The Beloved Disciple records many of Christ’s statements of self and mission like his “I am…” and “I have come…” declarations.
One of these is recorded in the tenth chapter of the John’s Gospel. It is here we witness Christ pronouncing, “I have come that you may have life and life to the full.”
To live is to “I am.”
God defines life. God gives life and invites human participation in the Divine life. This is why Christ comes, not to condemn to but to save, to redeem, to reconcile, to give life in its fullness.
What is fullness of life?
It appears that fullness of life is the very life of God. The very life of God is marked relationally (multiplicity), marked by love, (oneness), marked by creativity (self-emptying for the sake of another), and thus is relational. This is the ever present “I AM.” BTW – this is not meant to be an exhaustive description.
To LIVE in the fullness of life which is available by the grace of God, through Christ and in the power of the Spirit is what humanity is created for. Humanity often perverts or reverses “LIVE” and when L-I-V-E is reserved we have “EVIL.” Part of Christ’s mission was to reverse the evil by showing us how to live.
Peace, dwight
