Living in the Fullness of God's Life

Embracing the light of divine existence through faith and obedience, as reflected in John 3:36.

John 3:36 (TPT) says: “Those who trust in the Son possess eternal life; those who don’t obey the Son will not see life, and God’s anger will rise up against them.”

The Greek version, as read from Biblehub.com, says: “The [one] believing in the Son has life eternal; the [one], however, not obeying the Son, will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

This verse holds a tension that we must not ignore—the contrast between belief and disobedience. It’s not just talking about trusting Jesus in word only. It draws a clear line between the one who believes and obeys versus the one who refuses to submit to the Son. Belief is not passive. It’s not lip service. It’s not just mental agreement. It’s relational. It’s loyal. It’s obedient.

The one who is persuaded by the truth of who Jesus is—and dare I say, who they are to Jesus—has a life that is spiritually and physically full of abundance and purpose. It is a life of divine quality. A life that is characterized and sustained by a relationship with God. His self-existent life gives the believer true life. Not earned life. Not borrowed life. True life. It is His gift, flowing freely out of His love for us.

And in that same verse, we are warned. Not about the one who doesn’t believe in name only—but the one who disobeys. The one who is rebellious, disloyal, unwilling to conform to God’s Word. Even if they profess faith outwardly, their heart resists Him. It’s a spiritual rebellion, a refusal to surrender to Jesus’ authority. And Scripture makes it clear: the wrath of God remains on that person—not because God desires it, but because they have chosen to live apart from Life Himself.

John 3:18 echoes this: the world already stands under judgment. The wrath is already present—it’s not a future event. The only escape, the only freedom from judgment, comes through faith in Jesus and a surrendered heart that obeys Him.

But here’s what’s been weighing heavy on me, and it’s beautiful beyond words: We now possess God’s self-existent life within us.

That truth… It changes everything.

When we say “eternal life,” we’re not just talking about the afterlife. We’re not talking about a far-off promise that kicks in when we die. No—eternity is now. Eternal life is not just about living forever—it’s about living from a different source, right now. Jesus doesn’t just offer us a better life. He offers us His life—a life that has no beginning or end, a life that sustains itself, that overflows with power, peace, and presence.

This is the mystery of union with Jesus. When we believe and obey Him, His Spirit fills us, seals us, marks us as His own. We become carriers of the divine life of God. His joy becomes our joy. His peace, our peace. His strength, our strength. This is not a metaphor. This is real.

But how do we live from it? How do we unwrap what we already carry?

It starts with awareness—knowing that we are not the same anymore. We are new creations. We are alive with the very life of Christ. The enemy will do everything he can to distract you from that truth, to convince you you’re just surviving, just scraping by. But that’s not what Jesus died to give you. He said, “I came that they may have life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10)

That abundant life flows through abiding—staying connected to Jesus. When we stay close, when we rest in His presence, His life flows in and through us naturally. We don’t force fruit—we bear it because of the Vine.

And here’s where it all connects: obedience is not legalism—it’s love. Jesus said in John 14:15, “If you [really] love Me, you will keep My commandments.” He says it again and again. Obedience is the evidence of intimacy. It's how we stay aligned with His heart, with the rhythm of Heaven.

It’s also how we protect the flow of His life in us. Because let's be honest—there are things we run to for life that aren’t Him. The world offers false comfort, distractions, even good things that become idols when we place them above Jesus. These things block the flow. They fill us for a moment, but leave us dry. And yet, Jesus keeps drawing us back. The Holy Spirit keeps whispering, “Come away with Me. Let Me fill you again.”

There are treasures hidden in Christ—wisdom, revelation, authority, power. These treasures are not for the super-spiritual. They’re for those who love Him. Those who abide. Those who obey. Colossians 2:3 says all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Him. That means He wants to be sought, known, pursued—not as a concept, but as a person.

We don’t need to ask for more of God. He’s already given us Himself. We need to ask, “Holy Spirit, teach me how to live from what I’ve already been given.”

Because eternal life isn’t just a future reward—it’s a present reality. It’s the privilege of walking in union with Jesus, right now. It’s the joy of surrendering our kingdom to the King and finding out that what He gives in return is infinitely better.

And when we choose Him, when we truly love and obey Him, we begin to experience the fullness of God’s self-existent life. The overflow. The abundance. The peace that doesn’t make sense. The joy that isn’t shaken. The love that cannot be earned.

We begin to live—not just exist.

A Closing Prayer:

Jesus, thank You for giving me Your life. Not a version of life—not a temporary fix—but Your life, eternal and unshakable. Thank You for making me a new creation, for inviting me into union with You, and for placing Your Spirit within me. I want to live from that place—not from fear or striving or performance. Teach me to abide. Show me where I’ve blocked the flow of Your life in me. I repent of anything that’s taken Your place. I surrender again. Fill me afresh. Help me to obey—not out of duty, but out of love. Reveal the hidden treasures of Your life in me, and awaken a hunger to seek You more. Let me live fully alive in You. Amen.

Word Study Notes – John 3:36

These word studies were taken from the original Greek, as found on Biblehub.com, and they deeply impacted my understanding of John 3:36. I encourage you to sit with them, pray over them, and allow the Holy Spirit to bring fresh revelation to your heart.

Believing (Greek: pisteuó – Strong’s 4100) This belief is not merely intellectual agreement, but a deep, personal trust and commitment. It takes place within the context of a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. In the New Testament, belief was not just about accepting doctrines—it involved a transformative trust that resulted in a new way of living. Faith is central to salvation.

Life (Greek: zōē – Strong’s 2222) Used to refer to both physical (present) and spiritual (especially future) existence. In the New Testament, zōē represents life in its fullest sense, encompassing both the physical and spiritual dimensions. It is not merely unending existence, but a quality of life that is abundant, fulfilling, and rooted in relationship with God. John and Paul emphasized that true life is found in Christ, contrasting it with the temporary and unfulfilling life the world offers. True life is sustained only by God’s self-existent life. Romans 8:2 reveals that the Holy Spirit is the imparter of this life, given to all who are united with Christ.

Eternal (Greek: aiōnios – Strong’s 166) Means everlasting, and also implies partaking in the nature of that which lasts for an age. New Testament writers used this word to communicate the eternal realities of God’s kingdom, salvation, and judgment. Figuratively, aiōnios speaks to the unique quality of God’s life working in the believer—manifesting the same self-existent life God has in His sinless abode in Heaven. Eternal life functions outside of time, inside time, and beyond time. It is not just a future promise, but a present possession. Believers live in eternal life now, experiencing this divine quality in daily life.

Not Obey (Greek: apeitheó – Strong’s 544) Means to disobey, to be rebellious, disloyal, or to refuse to conform. It implies a willful rejection and refusal to be persuaded by divine truth. This word highlights a moral and spiritual rebellion against God’s authority. It is not merely disbelief, but a stubborn resistance to God’s commands and to the gospel. In essence, it means to refuse to be persuaded by the Lord.

Wrath (Greek: orgē – Strong’s 3709) Refers to anger or indignation. In the New Testament, it typically speaks of a settled and abiding condition of God’s righteous anger, often in view of divine judgment. God’s wrath is never impulsive—it is always just and holy. It is His rightful response to sin, disobedience, and resistance to the gospel. See Romans 1:18 and 2:5. The word includes the idea of obduracy—the state of being stubbornly unyielding or refusing to change, even in the face of truth.

Abides (Greek: menō – Strong’s 3306) Means to remain, dwell, endure, or continue. In the New Testament, this word reflects the intimate and enduring relationship between the believer and Christ. It evokes the image of a disciple staying close to their rabbi—not just learning information, but adopting their way of life. To abide is to persevere, to stay continually present, and to be held or kept by Him.