EPHESIANS, 10. DIVINE DECREES, 7. ZOEY LIFE, 2. LORD'S SUPPER CELEBRATION! ULTIMATE SPIRITUAL LIFE!
GRACE BIBLE CHURCH
PASTOR ROBERT R. MCLAUGHLIN
SUNDAY 10-2-2022
GBIBLE.ORG
PDF: EPHESIANS-0290-010
EPHESIANS - 0290-010
DIVINE DECREES, PART 7.
ZOE LIFE, PART 2.
The Ultimate Experience For Living The Spiritual Life; 2PE 1:3.
ISA 55:7-9
We continue our study with;
Point 4. The Divine Decrees and the Zoe life.
Our will define the Zoe life and then continue where we left off.
The Zoe life came from our study on the Divine Decrees in 2PE 1:3.
2PE 1:3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence
The word life in 2PE 1:3 is “zoe” which refers to possessing the “zoe life,” which IS THE SUPERGRACE LIFE FOR THE BELIEVER.
“Zoe” comes from zoology which means the function of life and here it refers to the supergrace life which is the objective of all doctrine.
Here’s where we go back to the principle of the exegesis or the original language.
There are three Greek words for life: bios, psuche, and zoe.
These three words have different meanings.
(1) Bios refers to the biology of life.
(2) Psuche refers to soul life.
(3) Zoe refers to the supergrace life.
“Bios-life” refers to the physical essence of the body.
“Psuche-life” is the essence of the soul as you live in the world in your normal state.
“Zoe Life” is what God gives as a part of His very own nature and essence.
This is the ultimate life, and it is what God expects for every believer to have.
And for this life, God has made complete and total provision.
And here’s where we left off last time;
The provisions come in three spiritual mechanics and the four spiritual skills.
The three spiritual skills:
- The filling of the Holy Spirit,
- The ten problem-solving devices,
- The execution of the PPOG.
The four spiritual mechanics are:
- The utilization of divine power
- The use of the three spiritual skills
- The deployment of the 10 PSD.
- The execution of the three stages of spiritual adulthood; S.S.E.; S.A.; S.M.
Dreams are often an escape from reality, but there is nothing but reality and indescribable blessing in the "zoe life.”
In other words; The “zoe life” doesn't escape from reality, but it is fantastic, indescribable reality.
We do not even have the imagination to dream or the power to ask for the things which God has prepared for us in the “zoe life”.
As 1CO 2:9 "However, as it stands written, `no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.”
"Those who love Him" here refers to believers who live in the “zoe life.”
Go to the book of Isaiah chapter 55.
ISA 55:8 "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are My ways your ways,' says the Lord."
This means God has done some thinking way beyond our thinking.
And His thinking becomes a reality for us once we enter the “zoe life.”
And the ways of God are way beyond our understanding.
But; Once we reach the “zoe-life”, we begin to comprehend God's ways in a way which gives worship and gratitude and appreciation for God an entirely new meaning.
ISA 55:9 "`For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.'"
But those ways of God, though higher, are not beyond our grasp because in the “zoe-life”, we learn about those ways and experience some of those ways that are higher than our ways.
The point is that you cannot even begin to think, imagine, or dream of the fantastic things that God has provided for you in the “zoe life.”
This is all because our Lord chose to live in the Doctrine of Kenosis and gave us the power and the ability to do so.
In the life (zoe life) beyond gnosis which is epignosis or possessing the wisdom of God, the Church glorifies God through the attainment of spiritual maturity.
Think about it;
All of these fantastic principles of doctrine have been decreed by God in eternity past in the Divine Decrees.
In the “zoe life”, the church glorifies God through receiving their escrow blessings for time and in the eternal state.
EPH 3:21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
The poor attempt of the pastor to teach about your escrow blessings doesn't even begin to describe what God has for you personally in the “zoe life.”
Your blessings for time are infinitely more than all we can ask or imagine.
They are life beyond our dreams.
Now, if you are normal, you want things in life.
People dream about what they want or desire in life.
These dreams are associated with happiness symbols.
And there is nothing wrong with having dreams providing that:
These dreams do not inhibit your relationship with God or and come between Him and your assigned personal sense of destiny.
People dream about what they want or desire in life.
And these dreams are associated with happiness symbols.
For example, people dream of:
- Greatness or success.
- Commendation from people.
- Being respected and receiving approval.
- Money and security.
- Social life and romance.
- The possession of materialistic things which are coveted for pleasure or which are desired as a status symbol.
- Achievement in some field in which they are interested.
- Possessing beauty, strength, attractiveness, and-or health.
- And where applicable, being married to the ideal person.
These dreams express what we want, what we desire, what we think, and what we imagine.
But God has provided for the mature believer a zoe-life, beyond imagination, and beyond our greatest solicitation to self-interest.
For dreams, imaginations, prayers, and asking favors of others, all add up to living for yourself or self-interest.
Yet God provides for the mature believer the "zoe life" which is beyond all of that.
Now, We continue with some principles concerning the “zoe life” that God has for us which is hidden in Christ as found from the apostle John.
First of all,
- This life is only found in Christ and gives us guidance and direction; JOH 1:4.
Turn there.
JOH 1:4 In Him was life, and this zoe-life was the light of men.
Notice, light gives you guidance, direction and clarity.
There is no confusion or chaos or boredom with the zoe-life.
- This life is made available to anyone who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ, JOH 3:15.
JOH 3:15 That whoever believes may in Him have eternal life [that is the “zoe life.”]
The “zoe life” is life more abundantly; JOH 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have “zoe life,” and might have {it} abundantly.
- This “zoe life” or the life which comes from God fulfills the desires which are found in every one of us, JOH 4:14.
JOH 4:14 But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to the zoe life or eternal life."
- This life is made available to us in time, not beginning with eternity, JOH 5:24.
JOH 5:24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, "has" eternal or “zoe life” and does not come into judgment, but "has passed" out of death into “zoe life.”
- This “zoe life” or the life which God gives to us is given to us through the intake of doctrine, JOH 6:27.
JOH 6:27 "Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life [zoe-life], which the Son of man shall give to you, for on him the Father, even God, has set his seal."
In JOH 6:63 "It is the Spirit who gives zoe-life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.
- This “zoe life” is given without measure depending upon the believer's desire for it; JOH 3:34.
JOH 3:34 "For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit (which is from the zoe life) without measure.
- This life can never be taken away, Joh 10:28-30.
JOH 10:28 And I give “zoe life” to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand.
JOH 10:29 "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.
JOH 10:30 "I and the Father are one and the same
- This "zoe life” is described in Joh 17:3 as "knowing" God and TLJC.
JOH 17:3 "And this is zoe life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent.
- It is through the written communication of Bible doctrine that this life is offered to every member of the human race, Joh 20:31.
JOH 20:31 But these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God; and that believing you may have zoe life in His name.
- In PHI 4:11-13, we have the interpretation of “zoe life”which is for the believer who sticks with doctrine and lives in the way and the truth.
PHI 4:11 Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.
PHI 4:12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.
PHI 4:13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
This is what it means to be on the right side of history or to accept your calling and place in life.
This, of course, refers to the lifestyle and thinking of the mature believer.......contentment no matter what.
This is the result of perception, metabolization of and application of Bible doctrine.
This is living in "the zoe-life."
For the true purpose of receiving doctrine is to recognize what TLJC means when He said in JOH 14:6:
JOH 14:6 "I am the way [entrance], and the truth [doctrine], and the “Zoe life”; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.
The reason why truth is so important is because it leads us to the “zoe-life.”
In the spiritual life, zoe refers to the supergrace life which is the objective of Bible doctrine resident in the soul.
This “zoe-life” refers to an extraordinary peace that God desires for us to experience even in time.
The “zoe life.”
Even in time, you have the ability to begin to experience “zoe-life” within you.
This sense of inner peace and contentment may decrease or increase because this new life, the zoe life, a life of complete contentment, is given little by little.
However, in the eternal state, this zoe-life will fill you entirely.
The point is that:
As God has a plan for our lives which enables us to recognize death to old sin nature with its selfish desires, as a part of that plan, He also gives us the experience of “zoe-life” in time.
Joh 5:24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, "has" eternal life or “zoe life,” the life which comes from God, and does not come into judgment, but "has already passed" out of death into “zoe life”.
If you stay with the plan of God, you will have times when you will experience death to the OSN, and then the experience of the newness of life, the “zoe life,” a life of inner happiness and complete contentment.
That's why Paul said in;
ROM 6:4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death [identification with Christ in His death], in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of “zoe life.”
The dangerous trap is to get discouraged in life when things are not going right.
This is why are to have that peace and contentment that goes beyond understanding.
Remember JOH 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you.
This zoe-life is something different and puts you in a completely new state.
It is arriving at the corrected translation.
PHI 4:7 In fact, that spiritual peace and prosperity from the source of the God, which surpasses or rises above and beyond all comprehension, shall garrison your hearts [right lobes] also your minds in Christ Jesus.
We do not always understand the will of God, but to trust His sovereignty completely is another matter that leads us to the experience of this “zoe-life” within.
As we stay dedicated and devoted to the way, the truth and the “zoe life, outward problems caused by persecution, injustice, and even what is perceived to be the unfairness of God, are no longer perceived to be a negative and reacted to.
And that’s because the issue is "His zoe life or yours?"
You have psuche life or soul life which was given to you in the garden when God breathe into man’s nostrils the breath of life (s).
It’s also interesting that;
Man’s nostrils are divided into two parts and when God gave him the breath of life which we call that “neshamah” or soul life.
What is interesting is that;
The second type of life that God gives to all members of the human race is “zoe life,” though most people never respond to the Gospel when they hear it and remain unbelievers.
The word for “zoe ζωή” occurs 135 times in the Greek New Testament.
It is used in Joh 5:26; Act 8:33; Rom 8:38; Jam 4:14; 1Pe 3:10, as well as modifying another word such as eternal life (Mat 7:14; Mar 9:43; Joh 3:16), the bread of life ( Joh 6:35, 48), and the crown of life ( Rev 2:10 ).
The first reference is;
JOH 5:26 "For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself;
And God wants is to have these desires.
The next reference is:
ACT 8:33 "In humiliation His judgment was taken away; Who shall relate His generation? For His personal “zoe life” is removed from the earth."
Look at ROM 8:38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor “zoe life,” nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
ROM 8:39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Next we I quoted:
1PE 3:10 For, "Let him who means to love “zoe life” and see good days refrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking guile.
The next one;
MAT 7:14 "For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to “zoe life” and few are those who find it.
Also: MAR 9:43 "And if your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter “zoe life” crippled, than having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire.
JOH 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have “zoe life.”
And so, the next reference I gave is;
JOH 6:35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of “zoe life”; he who comes to Me shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
JOH 6:48 "I am the bread (food) of “zoe life.”
The final reference I gave you is;
REV 2:10 'Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of “zoe life.”
“Zoe life” is a crown of glory for the supergrace.
This “zoe life of contentment and inner peace is mentioned as a life of fantastic inner happiness mentioned in;
PHI 4:4 Keep on having perfect happiness by means of the Lord at all times;
“Zoe life will cause us not to be worried and give us fantastic inner peace, in PHI 4:6-7.
PHI 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
PHI 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
It will give us a fantastic positive attitude toward life, Phi 4:8.
The corrected translation says;
PHI 4:8 From now on, members of the Royal family of God, whatever is true [doctrinal], whatever is honorable [noble or worthy of respect], whatever is just [fair or right], whatever is pure [of proper motivation]
whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever personal loves exist, whatever is commendable, if there is any virtue [and there is for the mature believer says the first class condition]
and if anything worthy of praise [and there is for the mature believer says the first class condition], be concentrating on these things.
It will allow us to be totally content in any and every circumstance of life, Phi 4:11-13.
PHI 4:11 Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.
PHI 4:12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to “zoe life” in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.
PHI 4:13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me or keeps on pouring His zoe life within me.
Zoe life will give us phenomenal confidence that no matter what the odds are against, God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus, Phi 4:19.
PHI 4:19 And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
This is truly escrow blessings in time, not wealth and overt prosperity, but an incredible superb inner peace with God.
“Zoe life” refers to an extraordinary peace that God desires for us to experience in this life.
“Zoe-life” means we will experience deliverance from the bondage of the world and the stronghold of the cosmic system.
There is a place that can be reached by the mentality of the soul that enjoys this fantastic “zoe life”.
To leave God after coming to this “zoe-life,” a life filled with inner happiness and contentment, would be the most miserable thing in the universe.
Why?
Because the believer knows deep down inside that he will never derive any pleasure from exterior sources of the cosmic system.
Everything else appears to be vanity and meaningless and empty in comparison to a relationship with God and the experience of this zoe-life.