Jesus is the life; in Him was life, and His words are life. John 14:6 As the one who is at the Fathers side, the Word makes the Father known to us (cf. We are uniquely created by God and equipped with natural talents and abilities to accomplish good works, which God has called us to do (Ephesians 2:10). Like!! 2. They are absolutely meaningful. I blog frequently and I really thank you for your content. John, THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN | USCCB Who Was Mary Magdalene: Wife, Prostitute or None of the Above - HISTORY John is telling us that in the person of Jesus, God dwelt or pitched his tent among us. He was born to Joseph and Mary sometime between 6 bce and shortly before the death of Herod the Great (Matthew 2; Luke 1:5) in 4 bce. Christians believe that choosing to follow Jesus Christ makes life immeasurably better. . Can we connect? Men and women are to honor one another, deeply care for each other, and enjoy serving. The scriptures call our Creator "the happy God". Heres how applying purpose, preparation and perseverance can help us achieve the most important things in life. Jesus claims that He is the way, and the truth, and the life. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba! What does it mean that everything is meaningless? Required fields are marked *. Jesus also claims that there is no other way to God, the Father, except through Him. The meaning of life, according to the Christian faith, is ultimately found in Jesus Christ. Reading the Bible with Rabbi Jesus - Your Thoughts? The biblical definition of life specifically eternal life is provided by Jesus Himself: "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent" ( John 17:3 ). The Good Life is Found in Jesus Christ | Opinion News - The Christian Post The person was asking what good works he must do to inherit eternal life (v. 16). Scripture To Consider: "Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. Our Savior came to earth to testify to God's . Ancient Jews usually had only one name, and, when greater specificity was needed, it was customary to add the fathers name or the place of origin. But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. Life is all about knowing God, experiencing His beauty and divine purpose, His miracles, and Creation. From a Christian perspective one would say that life is action, faith, belief, and relationships. was it fair to conclude their lives were simply meaningless? This one verse tells us three very important things about the Word (logos), who is identified as Jesus (John 1:17). Why are some of the most prosperous people some of the least satisfied? In sad moments of despair, confusion, and fear, Gods word comes alive and Jesus is the one who turns our mourning into dancing. Calvinism: A Southern Baptist Dialogue. Life is being a temple for the Holy Spirit to live. The world is awash in religious information but floundering when it comes to developing spiritual discernment. Science has shown evidence for the existence of the Creator. As a pastor, and also a chaplain for the local police department in the past, Ive gotten to be a part of some of the best and worst times of peoples lives. What keeps us up at night? God has designed life so that when we seek to make Him look good (= "glorify Him") by obeying His commands, we inherit a blessing (3:9). God gave us the Bible to teach us the best way to live and to give us examples of others to learn from. The Meaning of Life - A Biblical Answer | Truth Story What is the Meaning and Purpose of Life? - Bible Study Tools Had Jesus of Nazareth been a Roman or a Greek, certainly his contemporaries would have left behind statues in his honor. We are the beloved children of God, created by our heavenly Father to reflect His glory, walk in His love, and do His will in our lives. Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. Life happens when a baby is born and a family story unfolds. It was not like God was lonely and needed someone with whom He could talk and share His feelings about things. Jesus told Martha, "'Your brother will rise again.' Martha said to Him, 'I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day'" (John 11:23-24). The Value of Human Life - Christian Life Resources Why am I here? More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! We cant focus on God and on our idols at the same time. Is the deck stacked against you? Jesus is also a real person who lived in Roman Judea in the first century of the Common Era. When life is difficult, how can we make sense of what doesnt seem to make sense? 4. When things go wrong, when plans fail and people let us down, how can we deal with disappointment? And continue to work on your character, and understand how God has formed you through your family and experiences in life. What is the 'He Gets Us' Jesus commercial, and who is behind it? : NPR If you look at the Instruction Manual to see if this game of life is really fair, youll find amazing hope for the future. Perhaps this invitation from God in Jeremiah 33:3 will be for you? Psalm 57:2 says, "I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me." This is key in understanding God's purpose for your life. This world is not our home and there is more to life after death. That is, Forrest Gump was wrong; . Its clear from what Jesus says in the Gospels that God is not after a religious devotion, but a personal relationship. The coronavirus crisis has transformed our world. I pray that youll experience the fullness of all that God has for you. Everyone looks for happiness, one way or another. 6. Romans 8:1). No one comes to the Father except through Me.'" John 14:6. Everything starts from dust and returns to dust (Eccl. But through his incarnation, Jesus has brought about more. (. You can ask Jesus into your heart today. Help us share the truth of Gods Word and the gospel! But what does the One who designed and created us say? This life means eternal life in heaven. Sometimes we struggle to understand the events of our lives. This is why Jesus says in Luke 12:22-23 (ESV): Jesus says that life is more than food and the body more than clothing. Without Christ there is no access to God and . They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. His earthly life was marked by a commitment to reach out to others in love, and to make a difference in the lives of those he encountered. What did Jesus mean when He promised an abundant life? Paul: Know Jesus Christ. The loss of spiritual life that was brought about by the first man Adam plunged mankind into spiritual darkness, and now they love the darkness rather than the light (John 3:19; cf. When Jesus was born, all of Jewish Palestineas well as some of the neighbouring Gentile areaswas ruled by Rome's able "friend and ally" Herod the Great. Short Answer What is the meaning of life? God wants a relationship with us and obedience. Ecclesiastes is a book of the Bible, one of the Wisdom books, that explains how life in this world can be meaningless. When we know God as our Father, we can learn to trust and receive love. What can we do when we feel drained, numb or burned-out? Its in Gods love that fear and anger will be quenched. What is the real secret of satisfaction and contentment? Are we developing our personality and character to resemble Gods? The Gospel According to Jesus | Preaching Today Hope that helps! Our worldview is based on faith alone, so neither our thoughts nor actions play a role. It is becoming more difficult to know what to do in life and death situations. What does it mean to know God? Jesus would teach crowds of people where ever he went and would often performed miracles along his journeys. But have we failed if we arent perfect? This is highky interesting, i love the simplicity of it. The articles in this Christian Living section will help you find and understand the biblical principles for dealing with the challenges of life. THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN The Gospel according to John is quite different in character from the three synoptic gospels. John 20:2211), but because of Adams disobedience, his descendants are born in sin, which issues a loss of spiritual life and causes mankind to walk in darkness (John 8:12; cf. Jesus is life. The Bible presents foundational values that are perfect and beneficialyet most reject them today. Our first and foremost priority in life is to seek Gods kingdom and His righteousness, to do what He wants us to do (Matthew 6:33). We do this by accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Here are some prayers for you to choose from when you are ready to confess your sins and ask Christ into your life! We understand the beauty of Gods design when we pay attention to the things He does for us. Naturally, this means it is God's will that we avoid any kind of sexual immorality. Some believe that no matter how bad their thoughts are, theres no harm if they dont act on them. Notice that work is a blessing from God, not a curse. How is it possible for humans to become holylike God? Christmas is about the spirit of Book of James: Summary, Meaning & Application. The Apostle John clearly saw the coming of Jesus as corresponding to the creation account in Genesis 1 (cf. Paul wrote some inspiring and beautiful sentiments, such as, In everything give thanks. But is that literally realistic? But is that what the Bible says? Jesus died on the cross, so that our sins can be forgiven and that we would become the children of God. All the riches, learning, and experiences in life end up being empty. To imitate the Son of God. Kids need to obey and listen to instructions (Ephesians 6:1), being responsible by doing things without being asked. ; Psalm 16:11 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Matthew 6:19-21). The meaning of life is not based on things we see in the world for life is more than food, and the body more than clothing (Luke 12:23). In the Gospel according to Matthew, Jesus is portrayed as the fulfillment of the Jewish Scriptures, the long-awaited Messiah who stands at the intersection of salvation history. Corrections? I pray that youll experience the fullness and abundance of life in Jesus Christ! The Christian way of life is the best way of life possible! Meaning in life comes from a deeper place than just the physical world and the things that we are usually so busy living to get more of. These core Christian values canand willchange the world. To seek the kingdom of God. They report that Mary was a virgin when Jesus was conceived and that she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:18; cf. Author of, Sterling Professor of History, Yale University. The meaning of life is connecting with the purpose, and for that purpose to guide us into development and service. In their darkness (sin), mankind hates the light because they do not want their deeds to be exposed (John 3:20). He is the Son of God. Jesus' love was costly love (John 13:31-32). We can live beyond just having a religion and have a personal relationship with the uncreated God. To God be The glory, Amen. These things can actually bring the most pain in our lives as well. Since we believe in Christ, we are born again and become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). Just as we need God, so we need each other. Thank you so much, very much appreciated! How can we survive the constant bombardment of anxiety, fear and stress? I pray youll experience the abundant life that Jesus offers to the full! Is the cost of doing good worth the reward? In Islam, Jesus, peace and blessings be upon him, is one of the five greatest messengers of God who are collectively known as the 'Ul al-Azm or the Possessors of Steadfastness. Life is a process of becoming more and more like Christ in which we exercise our endurance by fixing our eyes on him, the author, and the finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2). Happiness. A young child will feel empty and disconnected if she does not know the warmth and love of a father. And maybe the reason He has not revealed them to me currently is that I have not placed Him at the center of my life and therefore am not ready to hear His plans for me. Since the prologue of John (1:118)9 clearly speaks of the deity of Jesus, it is not surprising that this finds an equally emphatic declaration throughout the gospel narrative (John 5:18, 8:58, 10:2835) and at its end and climax when Thomas professed his faith in the resurrected Jesus: My Lord and my God! (John 20:28). Peter encouraged persecuted Christians to be ready always to give an answer for the hope that is in you. What does this mean for Christians today? Jesus encourages us to enter the narrow path that leads to life. The desire for vengeance is a common and strong human emotion. Our work is supposed to be a display of Gods greatness, and therefore in everything we do, we are to do it with the right motive: for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). How we answer these big-picture questions is important so we can live with hope and a sense of purpose in times of uncertainty, pain, and frustration. He identified himself as the way [to the heavenly Father], the truth, and the life; and clearly indicated that knowing him is equal to knowing God Himself (John 14:6). Salvation brings "eternal life," in contrast to the eternal death of being separated forever from God (Matthew 25:30, 41, 46). But Jesus also gives encouragement to help us counteract that spiritually lethal threat. Our worldview affects both our thinking process and our everyday behavior. The angel Gabriel was sent to a fine young woman named Mary. FOMO can be crippling if you dont have a battle plan ready. Bible Study The Book of Ephesians. What should Christians do when confronted with spiritual, moral or ethical dilemmas? Whether people try to live a good life or not, the conclusion is the same: Life goes on.