Abiding in Christ

Abiding in Christ

We are identified by our character traits and beliefs, by our plans and activities, by our relationships and by our ability to influence others. The choices we make define us.

Too often, we view Jesus as our Co-Pilot. He is always there, just in case we need Him, but we usually make all the choices, interact with people and engage in activities without much thought about what Jesus wants us to decide, to whom and how He wants us to relate and what He wants us to do. However, He holds a position far greater than co-pilot. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! He is the center; we are the periphery. Our lives are to be hidden in His, not the other way around.

In this lesson, we are talking about abiding in Christ. That is, we live in Him and take on His identity. The icon to the left illustrates some of the aspects of Christ's Identity.

According to the Bible (1 Corinthians 12:13), we are immersed into Christ by the Holy Spirit. We submit to this "baptism" by faith in Christ Jesus alone and as a result are justified before God.

Galatians 3:11-14:
Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live by them." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. (NIV)

Justification is an event. Once we have placed our trust in Jesus Christ alone for our salvation, we are forever in Christ. Faith is the key. We must believe in Him. Jesus’ death and resurrection cleared the way for our justification, but individually, we must believe in Him to receive it. Living in a country whose money says "In God We Trust" is not sufficient to obtain it. Neither are being the child of believing parents, becoming a member of a church, nor behaving outwardly like a believer. Each of us must be a believer!

This word - BELIEVE - can be somewhat misleading. For example, I believe that George Washington was the first President of the United States of America. Since I wasn’t there in person, I have to take it on FAITH that the history books are correct. I am TRUSTING my History teachers to have provided me with the facts. However, whether it is true or not has very little affect on me personally. It would not significantly change my life if Thomas Jefferson were really the first President. Likewise, we can BELIEVE that Jesus Christ died for our sins. We may TRUST the accuracy of this historical event as recorded in our Bibles. We may, by faith, BELIEVE the preachers and teachers who have told us the story of His death and resurrection. Yet still not be born again. This act of BELIEVING must extend beyond mere intellectual agreement.

Simply understanding His death to have atoned for your sins is not sufficient to give you eternal life.

There once was a tight rope walker who advertised throughout the region that he was going to walk across Niagara Falls on a rope. People came from miles around to watch this amazing feat. Before the acrobat began, he asked the people to raise their hands if they believed he could successfully walk across the Falls on his rope. Several raised their hands, but there were a number who evidently came to watch the man fall into the Falls because they did not believe that he could successfully make the trip without tripping. Nevertheless, the man began to walk across the raging water. Each step was sure and true. He made it across without a hitch. He then took a wheelbarrow, filled it with rocks, and steadied it on the rope. He asked again for a show of hands of all those who believed he could walk across the Falls pushing this loaded wheelbarrow. There were a few skeptics left, but many more people raised their hands. The man was highly skilled and the loaded wheelbarrow presented no apparent difficulties to him. Once again, he walked across almost effortlessly. On the other side, he turned and asked for a show of hands from all those who believed in his ability to successfully transport a loaded wheelbarrow across Niagara Falls. Everyone raised their hands; after all, they had seen it with their own eyes and SEEING IS BELIEVING - right? Then he asked another question of them. "Who will get in the wheelbarrow and be my next load across the Falls?!?"

Only those who would get into the wheelbarrow truly BELIEVED! Likewise, only those who choose to place themselves in God’s wheelbarrow can be transported from sin and death to eternal life. We must place our lives in His Hands and become completely dependent upon Jesus Christ alone for our salvation.

Galatians 3:2-3
I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? (NIV)

Colossians 2:6-7
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. (NIV)

Justification before God is to have our sinfulness replaced by the perfect righteousness of Christ. Through our faith in Christ's atoning death for sin, we are justified and God sees us as perfectly righteous in Christ. The process of conforming our character and actions into those that resemble Christ's is called sanctification. Another way of saying it is that it is the process of maturing in Christ. As we submit to His direction over us, we begin to take on His character and act and react as He would.

Justification is an event. Sanctification is a process. Sanctification is growing into Christlikeness. It literally means to become holy, set apart for the precise purposes for which God designed us. We are justified by faith. When we place our trust in Jesus Christ alone we are in Christ forever. Likewise, the process of becoming like Jesus, sanctification, occurs by faith. Our growth in Christlikeness depends on our willingness to trust Him. Just like we trusted Him to cleanse us from sin; we must continually trust Him with every step of our lives. By faith we walk in Him. This means we rely upon Him to make the decisions in our lives. We entrust our well being and that of those we love to His care. We place Him on the throne of our lives. When we live in trust, His character becomes our character. His power and authority become ours to be used in carrying out His mission and building relationships with those He is seeking. We join with Him in His Mission - Reconciling the world back to the Father. In Christ we become effective Ministers of Reconciliation.

My Responsibilities	His Responsibilities	Promises
Spiritually feeding on the very substance of Christ. Drinking in the Essence of His Life and the atonement He made for me. That is, I hunger and thirst for righteousness and am filled. Obey His commandment to love others as He loves them. Live in His word. Commune with Him, listen and obey. Express our love for Him by obeying Him. Trust and obey!	His Body was broken for me and His Blood was poured out to pay the penalty for sin and to bring new life. He first loved me and continues to love others through me He is the Word and He speaks His heart to me. He is the Way and He leads me in it. He is the Truth and He reveals Himself to me. He is the Life which He freely gives to me eternally. He anoints me with the Holy Spirit and enables me to fulfill my responsibilities.	Sins forgiven New life; Eternal Life An abiding with Jesus Knowledge of the Truth Freedom Spiritual fruit - the character of Christ in me Answered Prayer Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification, Redemption God living in me.


Back	Forward


Back	Forward