Topical Bible: Life: Spiritual

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Definition and Nature

Spiritual life, as understood within the Christian tradition, refers to the life that is lived in relationship with God through the Holy Spirit. It is distinct from physical life, which pertains to the biological existence of a person. Spiritual life is characterized by a transformation that begins with faith in Jesus Christ and is sustained by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. This life is marked by a growing conformity to the image of Christ and a deepening fellowship with God.

Biblical Foundations

The concept of spiritual life is rooted in the teachings of both the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament, spiritual life is often associated with the fear of the Lord and obedience to His commandments. Proverbs 19:23 states, "The fear of the LORD leads to life, that one may rest content, untouched by trouble."

In the New Testament, spiritual life is explicitly linked to the work of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Jesus declares in John 10:10, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness." This fullness of life is not merely physical but encompasses a spiritual dimension that is eternal and abundant.

Regeneration and New Birth

The entry into spiritual life begins with regeneration, often referred to as being "born again." Jesus explains this concept to Nicodemus in John 3:3-6: "Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again... unless he is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." This new birth is a work of the Holy Spirit, who imparts new life to the believer, enabling them to live in a manner pleasing to God.

Indwelling of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in the believer's spiritual life. Upon conversion, the Holy Spirit takes residence within the believer, empowering them to live a godly life. Romans 8:9 affirms, "You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you." The Spirit guides, teaches, and comforts the believer, leading them into all truth (John 16:13).

Sanctification and Growth

Spiritual life involves a process of sanctification, where the believer is progressively conformed to the likeness of Christ. This is a lifelong journey of growth in holiness and maturity. Philippians 1:6 assures believers of God's ongoing work: "He who began a good work in you will continue to perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."

Fruits of the Spirit

The evidence of spiritual life is seen in the fruits of the Spirit, as described in Galatians 5:22-23: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." These virtues are the natural outflow of a life lived in communion with the Holy Spirit.

Eternal Life

Spiritual life is ultimately oriented towards eternal life, which is the promise of everlasting fellowship with God. Jesus assures believers in John 5:24, "Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment. Indeed, he has crossed over from death to life." This eternal life is both a present reality and a future hope, secured by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

While spiritual life begins in the present, it finds its ultimate fulfillment in the life to come, where believers will experience the fullness of joy and communion with God. The journey of spiritual life is one of faith, growth, and transformation, empowered by the Holy Spirit and grounded in the truth of Scripture.

Nave's Topical Index

John 3:3-16
Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
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John 5:24-26,40
Truly, truly, I say to you, He that hears my word, and believes on him that sent me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death to life.
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John 6:27,33,35,40,47
Labor not for the meat which perishes, but for that meat which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give to you: for him has God the Father sealed.
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John 10:10
The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
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John 11:25,26
Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
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John 14:6
Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me.
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John 17:2,3
As you have given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as you have given him.
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John 20:31
But these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through his name.
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Romans 6:4,5,8,11,13,22,23
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
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Romans 8:10
And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
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1 John 1:1,2
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked on, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
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Greek

2222. zoe -- life
... 2222 -- (physical and spiritual). life (2222 ), throughout the universe,
is -- ie it always (only) comes from and is sustained by . ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2222.htm - 7k

386. anastasis -- a standing up, ie a resurrection, a raising up ...
... individual, genitive case or by implication, (its author)), or (figuratively) a
(moral) recovery (of spiritual truth) -- raised to life again, resurrection ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/386.htm - 7k

2288. thanatos -- death
... 2288 (derived from 2348 , "to die") -- physical or spiritual ; (figuratively)
separation from the life (salvation) of God forever by dying without first ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2288.htm - 7k

5591. psuchikos -- natural, of the soul or mind
... properly, , ie what is natural, as it relates to () life alone (ie ... than heaven."
5591 () then sometimes stands in contrast to 4152 ("spiritual") -- the higher ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5591.htm - 8k

1919. epigeios -- of the earth
... to the earth (as opposed to the sky), (b) in a spiritual sense, belonging ... earth") --
properly, upon the earth, referring to earthly (physical) life -- ie the ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1919.htm - 7k

1129. gumnasia -- exercise
... and current) philosophy contends the discipline of the body is one of life's concerns
and special physical exercises as necessary for spiritual advancment. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1129.htm - 7k

3050. logikos -- reasonable, rational
... These produce a "seamless" life in which decision (action) can have , , even in ... from
logos Definition reasonable, rational NASB Word Usage spiritual (1), word ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3050.htm - 7k

5332. pharmakeus -- sorcerer.
... magic" by performing "supernatural" stunts, weaving about the Christian life to
use ... zealot, inducing them to think they have "special spiritual powers" (that ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5332.htm - 6k

4151. pneuma -- wind, spirit
... Usage breath (3), Spirit (241), spirit (101), spirits (32), spiritual (1), wind
(1 ... or (divine) God, Christ's spirit, the Holy Spirit -- ghost, life, spirit(-ual ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4151.htm - 8k

5485. charis -- grace, kindness
... act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine
influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5485.htm - 8k

Library

For the Spiritual Life is as Much Its Own Proof...
... [Way-1-121] For the spiritual life is as much its own proof? For the spiritual
life is as much its own proof, as the natural life ...
/.../law/the way to divine knowledge/way-1-121 for the spiritual life.htm

Building up the Boy's Spiritual Life
... XVIII BUILDING UP THE BOY'S SPIRITUAL LIFE. ... This is the Upbuilding of the Spiritual
Life of the Boy. What shall be used, then, for this purpose? ...
/.../alexander/the boy and the sunday school/xviii building up the boys.htm

Spiritual Life and the Word of God
Spiritual Life and the Word of God. <. Spiritual Life and the Word
of God Emanuel Swedenborg. E-text prepared by William ...
//christianbookshelf.org/swedenborg/spiritual life and the word of god/

The Spiritual Worship. --Its Bearing Upon Practical Life.
... As Redeemer of men, he placed them in a relation to God, through which the tendency
to true and spiritual worship is imparted to their whole life. ...
/.../section 124 the spiritual worship its.htm

The Spiritual Life
... These commandments are the commandments that are to be done, for when a man does
these his works are good and his life is spiritual, and for the reason that so ...
/.../swedenborg/spiritual life and the word of god/part firstthe spiritual life.htm

The Solution to Present Spiritual Enigmas to be Awaited in the ...
... CHAPTER XXIV. The Solution to Present Spiritual Enigmas to Be Awaited in
the Life of the World To Come. 94. And thus it will be that ...
/.../augustine/handbook on faith hope and love/chapter xxiv the solution to.htm

His Military Life --He is Wounded at the Siege of Pampeluna --His ...
... CHAPTER I HIS MILITARY LIFE"HE IS WOUNDED AT THE SIEGE OF PAMPELUNA"HIS CURE"SPIRITUAL
READING"THE APPARITION"THE GIFT OF CHASTITY"HIS LONGING FOR ...
/.../loyola/the autobiography of st ignatius/chapter i his military lifehe.htm

The Importance of Knowledge to True Spiritual Life.
... Chapter XII."The importance of knowledge to true spiritual life. When
you have read and carefully listened to these things, you ...
/.../chapter xii the importance of knowledge.htm

Heracleon's view that the Lord Brought Life Only to the Spiritual. ...
... Book II. 15. Heracleon's View that the Lord Brought Life Only to the
Spiritual. Refutation of This. Heracleon adopts a somewhat ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/15 heracleons view that the.htm

Spiritual Life and the Word of God
Spiritual Life and the Word of God. <. ... SPIRITUAL LIFE AND THE WORD OF GOD by.
EMANUEL SWEDENBORG (1688-1772). Extracted from the Apocalypse Explained. ...
/.../swedenborg/spiritual life and the word of god/title page.htm