Christianity is more than eternal life

Much, much, more. Jesus says that He came to give abundant life. "I have come that they might have life, and have it more abundantly." It applies to those who believe.

That means abundance in food, prosperity – not just in money; enjoyment of life (though you wouldn´t think so, seeing some Christians´ mournful faces); victory over addictions, bad habits, sickness, disease.

Putting deep-in-the-heart trust in Jesus gives all that, as well as sins forgiven. The latter by itself causes some to regard Christianity as an insurance policy to avoid a lake of fire – and nothing more. That´s probably why Christianity is put into a box called "religion."

At the first sign of sickness and disease many Christians run to the doctor when first they should be running to the Word of God. It has the answer to the ailment. In the Old Testament, Isaiah 53:5 (referring to Jesus on the cross centuries ahead) says: "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:5. The stripes are the lashes Jesus received.

In the New Testament (Matthew 8:16-17) Jesus fulfilled the prophecy in Isaiah by healing all who came to Him. In verse 17 Jesus referred directly to Him fulfilling what was said in Isaiah chapter 53 in the Old Testament. After the crucifixion the disciples and apostles healed as Jesus did. Today, some present-day disciples of Jesus are healing in the same way.

Sad to say, many churches speak only of Jesus taking our sins on the cross. Hence many in the flock suffer sickness unnecessarily through lack of teaching and knowledge. The Bible clearly says Jesus took our sicknesses as well as forgiving our sins. By unwavering faith in Christ believers will be made well.

What else? A person truly following Christ will show the fruits of the Holy Spirit in character change. Galatians 5:22-23 says: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." Aren´t those the characteristics we all want?

It doesn´t happen by New Year resolutions or "trying to be good." Those fruits only come by faith in Christ. Then God does the rest as we renew our minds by reading and believing what Jesus has to say.

By this writer´s observation, many people don´t know that eternal life doesn´t just mean being in heaven for eternity – though of course the latter is true.

There is a definition of eternal life in John 17:3. Jesus speaking: "And this is life eternal, that they might know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent." [italics mine]

So we see clearly that eternal life is knowing God, and it is the will of God that everyone would experience that. It is more than dead religion. It doesn´t come by merely showing up at church once a week.

Knowing God means spending time in God´s Word, studying it, believing it and putting it into practice.