Eternal Life

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16

The total personality of man is made from two absolute distinct and separate sources (Gen. 2:7): the material and the immaterial part of man. The outward man is the physical body, and the inward man is the soul and spirit which includes the ability to think, to feel, to choose and to relate to God.

When God created Adam, he was totally alive-physically and spiritually. But because of Adam’s sin and subsequent spiritual death, every person who comes into the world is born physically alive but spiritually dead. Being separated from God, we lacked the presence and wisdom of God in our lives. We learned to live independently of God, centering our interests on ourselves. This lifestyle of living independently of God is the characteristic of the flesh or the old nature.

When we are born again, our inward man is made alive by the Holy Spirit. Jesus declares that whoever believes in Him has everlasting life (John 5:24-26). In the Bible, everlasting life does not mean just merely existing on and on. Everlasting or eternal life is zoe. It is a supernatural life-it is the quality of life that God has in Himself! We don’t have to wait until we die to get eternal life; we receive this zoe-life of God at the moment of conversion!

In the Old Testament, there are instances when certain individuals experience zoe. Moses was 120 years old and yet his eyesight was not weakened, and his strength was not reduced (Deut. 34:7). Caleb was 85 years old and yet he declared that he was as strong as when he was 40 (Josh. 14:10-11). Elijah was able to go without food for 40 days and nights (1 Kin. 19:8). Jesus was able to minister to the woman from Samaria despite not resting and eating after traveling a very long distance (John 4).

The people in the world try to fi nd extra boosts to cope with life’s pressure. They use drugs, cigarettes, coffee, vitamins, valium, etc. But when our inner man is born again, we can have the zoe-life of God! Though our outward man is perishing, if we are continually guided by the Lord, His zoe-life will overfl ow within us, renewing us day by day.