How to receive Zoe Life
Before we can receive Zoe Life, we must first know, and understand, what sin is because sin kills Zoe Life.
Romans 6:23 The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
James 1:13-16 Remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters.
James 5:20 That person should know that if he turns a sinner from the wrong way, he will save the sinner’s soul from death and many sins will be forgiven.
Sin is to miss the mark, and the mark is the righteous, and holy image of God, which we were all created in.
Genesis 1:27 God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Romans 3:23 all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Leviticus 11:44 I am the Lord your God. So set yourselves apart, and be holy. For I am holy.
1 Peter 1:15-16 You must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”
Hebrews 12:14 Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.
Prior to experiencing Zoe Life, we were all unholy because we were spiritually dead in sin.
Ephesians 2:1-6 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.
Zoe Life is a free gift from God that comes from what the Bible calls, the new birth or being born again.
John 3:3 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
John 3:7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’
The new birth means we were once spiritually dead, and under Satan's domain because of sin, so we were separated from God, and His Kingdom. Because of this, we were lost, and without hope, and without God in the world. We had no understanding of God's plan for us, nor did we have any desire to be part of His plan. But now, through the new birth, all that has changed, we can now become spiritually live to God, through Jesus Christ, and become citizens of His Kingdom.
Colossians 2:13-14 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.
Ephesians 2:11-13 Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.
Colossians 1:13 God rescued us from the dark power of Satan and brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son.
The new birth happens when we believe the word of God in everything that it says about our need to be saved from our spiritually dead condition, and be made alive through what Jesus did for us on the cross.
John 3:6-7 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’
Acts 2:38 Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 22:16 What are you waiting for? Get up and be baptized. Have your sins washed away by calling on the name of the Lord.’
Zoe Life is being spiritually alive, and intimately connected to Jesus through faith in who His is (the anointed Son of God), trust in what He's done (died to take away our sin), and obedience to what He taught (obeying His words of Zoe life).
Jesus is the Christ, the anointed Son of the living God.
Matthew 16:15-17 Jesus said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
John 20:30-31 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Jesus takes our sin away.
John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
1 John 2:2 Jesus paid for our sins with His own blood. He did not pay for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world.
Ephesians 1:7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.
Obedience to what He taught.
1 Peter 1:23 For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.
John 6:63 It is the Spirit that gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
John 6:68 Simon Peter answered Jesus, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
John 10:27-28 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me.
Hebrews 5:8-9 Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him.
Romans 5:10 We were God's enemies, but he made us his friends through the death of his Son. Now that we are God's friends, how much more will we be saved by Jesus' life!
Zoe Life is alive because it's based on a loving relationship with our heavenly Father, through His Son. Like all relationships, it must grow and mature. As we grow and mature, we begin to experience, and learn more about our Father's love for us, and what He is like.
Ephesians 1:16-22 Since then, I always give thanks for you and pray for you. I pray that the great God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ may give you the wisdom of His Spirit. Then you will be able to understand the secrets about Him as you know Him better. I pray that your hearts will be able to understand. I pray that you will know about the hope given by God’s call. I pray that you will see how great the things are that He has promised to those who belong to Him. I pray that you will know how great His power is for those who have put their trust in Him. It is the same power that raised Christ from the dead. This same power put Christ at God’s right side in heaven. This place was given to Christ. It is much greater than any king or leader can have. No one else can have this place of honor and power. No one in this world or in the world to come can have such honor and power. God has put all things under Christ’s power and has made Him to be the head leader over all things of the church.
John 3:16-17 God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
The more we mature in our walk with Jesus, the more we will learn about our heavenly Father, and the more we desire to worship Him. In our maturing, we will find ourselves needing to make changes in our lives. Our Father's goal for us is to conform our old way of living, and thinking, to be like His Son in faithfulness, and holiness. This is a completed work in Jesus, but it's a work progress in us.
Romans 8:29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.
1 John 2:6 If we say that we remain in union with God, we should walk just as Jesus Christ walked.
Living a life of worship, through being faithful to the teachings of Jesus, is what produces holiness in our lives. It's this holiness that blesses our relationship with the Father, and His Son, and allows us to experience Zoe Life more abundantly.
2 John 1:9 Anyone who goes too far and does not live by the teachings of Christ does not have God. If you live by what Christ taught, you have both the Father and the Son.
Continuing to live according to the teachings of Jesus is what keeps our relationship with Him alive. When we're alive in Jesus, we have Jesus, and when we have Jesus, we have Zoe Life.
1 John 5:11-12 This is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
When we have Jesus, though believing in Him, and abiding in His teachings, everything that the Father has given to Jesus becomes our as well. We become joint heirs with Jesus of all the Father's blessings.
2 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
Romans 8:16-18 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.
All the promises and blessings of God are YES!, and AMEN! in Jesus, but we have to stay connected to the Father, through His Son by obeying the words of His Son.
John 8:30-32 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
1 John 2:24 So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will remain in fellowship with the Son and with the Father.
2 John 1:9 Anyone who goes too far and does not live by the teachings of Christ does not have God. If you live by what Christ taught, you have both the Father and the Son.
1 John 5:11-12 This is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
No matter how good or how bad this life is, it's not the end of the story. Our heavenly Father has a great, and awesome plan to make this sick, and dying world, brand new, and He wants us to be part of it.
Romans 8:17-22 Since we are his children, we will share his treasures—for all God gives to his Son Jesus is now ours too. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will give us later. For all creation is waiting patiently and hopefully for that future day when God will resurrect his children. For on that day thorns and thistles, sin, death, and decay—the things that overcame the world against its will at God’s command—will all disappear, and the world around us will share in the glorious freedom from sin which God’s children enjoy. For we know that even the things of nature, like animals and plants, suffer in sickness and death as they await this great event.
1 Corinthians 2:9 “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”
Isaiah 65:17 “Look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth, and no one will even think about the old ones anymore."
Revelation 21:3-5 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is faithful and true.”
Our heavenly Father loves us so much, and has proven His love for us time, and time again. His hope, and desire is that we can all be part of His Kingdom, as one big family.
Romans 5:8 God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Luke 12:31-32 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom."
Zoe Life gives us a little taste of what living in God's Kingdom will be like, but we must be careful, there is a thief who is jealous for our worship. He comes with his forces to steal, kill and turn us away from abiding in Jesus. His goal is to destroy our Zoe Life experience.
John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it more abundantly.
1 Peter 5:8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
Continue on to the next page to learn how to protect Zoe Life.