THE
PHENOMENON OF CHRISTOLOGY
The sixth phenomenon
of Christology that Christianity values the “eternal life”, “ζωὴν αἰώνιον”, “永生 (yiongˇsheng)” rather than the earthly
things, rich in faith; affirm God’s provision, rest in God’s assurance,
caring, and everlasting love. God’s assurance to them is “whosoever
believeth in Christ, should not perish, but shall have eternal life” (John
3:16). In Chinese literally says, “信主得永生” (xinˋ zhuˇdeˊyiongˇsheng). In Greek says, “ἵνα πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων ἐν αὐτῷ ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον”(3:15). Christians aware that anxiety, or
worry about wealth block the enjoyment of Christ, and choke the word
of God growth, it’s unfruitful. The value of
eternal life enables them to forsake all things willingly in order to gain
Christ.(
by Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce 2015).
The sixth phenomenon of Christology is that
Christianity values the “eternal life”, “永生 (yiongˇsheng)”,“ζωὴν αἰώνιον” rather than the earthly things. They
are rich in faith; affirm God’s provision, rest in God’s
assurance, caring, and everlasting love. God’s assurance to them is “whosoever
believeth in Christ, should not perish, but shall have eternal life” (John 3:16).
In Chinese literally says, “信主得永生” (xinˋ zhuˇdeˊyiongˇsheng). In Greek says, “ἵνα πᾶς ὁ
πιστεύων ἐν αὐτῷ ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον”(3:15). Christians aware that anxiety, or worry about earthly wealth or
riches, it blocks the enjoyment of Christ, and choke the word of God growth, it
results unfruitful. The value of eternal life enables them to forsake all
things willingly in order to gain Christ.
In New Testament, Jesus’ prophetic messages unveil the pathway to
the eternal life. When a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the
Jewish ruling council came to Jesus in the night and asked for the hope of
life. Jesus gave a clear instruction to Nicodemus that he must to be born
again, and believe the Son of Man in order to have
eternal life. As Jesus declared, “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the
desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes
in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave
his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but
have eternal life.” (John3:15-16).
What is the meaning of ζωὴν αἰώνιον? The definition
unveils in the Greek linguistic interpretation: “αἰώνιος”
(aiṓnios, ahee-o'-nee-os) means “perpetual,
(it used of past time, or past and future as well), eternal, forever, everlasting,
world (began).The adjective, it describes the duration
and it is used of that which in nature is endless, as of God (Rom16:26); His
power (1Tim6:16); His glory (1Pet5:10); the Holy Spirit (Heb9:14); life of
Christ (Jh3:16); the resurrection body (2Cor5:1); the future rule of Christ
(2Pet1:11). ”[1]
Therefore, according to the biblical views, “ζωὴν αἰώνιον” can
be interpreted as eternal life, everlasting divine life, infinite everlasting
life of Christ, immortal light of life, eternal glory of Christ, eternal spirit
of God, or eternal heavenly dwelling.
There were four narrators Matthew, John, Luke, and Mark jot down the
prophetic messages of Jesus appeared the similarity of pathway to receive the
everlasting life in the Mt.19:16,:29; Mk10:17; Lk10:25, 6:9, 18:18; Jn3:15, 16,
36, 5:24, 6:35-40.
The first pathway is “come
to Jesus, believe in Him”. As Jesus declared, “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes
to me I will never drive away.” (John 6:37) “I am the bread of life. He who comes
to me will never go hungry and he who believes in me will never be
thirsty.”(v.35). “I tell you the truth; he who believes has
everlasting life. I am the bread of life.” (6:47).)
Second pathway is “eating the
break of life, in other words, grow in the word of God.” As Jesus said, “I am
the living bread that came down from heaven, if anyone eats of this bread,
he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the
life of the world.” (v.51) the spirit gives life, the flesh counts for nothing.
The words, I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life (v.63).
Third pathway is “be aware of Father’s will,
and fulfill his commands”. What is the father’s will? Jesus indicated in John 6:37-40,
“I have come down from heaven
not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me and this is the
will of him who sent me that I shall lose none of all that he has given me,
but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who
looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise
him up at the last day.”(Jh.6:37-40).
Fourth pathway is “Do not work for
food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give
you.”(v.27). Do not store up for your selves treasures on earth, rather store
up the treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy. (Matt.6:16). Do
not worry about the life, what shall eat or drink: or about the body, what shall
wear, for life is more important than the food, and the body more important
than clothes. Worry cannot add a single hour to man’s life, and these entire
things Heaven father knows man’s needs, but seek first his kingdom and his
righteousness, all these things will be given to man as well. (Matt.6:25-34).
Jesus’ lecture intends to cease disciples’ worry. He said, “Are not two
sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart
from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all
numbered. So don’t be afraid, you are worth more than many
sparrows.”(Matt.10:29-31). For the worries of this life and the deceitfulness
of wealth choke the word of God growth and it becomes unfruitful.
There was a rich man, came
to Jesus and asked, “What good thing I must do to get eternal life?” Jesus
replied, “do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give
false testimony, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as
yourself. And sell your possessions and give to the poor and you will have
treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (Matt.19:18-21). The rich man heard this;
he walked away sadly, because he had great wealth. This is the reason Jesus
said, “It is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt.19
:23).“Everyone
who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields
of my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal
life.” (Matt.19:29)
When
Jesus’ lecture about the eternal life, and unveiled he is the breath of life. Many
disciples’ reactions were grumbling among themselves, for it’s too hard to
understand and majority of disciples walked away from Jesus. There were only twelve
did not leave. Therefore, Jesus said, “This is why I told you that no one can
come to me unless the Father has enabled him.” (Jh.6:65). There was only Simon
Peter realized that Jesus have the words of eternal life. And believes in him
he shall have eternal life. As he said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have
the words of eternal life.” (Jh6:68).
Moreover, Soul, a persecutor had
experienced the life transforming and became Apostle Paul after he met the
Jesus. As he stated, “Whatever was to my profit, I now consider loss for the sake
of Christ, what is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the
surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for those sake I have
lost all things. I consider them rubbish that I may gain Christ. I press on
toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in
Christ Jesus. Our citizenship is in heaven and we eagerly await a Savior from
there the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly bodies so that they
will be like his glorious body.” (Phil.3:7-8, 14, 20-21).
Christians
believe the transfiguration of their body is the ultimate consummation of God’s
salvation. In His salvation God first regenerated their spirit (John3:6), then
transforming their soul and consummately will transfigure their body. The
transfiguring of their body is accomplished by the Lord’s great power, which
subjects all things to Himself (Eph.1:19-22) and making Christians the same as
Christ in all three parts of their being. “If there is a natural body, there is
also a spiritual body therefore it is written: The first man Adam became a
living being, the last Adam a life giving spirit.” (1 Cor.16:44-45). So will it
be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it
is raised imperishable.(1Cor.16:42-43). “For the perishable must clothe itself
with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality.” When the perishable has
been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the
saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in
victory.”(1Cor.16:53-54).
For this reason, Christians rest in the ultimate consummation of God’s
salvation, and God’s assurance, caring, and everlasting life which is the transfiguration
and resurrection bodies, the splendor of heavenly dwelling. Christianity is
aware of anxiety or worry of earthly wealth comes from Satan, it disturbs the
believers’ life of living Christ, it blocks the enjoyment of God as salvation
and chokes the Word of God growth in their spiritual life. Therefore, mature Christians’
lives appear to be full of joy, confidence, and rest and produce the fruits of spirit.
In nothing to be anxious, for Christians believe that in all things by prayer and
petition with thanksgiving, let the requests be made known to God and let the peace of God, which transcends all
understanding, will guard their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil.4:6-7).
The assurance of eternal life, “ζωὴν αἰώνιον”, “永生 (yiongˇsheng)” makes the Christology phenomenon
from the early church age to this generation. This affirmation and realization enables
mature Christians broadly say, “Whatever was to my profit I now consider
loss for the sake of Christ. I consider everything a loss compared to the
surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have
lost all things. I consider them rubbish that I may gain Christ.” (Phil.3:8)
“But not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made
perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold
of me.” (Phil 3.12). “One thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and
straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for
which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” ( Phil.3:13-14). “I
have learned to be content whatever circumstances... I have learned the secret
of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry,
whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives
me strength.” (Phil.4:11-13). Christians hold forth the word of life, and
run the race, so that in the day of Christ, they did not run in vain nor labor
in vain. This faith realization develops the
sixth phenomenon of Christology that Christianity values the eternal life rather than
the earthly things, they are rich in faith; affirm God’s
provision, rest in God’s assurance, caring, and everlasting love. God’s
assurance to them is “whosoever believeth in Christ, should not
perish, but shall have eternal life” (John 3:16). In Chinese literally says, “信主得永生” (xinˋ zhuˇdeˊyiongˇsheng). In Greek says, “ἵνα πᾶς ὁ
πιστεύων ἐν αὐτῷ ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον”(3:15). And
Christians aware that anxiety, or worry about earth wealth, riches, it chokes
the word of God growth, and blocks the enjoyment of Christ, it results unfruitful.
The value of eternal life enables them to forsake all things willingly in order
to gain Christ. This controversial practice and faith makes Christianity
different, it’s worthy to this new generation to learn and discover the
phenomenon of Christology.
Bibliography,
Bauer, Walter. A
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian
Literature. 3rd Chicago: The University of Chicago press,2000.
Brown, Robert, Philip
W. Comfort and J.D. Douglas, ed. The New Greek English Interlinear New
Testament. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.1990.
Friberg, Timothy, Barbara Friberg, and
Neva F. Miller et al., eds. Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament.1st
ed. Victoria BC: Trafford Publishing, 2005.
Lee, Witness. The
New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.
Ryrie,
Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV). Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible
Institute, 1986.
Strong, James. Strong’s: the expanded
exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson
Publishers, 2010.
[1] James Strong, Strong’s:
the expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible.(Nashville, TN: Thomas
Nelson Publishers, 2010),10.
