Abiding in Christ

 

To "abide in Christ" means to live in a close, sustained relationship with Jesus Christ, characterized by faith, obedience, and a continuous dependence on Him for life and strength. It's not a temporary state but a way of life for believers. Abiding in Christ is synonymous with being saved, aka, being "in Christ".

Abiding in Christ means keeping Christ's commandments, including loving God and your neighbors. Allowing God's Word to SHAPE your mind, will, and affections is essential for abiding in Christ. It is recognizing Jesus as your source of all things godly, rather than a supplement. 

Both Christ and the believer are described as abiding in each other, signifying a close and intimate relationship. As mentioned above, abiding is not a one-time event but a daily practice of remaining connected to Jesus. 

As a branch on a vine, believers who abide in Christ bear fruit in their lives. Abiding in Christ is also described as "knowing"Him intimately. Our faith is bolstered by our continuously trusting in Jesus and His unconditional love for us. 

Regularly communicating with God is an important part of abiding in Christ. We should spend regular time meditating on God's Word. Only then can it help shape our lives. Engaging in fellowship with other believers helps us to make friendship bonds with others of like faith, which is important and is part of cultivating a close relationship with God. Make sure to regularly evaluate your relationship with Christ, pinpointing areas that need to grow spiritually. 

It's very important to abide in the Lord. He WANTS to spend time with each one of us, but we must be involved in that, or your faith may begin to wither. In a world where many unanswered questions have sent some believers renouncing their faith due to unbiblical influences, staying as close as possible to the Lord is imperative. 

Christianity has been under attack since Christ’s time. Today, those who are not well versed in scripture are the targets. Satan’s newest ploy to help bring about apostasy is the “Deconstruction Movement”, which is entering the forefront with its lies and innuendoes. They trample on truth because they have no answer for it, so they base their beliefs on how they feel about a certain biblical subjects. I’m digging into it now and will have a teaching on its dangers shortly.

Focus on the truth you had come to believe and seek answers to your questions from reliable sources. Not having an answer to something doesn’t make you bad, we are all ignorant of many things that are spoken of in scripture. Leaving the faith because we don’t have answers to pressing questions regarding doctrinal issues is foolish. Seek the answers, understanding that some questions will simply not be answered this side of heaven. Our faith is largely built on trust. We either believe God exists or we don’t. We either trust Him or we don’t. It’s YOUR choice.

Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries