Monday, May 4, 2015

Abiding in Christ

    In His Upper Room Discourse (John 14–16) Jesus called upon His disciples to abide in Him (John 15:4). When the apostle Paul was commissioned by Christ to serve Him, he was given this reminder, “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). Every born-again child of God is “in Christ.” He told His disciples to “abide” in Him. There is a difference between being “in Christ” and “abiding” in Him. Just what is the difference then between these two?

    The Bible teaches that to be “in Christ” means to be rightly related to Him, to be a child of God. To “Abide in Him” is a command to remain close to Christ the Savior by communing with Him in prayer, growing in understanding, and applying God’s Word personally. Another way of describing “abiding in Christ” is to grow in one’s faith and becoming more Christ-like. “Abiding in Christ” is a command from God to every child of God.

    To illustrate how important it is to be “in Christ”  and to abide in Him, Jesus used the illustration of the vine and the branches (John 15:1-8). He made it very clear that He was the true Vine and like the vine and branches in a grape arbor which frequently needs trimming, the disciples needed to be frequently trimmed so they could bear more fruit. True disciples of Christ are already in Him but they also need to “abide” in Christ. All those who are in Christ need to abide in Him so that we can all be more productive for Him. Everyone who is in Him is born again and needs to abide in Him, make Him the Lord of his life.