The Abundant Life. What Is It?

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when He brings out His own sheep, He goes before them, and the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.

Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them. Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, I AM the door of the sheep. All whoever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I AM the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" 

---- John 10:1-10

 A sheepfold or a sheep pen was an enclosure made up of large rocks or wood with barbed wire, a fence and or wall that the shepherd would make the sheep go into for safety after they were done feeding on the hills or nearby fields. The enclosure had only one opening the sheep could go in and out of. The opening was the door; the shepherd was the door of the sheep. At night the shepherd would guard his sheep by lying down at the opening to keep thieves and predators away so they could rest. A good shepherd would not let his sheep get harmed and killed. He was their only protector, and they trusted him because he was the one that led them out and back in again. They responded to his voice only because he would call them by name. Also, shepherds could rent a communal pen with other shepherds who would keep their flocks overnight if they needed to attend to other business. They would pay a gatekeeper, a hireling, to watch the sheep. The next day, the shepherd would come, and the gatekeeper would open the door so that the shepherds would either call his sheep by name or use a special unique call or song to gather all of his sheep and lead them out. The sheep that belonged to the other shepherds would only listen to their shepherd’s voice and not a stranger. Sheepfolds today are the same as they were in antiquity. One of the differences today is that some shepherds use dogs to help direct the sheep if they try to go astray.

Jesus called Himself the Good Shepherd in John 10:11,14. Although those who were listening were not aware that when He said I give my life for my sheep He was referencing His death. 

So, why do so many Christians believe that when verse ten says, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that more abundantly”, that Jesus is making reference to material wealth? Verse ten is not talking about financial gain at all! Jesus is clearly making reference to granting eternal life to His sheep; those that place their faith in Him for the forgiveness of their sins. That is all this entire chapter is talking about.

The abundant life is the blessed reality that Jesus saves wretched sinners like you and I. Just like shepherds literally laid down their lives for actual sheep because he loves, cares and nourishes them, Jesus laid down His life for His sheep.

Jesus is indeed our Good Shepherd (John 10:11, 14). 

Who are the thieves and robbers?

Well the ultimate thief is Satan, but he is not the thief in question here. Notice Jesus said, all that ever came before me were thieves and robbers. That would be the religious leaders of Christ’s day. Why did Jesus call them thieves and robbers? Because they were false teachers and prophets. The Prophet Ezekiel calls false teachers worthless shepherds who did not feed the flock of God but fed themselves (Ezekiel 34). In Matthew 23 Jesus righteously cursed out the religious leaders. 

But woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense  make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation (Matthew 23:13-14).

Jesus also calls them blind guides and fools (vv 16-17). 

The abundant life is eternal life. There is nothing better than to know that we will spend forever with God the Father, God the Son, The Holy Spirit, the Angels, and all the saints of God for all time. When one ponders on these blessings, they should burst forth in praise to God.

My Doxology

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God;and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is (1 John 3:1-2).

From Charles Spurgeon regarding 1 John 3:1:

that we should be called children of God Who calls us so? That is the wonder. Men take upon themselves great names without any right to them. There are degrees among men that are degrees of shame because the persons who wear them were never justly entitled to them. It is one thing for us to call ourselves children of God, and another thing for the Father to bestow His love so that we are truly called the sons of God. From where comes this princely title of “children of God”? Who calls the saints the children of God?

The Father Himself does so. He speaks to them as unto children. He deals with them as with sons. He is pleased in infinite love to bid them say, “Our Father,” and He answers to them by calling them children and heirs. He acknowledges their sonship, and pities them as a father pities his children. He has called them sons, saying, “ ‘I will be a Father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to me,’ says the all-powerful Lord” (2 Cor 6:18). Oh, what a blessing it is to have God calling you His child; the great Almighty and Infinite One looking upon you with a Father’s love, and saying, “You are my son”! He speaks the truth, and we may believe it, and be sure. He knows His own children, and gives the name of sons to none whom He will in the end disown. He calls us His children, and we are.

Charles Spurgeon, Spurgeon Commentary: 1 John, ed. Elliot Ritzema, Spurgeon Commentary Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014), 1 Jn 3:1.

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us (emphasis added) and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (1 John 4:10).

From Matthew Henry:

Verses 9–12; (1 John 4)

Nothing can be more absurd than the conduct of those who doubt as to the truth of Christianity, while in the common affairs of life they do not hesitate to proceed on human testimony, and would deem any one out of his senses who declined to do so. The real Christian has seen his guilt and misery, and his need of such a Saviour. He has seen the suitableness of such a Saviour to all his spiritual wants and circumstances. He has found and felt the power of the word and doctrine of Christ, humbling, healing, quickening, and comforting his soul. He has a new disposition, and new delights, and is not the man that he formerly was. Yet he finds still a conflict with himself, with sin, with the flesh, the world, and wicked powers. But he finds such strength from faith in Christ, that he can overcome the world, and travel on towards a better. Such assurance has the gospel believer: he has a witness in himself, which puts the matter out of doubt with him, except in hours of darkness or conflict; but he cannot be argued out of his belief in the leading truths of the gospel. Here is what makes the unbeliever’s sin so awful; the sin of unbelief. He gives God the lie; because he believes not the record that God gave of his Son. It is in vain for a man to plead that he believes the testimony of God in other things, while he rejects it in this. He that refuses to trust and honour Christ as the Son of God, who disdains to submit to his teaching as Prophet, to rely on his atonement and intercession as High Priest, or to obey him as King, is dead in sin, under condemnation; nor will any outward morality, learning, forms, notions, or confidences avail him. 

Matthew Henry and Thomas Scott, Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, 1997), 1 Jn 5:9.

From King David:

The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want. He makes me lie down in the green pastures. He leads me besides the still waters. He restores my soul. He causes me to walk in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For you are with me. Your rod and staff they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;You anoint my head with oil. My cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalm 23:1-6

Broader vs Contextual Meaning

 There are a few Bible passages that come to mind that have a contextual meaning and what I would call a broader or general meaning. Oftentimes the New Testament writers quote and/or borrow language from Old Testament writers to deliver their messages, or to fulfill Old Testament prophecy. Let’s examine a few.

 Matthew 18:6 - Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

Contextual Meaning - When Jesus is referencing little ones in this passage He is making reference to all believers, young and old alike. No one should tempt God’s children into sin - it's deadly for the offender to do so.

Broader Meaning - Many Christians will use this verse to refer to children only; e.g. those that want to harm children and sexually groom them to have transgender mutilation surgery because they have confusion about their biological sex or worse, sex traffic them for profit. They (i.e. those that protect children) are saying to the predators out there, “It would be better if someone hung a millstone around your neck and threw you in the sea to drown than for you to hurt a small child.” I see no problem borrowing the language from this verse to emphasize the severe repercussions of harming children but it’s very important to remember the context in which Jesus said this so the original meaning is not lost.

 Revelation 3:20 - Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

Contextual Meaning - Jesus is proverbially knocking on the door of the Laodicean Church due to their sinfulness, they have locked the Lord out of their lives due to their apostate lukewarm behavior. This is a call to repentance by the disobedient members of this Church. Jesus loves them and desires to be let back in so that He can enjoy sweet communion and fellowship with the members of this congregation. It is not a call or invitation to repent and receive salvation for the first time. By extension this is a warning to all wayward believers for all time that think materialism is a barometer for holiness and success in lieu of obedience. The Laodiceans said they were rich. Jesus said they were wretched, blind, poor and naked (vs17b). Read all the verses regarding the Church of Laodicea.

 Broader Meaning - Many will use Revelation 3:20 as a useful verse for evangelism; to call the unregenerate to repent of their sins and believe in Jesus Christ for salvation because He’s standing and knocking on the door of their hearts, so to speak.

 2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord is not slack concerning His promise as some count slackness but is longsuffering toward us. He is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance.

 Contextual Meaning - Peter is rebuking those that are mocking the return of Christ. They are saying that it is taking Jesus too long to return. Now mind you, when Peter wrote this, it was the First Century A.D., maybe less than 40 years since Jesus had resurrected and ascended back to heaven. Christians throughout Church history have anticipated Jesus could return in their lifetime. Contextually who are the “us”, the “any”, and the “all” in verse nine? Let’s connect the dots.

In the first letter of Peter we read in chapter 1 verses 1-2, “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.”

 In 2 Peter 3:1-4 we read, “Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”’ 

In both letters Peter was writing to Christians. We are the “us”, the “any”, and the “all” in 2 Peter 3:9:the elect, the chosen of God before the foundation of the world. A comparable text is Ephesians 1:4, “Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.”

Broader Meaning - Christians use 2 Peter 3:9 as an evangelistic verse to say since God loves all people (which He does), He does not desire that anyone perish and die without Him which is true. Ezekiel 18:32 and Ezekiel 33:11 tells us God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Again, it's effective and I believe it right to borrow 2 Peter 3:9 as an evangelistic verse as long as the contextual meaning is not lost. 

 Exodus 33:18-19 - Moses asked the Lord, “Please show me your glory.” Then He (The Lord) said, “I will make My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”

 Paul borrows the language of Exodus 33:19 when discussing election:

“And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even our father Isaac (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.”[1] As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”[2]

What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! For He says to Moses. “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have 

compassion on whomever I will have compassion.”  So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy (Romans 9:10-16).

Paul anticipated that his audience would think and question God’s righteousness regarding election as unfair, so he is preemptive by saying there is certainly no unrighteousness with God. Remember, man is a sinner, and the only thing we deserve is hell. God deciding to choose who He wants to extend mercy to is His divine prerogative. God’s mercy is His unexplainable love to those who hate Him.

Sovereign election is God choosing who will be recipients of His saving grace. During the time of Isaac, his wife Rebecca was pregnant with twins, Esau and Jacob. God told Rebecca that the older son (Esau) would serve the younger son (Jacob), and that Jacob would be stronger than Esau (Genesis 25:23). Now when the text says that Jacob would be stronger than Esau, it's talking about the two nations which ended up being Israel and Edom. The descendants of Edom or the Edomites no longer exist, but the Israelites or who we call Jews today will always exist. Why? Because of the covenant made with one man, Abram (Genesis 12:2-3). The Jews are descendants of the first Hebrew Abram (Genesis 14:13).

We know this was sovereign election because the text says that before the sons were born, before they could do any good or evil, God chose one over the other so that His plan of election would stand. This is why Paul quoted the Exodus passage: “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and compassion on whomever I will have compassion.”[3]

In like manner, God does that today when He decides to bring someone into the kingdom of God. Before we were born, it was in the mind of God to save sinners because He lovingly chose us through His mercy and compassion. He through the gospel message opens the eyes of the one He chooses to save. He grants them repentance and faith so that they believe and are saved (Eph 2:8; 2 Tim 2:25). This way God gets all the glory for salvation and the redeemed can say, “Thank you Lord for having mercy and compassion on me!”  

When we understand the original context of a passage, it should hold us accountable to treat God’s word with more reverence and care. It takes time, diligence, careful study and discipline to obtain the authorial intent of all the books of the Bible. Doing this is part of our maturation as Christians. Let's do everything we can to study to show ourselves approved unto God, a workman who is not ashamed - rightly dividing the Word of Truth (2 Timothy 2:15).