re lost you are dead in your sin and trespasses. If your saved and commit sin you must confess your sins unto God to prevent spiritual separation from God for eternity.  The wages of sin is death. The wages of God-given righteousness is life which is spiritual union with God in Spirit.

Don’t limit life in Christ to something Eternal only.  Abundant life is a better life on this side of Heaven. Abundant life is a clean and holy life. Abundant life is a better life than a life of sin and disobedience to God. Abundant life is life of joy and contentment in this present life knowing Christ delivered you from the bondage of sin. You’re happy because you’re not bound or shackled with the weight, burden, or condemnation from sin anymore. You’re alive because you know you’re not separated from God anymore. No heaviness from the condemnation of sin. The clean heart has united you with Christ. You’re quickened! You’re alive! You’re a new creature! The Grace of God that saves you also keeps the Holy Spirit present in your life. You’re joined with God in the Spirit. The clean heart is made clean because of the Holy Spirit’s presence in your life. The power of life is given to you from your personal belief in Christ and forgiveness from all past sins. Life is God’s glory in you to live, move, act, and behave like a child of God. Life keeps death out of the picture. Only sin produces death that Spiritually separates man from God.

What is life? Life is something God creates in Christ Jesus. The holy life is created by God in Christ. Eternal life is created by God in Christ. Without Christ the holy life does not exist. Without Christ men are spiritually dead. Without Christ death reigns upon humanity. With Christ death is abolished and men can live holy until they go to Heaven. Real life and immortality only comes from the Christ of our Salvation.

2 Timothy 1:10…But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

Titus 1:1-2…Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;  In hope of eternal life