Chapter Thirteen

A Word Study of Live and Living

It would be appropriate in this section to deal with some verses about live and living. The scriptures have many applications for these words. Sometimes the word means: "simply to exist with breath". This is the physical body functioning, as it should, in order to maintain life. Look at the different uses of these two words. Once again, read the verses in their context. Read them to see the processes and the results associated with these words.

Matthew 4:4 (NKJV) But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.' "

Luke 10:28 (NKJV) And He said to him, "You have answered rightly; do this and you will live."

We must see in this context that Jesus is speaking of a different kind of living and a different kind of existence. Something that is beyond this present physical life.

Luke 20:38 (NKJV) "For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him."

John 5:25 (NKJV) "Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.

John 6:51 (NKJV) "I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world."

Look at the condition for living forever; if anyone eats. Notice that the word "if" is very big in this verse. "If" establishes that a condition must exist in order to benefit from the result.

John 6:57 (NKJV) "As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me.

John 6:58 (NKJV) "This is the bread which came down from heaven; not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever."

John 11:25 (NKJV) Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.

John 14:19 (NKJV) "A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also.

Acts 17:28 (NKJV) "for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.'

All things were created by Him and for Him. We exist for the benefit of God; we are not here to benefit ourselves. We should demonstrate this fact in our lives.

Romans 1:17 (NKJV) For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."

Romans 6:2 (NKJV) Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

Good point!

Romans 6:8 (NKJV) Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,

Romans 8:5 (NKJV) For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

We demonstrate our allegiance by the way we live. Either we serve God or Satan.

This is shown by our way of life, not by our words.

Romans 8:12 (NKJV) Therefore, brethren, we are debtors; not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.

Romans 8:13 (NKJV) For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Romans 10:5 (NKJV) For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, "The man who does those things shall live by them."

Romans 12:18 (NKJV) If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.

Romans 14:8 (NKJV) For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.

It seems that most Christians forget this fact. We belong to the Lord. We must act like it. He is our leader and our God. We must obey Him and serve Him with every talent that we can develop. We must be diligent to serve Him always.

Romans 14:11 (NKJV) For it is written: "As I live, says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God."

1 Corinthians 8:6 (NKJV) yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.

1 Corinthians 9:14 (NKJV) Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.

In other words: "Practice what you preach". This statement is not limited to evangelists. Every Christian is a preacher in one form or fashion. Either by word or deed, our example and influence is a sermon to those around us.

2 Corinthians 4:11 (NKJV) For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

2 Corinthians 5:15 (NKJV) and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

Once again we notice that we now belong to God. Live for Him has you serve Him. Before you became His, you lived for yourself. Now that you have become His, you must stop living for yourself and live for Him.

2 Corinthians 13:4 (NKJV) For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you.

Galatians 2:20 (NKJV) "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

By obedience to the Gospel, we are crucified with Christ. The symbol of the death, burial, and resurrection we find in baptism, is the crucifixion we suffer with Him. We then begin to let Christ rule our lives. We become living examples of Christ.

Galatians 3:11 (NKJV) But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith."

Galatians 5:25 (NKJV) If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Philippians 1:21 (NKJV) For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Philippians 1:22 (NKJV) But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell.

1 Thessalonians 5:10 (NKJV) who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

2 Timothy 2:11 (NKJV) This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him.

2 Timothy 3:12 (NKJV) Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

A fact you must prepare for. Persecution is not always death or beatings. When people make fun of you or mock you when you serve the Lord, they are causing you grief. Do not let them bother you. You have the hope of salvation. They don't. So continue to teach them that they may join you on the pathway of righteousness.

Titus 2:12 (NKJV) teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,

1 John 4:9 (NKJV) In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.

Living

Let's look at the word "living" for a while. Although similar to live, there are a few differences. Once again, read these verses in their context.

Matthew 22:32 (NKJV) 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living."

Jesus gives the people a hint that the souls of people of the past will live on forever. The people do not understand this yet, but they will when the Church comes with power. All people's souls become everlasting from birth.

John 4:10 (NKJV) Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water."

John 4:11 (NKJV) The woman said to Him, "Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water?

John 6:57 (NKJV) "As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me.

John 6:69 (NKJV) "Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

John 7:38 (NKJV) "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."

Let us notice up till now that several things are living. God is a living God. The living water represents the Gospel. Christ is living. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are all described as living. We will soon see that the word of God is living. It is not a relic from the past, but it has character that produces effects and results.

Romans 12:1 (NKJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

Most sacrifices involved a death. The animal had to die just as Christ had to die. The sacrifice here deals with your offering of your very being and your commitment to God.

2 Timothy 4:1 (NKJV) I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:

The great judgement scene found in Matt 25 depicts these events. They shall be separated on the right and the left, and individuals in both groups will be judged.

Titus 3:3 (NKJV) For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.

This is our past tense. The way we used to live.

Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV) For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

I find it interesting that the same description was given to our Lord in Luke 2:34-35.

Hebrews 10:20 (NKJV) by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,

Hebrews 10:31 (NKJV) It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

1 Peter 1:3 (NKJV) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Our hope is living. Notice that it is made possible by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

1 Peter 2:4 (NKJV) Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious,

1 Peter 2:5 (NKJV) you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

We are living stones. These stones put together will build a spiritual house. This house is the church. We become priests in order to offer sacrifices acceptable to God. How do we know that they are acceptable? He has told us what is expected of us. If we live His way and by His rules, we are acceptable.

Revelation 7:17 (NKJV) "for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

The living fountains of water represent the eternal existence we can expect in heaven. Water is one of the most essential elements for life to exist. Here we see a continual abundant supply of this living water.

Every aspect of our lives should be dedicated to serving God. We must live our lives in ways that God has taught us to live in order to be righteous. This is a continuous process. It must continue our whole life. As long as we have breath, we have a duty to God. Once our breath is gone, we can rest from our labors, but not until then.

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