July 22

John 10:10
THE abundant life, of which our Lord spoke to His disciples, is life in the energy of the Holy Spirit. It is that eternal life which we receive at new birth, and which, therefore, all Christians possess (1 John 5:1212He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. (1 John 5:12)). But it is more than that. It is life controlled by the indwelling Holy Spirit, whom God has given to all who obey Him (Acts 5:3232And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. (Acts 5:32)). This refers to the obedience of faith (Rom. 1:55By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: (Romans 1:5)) by which we appropriate the promises of God. As we yield ourselves to the Spirit’s guidance we enter into and lay hold of that which is really life (1 Tim. 6:12,12Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:12) lit. trans.). Apart from the new birth, this is impossible. There must be a life communicated, by which we are to live, before we can live the life. But when truly regenerated (Titus 3:55Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Titus 3:5)) we are rewed by the Holy Spirit day by day as we reckon ourselves dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus (Rom. 6:1111Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:11)).
“Now I live— ‘a new creation,’
Death, and judgment, past to me.
Jesus bore the condemnation—
Bore the cross and set me free.
Once I stood of sin convicted,
Waiting thus the sinner’s doom.
Judgment was on Christ inflicted.
God has raised Him from the tomb.
Now I have a life in union
With the risen Lord above;
Now I drink in sweet communion,
Some rich foretastes of His love.”
—G. W. F.