In the Bible, life is often understood as a gift from God, characterized by the presence of the spirit (Genesis 2:7) and is meant to be lived in relation to God and others (John 10:10). It encompasses physical existence, spiritual vitality, and the fulfillment of God’s purpose.
Scripture
7 then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.
8 And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed.
9 And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Biblical Definition of Life
The biblical definition of life transcends mere biological existence, presenting a multi-faceted understanding that integrates the physical, spiritual, and relational dimensions of being. In Genesis 2:7, we see that life is initiated by God’s breath, symbolizing the divine spirit that infuses humankind with purpose and vitality. This idea highlights that life is not just about existing but thriving through a connection to the Creator. John 10:10 further enriches this concept by stating that Jesus came to give life abundantly, which implies that true life encompasses joy, meaningful relationships, and an alignment with God’s will. Thus, life, as defined by the Bible, is a holistic experience that calls for individuals to engage with God and others, fostering a deep sense of purpose and fulfillment.
Moreover, the Bible emphasizes that life is inherently sacred, as illustrated in Psalm 139:13-16, where the psalmist recognizes the intricacy of God’s creation in the womb, reinforcing the sanctity of life at every stage. This understanding shapes how believers view moral issues surrounding life, reinforcing the belief that every individual has intrinsic value and a unique role in God’s plan. Life, therefore, is not merely about survival but about striving for righteousness, serving others, and reflecting God’s love in our interactions and choices. Ultimately, the biblical concept of life calls each believer to live intentionally, embracing their identity as a child of God and participating actively in the restoration of the world as envisioned in His kingdom.
The biblical perspective on life also invites an exploration of the transformative power of faith in an individual’s journey. Throughout the scriptures, life is intricately connected to the covenant relationship between God and humanity, where obedience to divine commandments brings forth blessings and fulfillment. In Deuteronomy 30:19-20, the choice between life and death is presented as a pivotal decision for God’s people, highlighting that true life is found in allegiance to God’s laws, which cultivate a rich and vibrant existence characterized by flourishing relationships and communal harmony. This reinforces the notion that life, as understood biblically, is encapsulated in the decisions we make, grounded in wisdom and a commitment to living out God’s purpose.
Additionally, the New Testament speaks profoundly to the concept of life through the lens of resurrection and eternal hope. In passages such as Romans 6:4, believers are reminded of their new life in Christ, which transcends earthly limitations and opens the door to everlasting existence. This transformative aspect signifies that, as Christians, they are called to live out their faith in a manner that reflects the hope of resurrection—embracing joy even in trials and committing to acts of love and service that illustrate the kingdom of God on earth. Such an understanding of life not only fosters a profound sense of identity but also encourages believers to embody characteristics of stewardship and compassion, as they acknowledge their role in God’s ongoing narrative of creation and redemption. Thus, biblical life is enriched with purpose, inviting engagement with the divine while fostering a communal responsibility towards one another.
The Divine Origin of Life
In the biblical context, life is understood as a gift from God, emphasizing the belief that all living beings are created with purpose and intention. This perspective highlights the sacredness of life, suggesting that it is not merely a biological phenomenon but a divine creation imbued with meaning. The notion of life as a divine gift encourages a sense of responsibility towards oneself and others, fostering a respect for the sanctity of all forms of life.
Life as a Journey of Faith
The Bible often portrays life as a journey that involves growth, transformation, and the pursuit of a relationship with God. This journey is characterized by trials, tribulations, and moments of joy, all of which contribute to spiritual development. The concept of life as a journey underscores the importance of faith, guiding individuals to seek purpose and fulfillment through their experiences and choices, ultimately leading to a deeper understanding of their relationship with the divine.
The Call to Abundant Living
In biblical teachings, life is not only about existence but also about living abundantly. This abundance is understood in spiritual, emotional, and relational terms, encouraging individuals to cultivate a life rich in love, compassion, and community. The call to abundant living challenges believers to engage actively with the world around them, promoting values such as generosity, kindness, and service to others, thereby reflecting the love of God in their daily lives.
How to Live with Purpose and Stewardship in Faith
Living with purpose and stewardship in faith is a beautiful journey that invites us to align our daily actions with God’s greater plan. It starts with understanding that our lives are not just our own; we are entrusted with gifts, talents, and resources meant to be shared and nurtured for the benefit of others. To cultivate this mindset, I encourage you to spend time in prayer and reflection, asking God to reveal your unique calling and how you can serve those around you. Consider how you can use your time, skills, and finances to uplift your community, whether through volunteering, supporting local charities, or simply being a listening ear for someone in need. Remember, stewardship is not just about managing resources; it’s about embodying love and generosity in every aspect of your life. As you embrace this purpose, you’ll find that your faith deepens, and you become a beacon of hope and inspiration to others, reflecting the light of Christ in a world that desperately needs it.
Bible References to the Definition of Life:
Deuteronomy 30:19-20: 19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live,
20 loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice, and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”
Job 33:4-6: 4 The Spirit of God has made me,
and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
5 “Answer me, if you can;
set your words in order before me;
6 Behold, I am toward God as you are; I too was pinched off from a piece of clay.
Psalm 16:9-11: 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.
10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.
11 You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 139:13-16: 13 For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
Proverbs 3:1-2: 1 My son, do not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commandments,
2 for length of days and years of life
and peace they will add to you.
Proverbs 4:20-23: 20 My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Let them not escape from your sight;
keep them within your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh.
23 Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2: 1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
Isaiah 40:28-31: 28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the faint,
and to him who has no might he increases strength.
30 Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;
31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
John 1:1-4: 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
John 3:14-16: 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
John 5:24-26: 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.
John 6:35-40: 35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe.
37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.
39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.
40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
John 10:10-11: 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
John 11:25-26: 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,
26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
John 14:6-7: 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.
Acts 17:24-28: 24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man.
25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.
26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,
27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,
28 for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.’
Romans 6:4-5: 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
Romans 8:1-2: 1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:10-11: 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
1 Corinthians 15:20-22: 20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
2 Corinthians 5:17-19: 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
Galatians 2:19-20: 19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God.
20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Ephesians 2:4-5: 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,
5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
Philippians 1:21-24: 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell.
23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.
24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.
Colossians 3:3-4: 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
1 Timothy 6:12-13: 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession,
1 John 1:1-2: 1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—
2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—
1 John 5:11-12: 11 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
Revelation 21:6-7: 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.
7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
Rev. François Dupont is a dedicated church minister with a wealth of experience in serving spiritual communities. With a calm and serene demeanor, he has been devoted to sharing the message of love, compassion, and tolerance for over two decades. Through his thoughtful sermons, compassionate counseling, and unwavering support, Rev. Dupont has touched the lives of countless individuals, allowing them to find solace and strength during difficult times. His serene presence and deep understanding of the human condition make him a trusted guide for those seeking spiritual nourishment and guidance.