By Pastor Wendall Ward
Romans 5:10 declares, “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His life.”
Reconcilliation, and Deliverance
To begin, this profound scripture encapsulates two pivotal aspects of salvation: reconciliation through Christ’s death and continual deliverance by His life. Theologically, Christ’s death bridges the gap between humanity and God, and for the believer establishes peace and a reconciled relationship with God. However, Paul emphasizes that Christ’s resurrected life goes further; it actively saves and sustains believers. Understanding this dual work is essential for grasping the fullness of Christian salvation and the nature of life that God imparts to believers.
Understanding Salvation, Human Nature and the Christian Life
Secondly, the New Testament uses three Greek words for “life”: bios, psuche, and zoe. Among these, zoe stands out as the highest form of life. It refers not merely to biological existence or the life of the soul, but to the spiritual, eternal life that originates in God Himself. The thesis of this article is that zoe was denied to humanity through the fall, displayed in Christ’s resurrection, and is now delivered to believers by grace through faith. This understanding shapes how we view salvation, human nature, and the Christian life.
Designed to Share Zoe Life
At creation, humans were designed to share in God’s own life: zoe. The fall in Genesis 3 resulted in spiritual death, severing humanity from this divine life. Bios (physical existence) and psuche (soul-life) remained, zoe was lost. Jesus, in His resurrection, displayed the fullness of zoe, conquering death and offering eternal life to all who trust in Him. Through faith, believers receive zoe as a gift, restored to fellowship and empowered for holy living. This “deliverance by His life” means that salvation is not only forgiveness but participation in the very life of God.
The Three-Fold Nature of Life
In the Greek the words translated as life are bios, psuche, and zoe. Understanding the three fold nature of life helps us comprehend what was lost in the fall of man, what was redeemed in the resurrection, and most importantly what has been given to us by the grace of God.
Bios
First there is bios. This term refers to biological, physical life. It is the life found in all living things, maintained by physical processes (Luke 8:14 “choked by life). As the parable of the Sower and the seed implies, it is necessary, but not sufficient for spiritual vitality, and can sometimes get in the way of zoe-life—spiritually vital life.
Psuche
The second form is psuche. Often translated as “life” or ”soul,” psuche encompasses personality, intellect, emotions, and will (Matthew 16:25). It is the seat of self-awareness and human experience and as the Jesus implies can become a counterfeit of zoe-life.
Zoe
The third part is zoe. The highest form of life, zoe is spiritual and eternal, originating in God (John 1:4; 10:10). It is the life that Christ imparts to believers, transcending mere existence and soul-life. Man lost the zoe life in the garden. Zoe is the divine life that is directly imparted to us when we are saved. Romans 8:2 refers to zoe as the “law of the Spirit of life”.
Layers of the Human Nature
Ultimately, recognizing these distinctions helps believers understand the layers of human nature and the comprehensive work of salvation that God is doing in us. While bios and psuche are important, only zoe-life fulfills the deepest need of the human spirit that was once “dead in trespasses and sins” but now has been made alive in Christ Jesus!
Recognizing Our True Purpose
In the end we must ask. “What are the ministry implications of this?” A biblical understanding of the doctrine of man builds on the three-fold nature of life. Humans are not merely bodies or souls, but beings intended for the life of God. Recognizing this helps us understand our true purpose and the effects of sin. Awareness grows as we discern how our physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects interact. The restoration of zoe-life is the restoration of the true human experience. It means believers are re-created in salvation for communion with God, equipped for continuous transformation, and capable of reflecting His image. This shapes our identity, relationships, and ministry in a profound way.
For More:
To read more by Pastor Wendall Ward, check out previous blogs such as this one on persevering faith.