Jesus said: I came that they might have life, and might have it more abundantly. (a) [see endnotes for Scriptures] When the Eternal One sent His spoken expression into this earth to live as the man Jesus Christ, (b) God demonstrated His desire to be an intimate part of our life in this world. The abundant life that God-in-Christ offers us includes our active interaction with Him during this life.
Much like a sponge absorbs the liquid it is submersed in, when we are immersed in the presence of God, we are able to absorb more of His light and love. Our close interaction with God brings an abundance of life, in the best sense of the word. Are we benefiting from the deeper life God offers?
Greek Into English
Spiritual life is not just reserved for an after-life. We can receive from our Eternal Father’s presence and become more godly minded people during our life in this natural world!
The New Testament translators of the KJV rendered 11 different Greek words into the English word “life,” hiding much meaning. Other Bible translations have largely followed the practice. Three of the 11 Greek words specifically identify three areas of our life. We should know how Scripture addresses the different areas and features of our life so we can understand the nature of the intimacy God offers.
One Greek word is bios. This is where our 
English words biology and biography come from; the study and story of natural life. This word occurs in Scripture 10 times to address our natural life. A few examples: “Prayers…made on behalf of all…that we may lead a tranquil and quite (natural) life.” (c) “No solder in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday (natural) life.” (d) “The seed (of God’s word)…are chocked with the worries, riches and pleasures of this (natural) life.” (e) This Greek word speaks to the temporal issues of our natural life.
Another Greek word is psuche. This is where our English word psychology comes from, the study of consciousness. This word occurs in Scripture 101 times to address the issues of our soul’s conscious mind, will and emotion. Examples are: “They are seeking my (conscious) life.” (f) “For whoever wishes to save his (conscious) life shall lose it, but whoever loses his (conscious) life…shall save it.” (g) Our soul’s conscious perceptions of life are to “be transformed by the renewing of our mind.” (h)
A third Greek word is zoe. This occurs 135 times and speaks of the life of spirit and addresses the activity and quality of our spiritual life. A few examples: “For as the Father has (spiritual) life… even so He gave to the son also to have (spiritual) life.” (i) “Jesus…brought (spiritual) life and immortality to light.” (j) “The mind set on the spirit is (spiritual) life and peace.” (k) “Believing you may have (spiritual) life. (l) “We have passed out of death into (spiritual) life, because we love the brethren.” (m) The quality of our spiritual life is improved as we interact with God’s presence.
God invites us to interact with His abiding presence. Our interaction with God allows us to partake of eternal perspectives and enables us to rise and live above the restrictions of temporal perceptions.
God invites us to interact with His presence.
Flesh and Blood
Our bios (natural life) is temporal and will come to an end, while our zoe (spiritual life) is an ongoing factor. (n) The perceptions and understandings of our psuche (soul’s consciousness) develop from our active natural and spiritual life. While in this life we appear to be more conscious of physical activity than spiritual, no one is totally void of a spiritual consciousness. We just tend to ignore its reality.
Scripture’s abundant use of zoe amplifies the importance of the quality of our spiritual life. Our soul’s character, attitude, and personality (CAP) is formed by our involvement and interaction in both the natural and spiritual realms of life. Everyone’s CAP features are more spiritual attributes than natural. It is our spiritual senses that comprehend each other’s CAP features. (o)
Jesus talked about eating his flesh and 
drinking his blood as a way of addressing the interaction of both realms of life. “I am the living bread which came down from heaven (above)…He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.” (p) Jesus was not promoting cannibalism for no one actually eats his literal flesh and drinks of his blood.
The flesh of Jesus is a metaphor for natural life and His blood is a metaphor for spiritual life. “The bread…I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh (natural life).” (q) Blood always represents ‘the life flow’ that enables natural life. (r) The physical life Jesus lived illustrates how we are to live as natural and spiritual people. Jesus even prayed that we would be as he was during his earthly life! (s)
Following the shedding of the life blood of Jesus on the cross of Calvary, 50 days later on the day of Pentecost, as prophesied by the prophet Joel, God’s Spirit was “poured forth…upon all mankind.” (t) The outpouring came to be known as immersing baptisms in God’s Holy Spirit. Our absorbing immersions in the Spirit of the son and Father, (u) are intensifications of God’s abiding presence. (v)
The (life) blood of Christ, as the presence of God with us today, washes us, purges us, sanctifies us and redeems us.
Sensing Spiritual Life
We want to observe the visible example of the life of Jesus and consume his words as coming from our Eternal Father. This is how we eat the bread of spiritual life. The (life) blood of Christ, as the interactive presence of God with us today, washes, (w) purges, (x) sanctifies (y) and redeems us. (z)
As our natural senses equip us to perceive and interact with natural realities, our spiritual senses enable us to partake of spiritual realities. “Everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness…solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern.” (aa) The exercise of our spiritual senses is very important.
While we observe the effects of one 
another’s character, attitude and personality (CAP) with our natural eyes, they are spiritual features that are discerned by spiritual senses. The book “Created to Relate,” explains in great detail how our soul’s conscious mind, will and emotion comprehend more spiritual realities and motivations than is commonly realized.
Scripture calls the fellowship of our spirit with God’s Spirit – spiritual life. (bb) Our fellowship with the enlightening and anointing presence of God-in-Christ, teaches us to live a Spirit-led life.
Isn’t it exciting to realize we can truly experience an abundant quality of spirit life that God-in-Christ Jesus promised, right here and now!
As we act on the guidance God gives, we experience a special intimacy with Him.
a) John 10:10; b) John 1:1, 14, 18; c) 1 Timothy 2:2; d) 2 Timothy 2:4; e) Luke 8:14; f) Romans 11:3-7; g) Matthew 16:25; 10:39; Luke 17:33; Mark 8:35; John 12:25; h) Romans 12:2; i) John 5:26; j) 2 Timothy 1:10; k) Romans 8:6; l) John 20:31; m) 1 John 3:14; n) Ecclesiastes 12:7; o) Hebrews 5:14; p) John 6:51, 56; q) John 6:51; r) Leviticus 17:11; s) John 14:1-3; 17:24; t) Acts 2:14-17; u) John 14:23-24, 7-11; v) John 14:23; Acts 2:33; w) Revelations 1:5; x) Hebrews 9:22; y) Hebrews 13:12; z) Colossians 1:14; aa) Hebrews 5:11-14; bb) John 17:3
Keith Carroll, “The Relationship Guy”
Relational Gospel Founder
Created To Relate author