“Zoe” — God Kind of Life

For as the Father has life (zoe) in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life (zoe) in Himself. — John 5:26

The Greek word translated “life” in our text today is “zoe.”

Reading through the King James version, or any English translation, when you see the word “life”, you might think it’s always talking about the same thing, but it isn’t. Three other Greek words in the New Testament are translated “life”. Briefly, these words and their meanings are: psuche, natural life, or human life; bios, manner of life; and anastrophe, behavior.

Zoe means eternal life or God’s life. It is God’s nature. It is life as God has it —that which the Father has in Himself— and that which the Incarnate Son has in Himself. It is called eternal life, everlasting life, and sometimes just life in the word of God.

No matter what “manner of life” or “behavior” you have, it won’t do you any good unless you have zoe! And that’s what Jesus came to bring you!

And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life (zoe) in His name. — John 20:30-31

Jesus did many things that are not recorded in John’s Gospel, or in the other Gospels. But the things that are recorded in the Gospels are recorded for a purpose. What is this purpose? “...that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life (zoe) in His name.”

The object is that we might receive eternal life!

As a Christian, you need to know how to help others receive eternal life. The first step is to get them to read or hear what is written in the Gospels, so they may know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that as the Son of God, He has made spiritual life available to spiritually dead man.

John 3:15 and 16 shows us how: “that whoever believes in Him (Jesus) should not perish but have eternal life (zoe). For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (zoe).”

Make the following confession:

For as the Father has zoe in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have zoe in Himself. Jesus said “I am come that you might have zoe, and that you might have it more abundantly.” I have zoe in myself. And I have it more abundantly! I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. And, believing, I received zoe through His Name. I shall never perish. I have zoe. I have the life of God. I have the nature of God abiding in me.