Man is made in God’s image—a trinity. In Genesis 1:26 God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…” This means every person is made to express human life in three parts: spirit, soul, and body—each representing the image of a member of the triune Godhead. However, because of original sin, the spirit part of a person is dead when he or she enters this world through natural birth. Even so, God the Father wanted to restore what Adam had lost—man’s spirit. The restoration comes through His Son, Jesus, who gives every person the opportunity to receive New Life, to become whole as God originally desired. Zoe defines this New Life.

Zoe is the Greek word for life; animate, breathing life. When zoe is used in the New Testament, it is often modified by the adjective aionios, another Greek word, that means “eternal,” “everlasting,” of “endless duration.” This eternal, everlasting life is given by God the Father through Christ Jesus, the Son, to those who believe the Gospel. When a person receives Jesus as Savior, God breathes New Life into that person. This means the spirit that was dead is made alive—resurrected to New Life. Additionally, the Bible says that God’s Spirit comes to dwell in the new believer. The new believer is made complete spirit, soul, and body to reflect the Godhead’s likeness. This completeness enables a believer to experience the abundant life that Jesus came to give—His life.

Jesus’ foremost purpose in coming was to give Zoe Life to men—“…I came that they might have life, and have it abundantly.” “For the will of My father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him, may have eternal life…” In fact, the Zoe Life we receive is uncontainable John 7:38-39 “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” The joy, peace, forgiveness, and eternal security that we receive through Jesus flows out from us as Living water—Zoe Life.

The Zoe Life we receive is for the ever after, but we also enjoy the abundant life here and now. The Holy Spirit empowers us to “be Jesus” to the hurting and lost, bringing His love and message of deliverance to the people we know and meet, giving us joy unspeakable.