How to Receive the Abundant Life
Jesus Christ came with good news. It was good news about the abundant life, and how to qualify for the kingdom of heaven (John 10:10; Luke 8:1; 2 Thess. 1:5). He came to show and to tell us how to live this Way of life. He said a child would have no trouble understanding or living this Way (Matt. 18:3).
To further demonstrate the simplicity of this Way of life, He said sinners of the worst sort and people who were considered fools, weak-minded or lowly would have no trouble living this simple, pure, godly way of life (Matt. 21:31; 11:25; 1 Cor. 1:26-29). One simply needs the attitude and willingness of an obedient child to a loving Father to start living this Way of life (1 John 3:7, 10; Luke 18:17).
What is this Way? It’s called the Way of righteousness (Matt. 21:32; Acts 18:25-26; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22). It is the Way to live righteously and blamelessly before God (Phil. 1:10; 1 Cor. 1:8; Psalm 18:30). A person lives this Way by learning to practice righteousness and by doing good deeds for others and those in need (1 John 3:7, 18-19).
Doing our good deeds in Jesus Christ’s name, for the reason of glorifying God in heaven, is showing Him we really love Him (Col. 3:17; Matt. 5:16; 1 John 5:3). When we imitate the Way He lives in heaven, His Will is done instead of ours (Eph. 5:1). If we live just to please Him, He lives just to please us (Heb. 13:21). Living to please the Lord daily by doing good toward others is living by the Spirit, who is God (Gal. 5:16-17, 25).
Satan has control of our old nature, or our flesh, but when we begin living to please God by living to the Spirit, Satan loses control. When we practice righteousness for God, we stop carrying out the evil thoughts and desires of the flesh. By committing our ways—our thoughts, words and deeds—to the Lord, we are putting to death the deeds of the flesh and overcoming our old nature (Gal. 6:15; Rom. 8:13).
Then, if we endure and don’t grow weary in doing good deeds, we will allow Jesus Christ to put our old nature under our feet, weakened and crushed (Heb. 10:36; 1 Peter 5:10; Gal. 6:9; 2 Thess. 3:13; Rom. 16:20; 2 Tim. 2:26). When we cease from all works of the flesh, we will enter the Lord’s rest (Heb. 4:10). We will then enter the abundant life, which the Lord has waiting for all who put Him first in their lives by turning from their wicked ways (1 Thess. 3:8; Rev. 22:11; Acts 3:26).