Zoe life vs Bios life
What quality of Life do you have today?
What kind of Life has God?
What quality of Life does God enjoy?
We know both from scripture and by experience that “God is Love.” his being, his life is Love with the Father and the Son in a dynamic loving relationship. A relationship full of joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, goodness, and self-control. In God`s life there is no sin, no pride, no envy, no injustice, and no selfishness.
God`s life is full of creative power, power to create the Heavens and earth, power to create plants and animals, power to create man in his own image.
On the day that you believed in Jesus Christ the very life of God entered your being. The uncreated life of God dwells inside each believer shedding abroad love, joy, and peace in our hearts (Romans 5:5).
This is the abundant Life Jesus came to give to his church.
In the New Testament there is a special Greek word for this abundant Life of God named Zoe. You may have heard it as a girl`s name; what a beautiful name, meaning “LIFE AS GOD LIVES IT.” All human beings who are alive possess “Bios” that is natural biological life.
But only those who are born again of God`s Holy Spirit possess Zoe life (together with Bios).
The word Zoe (although we derive words like zoology from it) has been given a special meaning by God in the New Testament This is similar to the way that agape (the Love of God) has a special meaning in the New Testament and is different in meaning from phileo (brotherly love).
So what does Zoe mean.
Zoe (Definition): The main thrust of word in New Testament is...
Zoe is Life in the absolute sense.
Zoe is the uncreated life.
Zoe is life as God lives it.
Zoe is eternal life.
Zoe is the life the Father and the Son have in themselves.
Bios is natural life; is flesh life, and is the mere animal life.
Zoe life left Adam on the day he sinned against God.
Zoe life entered you on the day that you believed in Jesus Christ.
Key Scripture:
John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life (zoen) and have it to the full."
Jesus came to give us Zoe life.
Zoe life is superabundance, life in excess, overflowing, more than sufficient, profuse, and abundant life, uncreated life, and life as God lives it.
Life rising within you full of joy, peace, longsuffering, goodness and kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control.
Most of us will know by now that Zoe and Bios are at war within us. The Bios the natural (sinful) life of the flesh is selfish, wants to be coaxed and praised, often takes advantage of others, exploits people and situations for its own benefit or selfish purposes. Bios hates Zoe and wants to avoid its influence like the plague.
The natural Bios life recognizes that Zoe is much stronger than it and given half a chance Zoe will crucify Bios. Thus Bios fights Zoe every inch of the way as in Mark 14:34-36.
Mark 14:34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”
35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that, if possible, the hour might pass from him.
36 “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
The battle between Bios and Zoe
The battle between Bios and ZOE is fought in the mind and decision is made by our WILL which should be for ZOE to win.
This battle between the life of God in us and the old sinful nature of the flesh is being fought out in our being everyday of our lives.
ZOE will transform us into sons of God
Bios will transform us into selfish failures
Who do you want to win, ZOE or Bios ? You choose.
If Bios wins you will be a Carnal Christian, lukewarm in your faith. Concerned not so much with God`s will as your own convenience, You will become a self or man pleaser rather than pleasing to God. You will not be prepared to make any sacrifices since Bios always looks after No. 1. You will take part in envy, strife, and division. You will fall away from God.
If you choose ZOE; you will grow spiritually and develop into a full maturity in Christ. You will manifest the fruit of the spirit in your life such as love, joy, peace, longsuffering, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and self-control. You will fulfill all your destiny in Christ Jesus and become a son of the Living God.
Our Bios natural life must be crucified for Zoe to have the victory. Look to the Master Jesus Christ, he was rejected of men, lead a life of comparative poverty, he was misunderstood by his closest family, betrayed by an intimate friend, jeered at, beaten by the Roman authorities, tortured, and finally executed by death on the cross, just the perfect way to kill the self-life.
Hebrews 12:2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
The joy set before him is part of Zoe. The joy opened the way to be able to endure the suffering shame and death.
What was the Joy set before him?
1. His obedience to Father
2.His salvation of his Church
“Follow me” says Jesus Christ.
Will you endure crucifixion for the joy set before you?
John 6:67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.
Do you also want to go away now that you know that you will have to co-operate with God?
in the crucifixion of your natural life? It is not going to be easy!
Or do you say with Simon Peter in
John 6:68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life (Zoe).
Amen
Personal Prayer