If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ (RO 8:9). The redeemed receive their spiritual strength from him. They must abide in him and live according to his principles. Please publish this article freely to spread the News. The resource box must be left intact. We are commanded to abide with Christ in John 15:4. It is rendered Abide in the King James and the NIV translates the Greek as Remain. Remaining in him is crucial to our salvation. The Contemporary English Version uses the statement, Stay joined to me. In the Roman letter we are informed that believers belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, to bear fruit to God (7:4). The New King James uses the term, Married. In John 15:1, Jesus said that if we do not bear fruit, we are like a branch that is thrown away and withers. If we have a relationship with Christ, we should conceive his spiritual seed in our heart, and produce his fruit. If we flirt with Satan, we will conceive his seed, and give birth to sin. Our earthly spouse would be very unhappy if we produced a child with another person. Jesus feels the same way if our offspring is not his. This spiritual marriage with Christ works two ways. We are in him and he is in us. As married people become one, we are one with Christ. His Spirit lives with us twenty-four-seven three-sixty-five. He therefore knows instantly if we break our bond with him and court Satan. Jesus indicated that he is the vine and we are the branches. That is why we must remain in him. He said, No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. He of course was talking about his fruit. We are not to even think about bearing Satans fruit. What if one remains in Christ but bears no fruit? It simply means that they are not active. His invitation in Matthew 11:28 states, Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.: This does not mean that we have nothing to do. Verse 29 makes it clear that the rest is for our soul. Our souls can rest from the heavy burden of sin they were carrying around before it was forgiven as a result of our obedience. We are to do the good works that God prepared in advance for us to do (EPH 2:10). Anything that promotes his cause is good work. Serving other people, teaching his word, encouraging others that are serving him, even giving a cup of cold water in his name will be rewarded (MT 10:42). No one can do everything but everyone can do something. Everyone was given abilities and it is up to us to develop and use them. The benefits for abiding in Christ are many. He comforts us, intercedes for us when we pray to the Father. He is like an attorney, pleading our case. It is an awesome feeling, knowing that we are joined to the one that created the universe and everything in it! It is sometimes difficult to get an appointment to speak to important people. Not to worry, you can go over their heads. You can gain an instant audience with the Creator! We have fellowship with Christ if we abide in him. In John 15:9-10 he said, As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Fathers commands and remain in his love. We have divine protection if we remain in his love. He said that his sheep follow him and that he will give them eternal life, they will never perish, and no one can snatch them out of his hand. In the next verse he said that no one can snatch them out of his Fathers hand (JN 10:26-30). In John 17:11, he asked his Father to protect those that belong to him. According to 8:1 of the Roman letter, there is no condemnation to those in Christ. Abiding in him is a win-win situation. |
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