By For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23).
He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life (I John 5:12).
Jesus declared, “The thief cometh not, but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” This statement embodies pure, simple truth.
Satan is the thief who desires to steal our salvation, kill our opportunity to really live and to destroy our souls. Jesus wants us to not only exist- He wants us to thrive. Abundant life can be ours- life worth living here and eternity in Heaven when this life is over.
Notice there is only one source of life. It cannot be found in anyone or anything else. When we allow Jesus into our lives, we have life in us.
Proverbs 21:16 says, “The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.” The way of understanding includes really knowing who the Lord is and sincerely walking in His ways. Without him we are as dead men walking- just shells of the people we can be if we have Him in our lives.
Once we surrender our lives to God, everything changes. His Spirit dwells in us and we are brought to life- life that is abundant. Ephesians 2:1 tells us, “And you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins.” Notice, we were spiritually dead, but we are now very much alive.
All of this is possible- not because of our abilities- but because of what Jesus has done for us. From I Peter 3:18 we understand that He took our place: “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.” II Corinthians 5:21 points out that He took our punishment: “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” Finally, He rose again to be all that we need to live life abundantly. He is wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption to us (I Corinthians 1:30).
Let us view the gospel in its simplest terms. Jesus was born, lived, died and rose again for us. He is coming back for those who have Him in their lives. If we have Jesus we have life. After all, the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Dave Snyder is an Ordained Bishop with the Church of God – Cleveland, Tennessee. Before entering the ministry on a full-time basis, he was a school teacher. He also coached middle school basketball for eight years.
Dave and his wife, Sara, have two children — Craig and Karen. They also have one ten year old granddaughter — Breanna.
Dave and Sara pastored in West Virginia for thirty-six years. Sara is now retired from the banking industry, and Dave is retired from pastoring. However, Dave currently serves as prison Chaplain for the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Writing essays, articles, and devotionals is a real passion for Dave. He also enjoys playing musical instruments and singing.
by leaps and bounds 