Life: Spiritual life is a biblical reality taught from the opening chapters of the Bible. According to the decree of God, on the day that Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit, their souls died.[1] But the effects of this death did not end with them. From this sinful root sprang up all of humanity as sinners (Ps. 51:5; Rom. 5:12, 19), spiritually dead.[2] We were all spiritual zombies, the walking dead. Then the Son of God came He who forever possessed life in Himself (John 1:4). He manifested this life in human flesh in His incarnation. Unlike sinful humanity, Jesus lived in the presence of His Father, in His nearness (John 8:29; 16:32) and under His favor (Matt. 3:17; Luke 2:52; Isaiah 42:1). Jesus did not keep that life of joy (John 15:11) to Himself. He offered it to all (John 6:33). This is eternal life, to know God (John 17:3), to fellowship with Him (1 John 1:6-7), and to share in His holiness (Heb. 12:10; 2 Pet. 1:4). This is the life Jesus shares with all who believe and repent. We taste it in part now; we’ll savor its fullness in eternity and in glory.

Prayer: Eternal life means a reconciled relationship with God. This also means access to God in prayer. In Christ, we have the magnificent privilege of a prayer life like that of Jesus’. We can pray as Jesus prayed. We can speak to God as our Father, even call Him “Abba” (Rom. 8:15), trust Him, and entrust ourselves to His will (Matt. 6:10; Luke 22:42). And even as the Father heard His prayers (Heb. 5:7), so we have assurance He hears ours the same.

[1] Per Gen. 2:17, they were to die on the day that they ate of the fruit, but they didn’t physically die, but their souls did. This is seen in their broken relationship with the LORD. They became ashamed and afraid and tried to hide from God (Gen. 3:8-10). Moreover, Adam even blamed God for the mess that they were in (Gen. 3:12).

[2] This fallen state of humanity is seen in Eph. 2:5; Col. 2:13; 1 Tim. 5:6, echoed also in Luke 15:24, 32; John 6:33, 53; 10:10; 1 Tim. 6:19; Rev. 3:1. In theology, this state of spiritual death is total depravity/inability.