Abiding in Christ

 I’m just going to give some of my testimony. Now I came out of Babylon, so I don’t celebrate fake pagan satanic days anymore.  I observe a Jewish calendar and try to number my days as the Bible says.. torahcalendar.com is a good site also it shows Israel’s time! 

When I began observing the feasts, the first thing I noticed was how anxious and restless I was. Now I have been observing Sabbath for some time but I finally have Sabbath mornings off at O’Charley’s thank God! So this is the most important weekly holy day, as our body needs rest! Unleavened bread is a great feast; I was gluten free for like 10 years and recently started eating again in moderation. I have an autoimmune disorder and a lot of strep in my gut had to be fixed.. anyway, leaven is likened to sin and we are supposed to actually remove it from the whole house. But I have tried to get rid of stuff not mine in my parents before and that didn’t end well lol..

So let’s talk about abiding in Christ; all of the feasts I will add point us to Jesus and focuses on Jesus. That’s how life should be! Not on ourselves or what we can or cannot do! But what HE DID and can do!! Amen!

John 8:31 This abiding or continuing in His Word requires that the disciple be continually fed, which, according to Ephesians 4:11-16, is why Christ gave the ministry as a gift to the church. The ministry's purpose is to help perfect the saints "to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." John 8:31 Abide means "to continue in" or "to remain in." Thus, "If you remain or continue in My Word, then you are My disciples indeed." A disciple is a learner. Jesus is telling us that a person who merely begins walking down the road of Christianity is not really a disciple. A true disciple is one who not only begins but also continues on the way and abides in it. John 8:31 He says a similar thing in John 18:37: "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed." Those who hear the voice of Christ, those who hear His truth, will then submit to it. That is what will separate them from the world.  John 8:31 This abiding or continuing in His Word requires that the disciple be continually fed, which, according to Ephesians 4:11-16, is why Christ gave the ministry as a gift to the church. The ministry's purpose is to help perfect the saints "to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." 1 Corinthians 6:17 Being in or in union with God does not mean to be bodily inside of each other, because in all the verses that describe people who were "in" another, they had bodies of their own. So being in means "joined with" toward the accomplishment of the same purpose, and in our case, it is for the fulfilment of God's purpose that we are in union with Him. Hebrews 2:14-15 The purpose in this section of Hebrews is to provide us with a foundation of truth regarding how we are freed from the condition we were in before we were called, converted, and made Christians and part of God's Family. Hebrews 2:9-11 adds key information to clarify our understanding: But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He by the grace of God might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren. These verses introduce the solution. Jesus is the means by which we, the many sons, are made perfect, that is, brought to completion and made free from this bondage imposed on us. Our Creator had to first become completely identified with us: human. This is important because Jesus is the means by which we are not only made free and holy at the beginning of our conversion, but this same One also keeps us free throughout our conversion. Those who are truly holy by God's standard are those who will escape death. This holiness or sanctification is not a static, unchanging state but a growing, lifelong, continually forming one. It is helpful to be reminded of John 8:31-36, which concludes with the statement that "if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." The Son sets us free. However, a key element pinpointing our responsibility in this relationship is the word abide, mentioned by Christ in John 8:35:“And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.” It means “to live,” “to continue,” “to go on.” We must recall Romans 5:10and be very thankful: “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” This truth confirms that we are saved by His life, that is, He is our living High Priest. “I will never leave nor forsake you,” He declares (Hebrews 13:5). Our responsibility, then, is to continue being faithful to Christ, striving to overcome sin, and as this occurs, He, as our High Priest, continues to keep us free from backsliding into Satan's bondage. Thus, the work of Christ makes us one with Him and keeps us one with Him. The author of Hebrews is stating that Jesus, our Savior, and His brothers and sisters all now belong to the same Family. Remember that Jesus, in order to be identified completely with us, became a mortal man, but He, by living a sinless life, escaped the mandatory death penalty. Because of God's calling and faith, we are now linked with Him spiritually and can look forward to everlasting life. Hebrews 2:14 is saying that in order for us to be freed from bondage to Satan and the fear of death, Christ had to become human and able to die because “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Thus, nothing less than the death of our sinless Creator, living as a man, could suffice for us to be freed from the death penalty by means of His substitutionary death on the cross. God paid a huge price for our freedom from the fear of death. This was not His only great accomplishment. He also lived sinlessly, and in doing so defeated Satan, who has the power of death, as he lost the struggle to induce Jesus, the second Adam, the beginning of the new creation, to sin. The Adversary had won this struggle over Adam and Eve and all their children, but Jesus took the weapon of death from Satan's hands. Because we are one with Christ, that weapon no longer hangs over us. 1 John 2:24 John appeals to the brethren to hold fast to the truth that they had been taught since their calling. To "abide" in the Son and the Father means to remain faithful to God's way of life, grow spiritually, and become more and more like God (John 15:4-6).The only way we can do this is by remaining faithful to the truth of God that the apostles taught from the church's founding. To those who remain faithful to His way, God has promised eternal life (I John 2:25). 1 John 4:15-17 In I John 4, John makes a rather startling statement regarding our union with Christ. It is puzzling in that its practical application is vague to us because we are unfamiliar with the possibilities. Readers usually take a glimpse of it then move on, wondering about its meaning. The words themselves are simple enough, but their very simplicity adds to its confounding nature because, if it truly means what it appears to say, it is too good to be true! Lacking biblical evidence and a logical explanation for reaching such a wonderful conclusion, we pass on. I John 4:15 says, "Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God." The context is obviously our union with God, as the words "abide" and "in" confirm. Verse 16 continues the thought: "And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him." Abide means "to live," "to continue with," or "to go on with." By substituting these synonyms, the last phrase reads, "He who continues or lives in love, continues or lives in God, and God in him." The verse emphasizes an ongoing, unbroken, intimate relationship. Nothing can be closer than for one to be in another! Since John defines love in I John 5:3 as keeping the commandments, the word "love" in this verse indicates that it is being reciprocated between God and us, and it is what facilitates the continuance of the union and relationship. These verses in fact confirm what Jesus said on the eve of His crucifixion: If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever. The Spirit of truth, which the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. (John 14:15-17) In verse 23, Jesus drops the term "Helper," showing more specifically who would be living in us: "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him." "Keep" indicates that the love of which Jesus speaks is not merely an affection, as keep means "to maintain, continue or carry on." It is therefore active and dynamic. Has that wondrous promise actually taken place? Are we so united with God, so at one with Him, that Jesus Christ, our Creator, Savior, Redeemer, and High Priest has made us the place of His abode? If so, do our lives reflect that He is there? Are we giving evidence of His presence? I John 4:17 contains the astounding statement: "Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world." Peter announces in I Peter 4:17, "For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begin with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?" For those of us "in the church," our judgment began with God's calling and our conversion, and it continues to this very moment. Judgment will come to those living following Christ's return during the Millennium and to those in the second resurrection during the Great White Throne period. Are we experiencing boldness or confidence (the Greek word can be translated either way; see Hebrews 3:6), or are we ashamed of Jesus Christ? Do we hide what we are? John suggests that we should be living boldly because we have a foundation of confidence that we are under the blood of Jesus Christ and have begun to keep His commandments. Are we ashamed about talking about our baptism into the church of God, His Family? Are we fearful about talking about specific doctrines, not to convert others, but simply to state our beliefs? It is interesting that the Greek word translated "boldness" literally means "freedom of speech." It implies that nothing hinders a person. Love is being perfected in us so that we may be unhindered in our submission to God while under judgment. I John 4:17 then goes on to say, "As He is, so are we in this world." "He" is capitalized. The publishers have done this to draw attention to the fact that this pronoun refers to Christ Himself. The subject here is not another human being but the Deity, and John is saying we can be bold because we share a commonality with Him. What did He accomplish? Where does He stand in relation to God and to us? How did He live His life? Jesus Christ lived His life confidently and boldly. The apostle is essentially saying that, when God looks at us, He sees us as though we were Jesus Christ! Has anybody ever lived life closer to God than Jesus? Matthew 5:43-48 We cannot be perfect apart from others. The Bible links perfection with human relationships. Christ urges us to be as perfect as our Father in heaven and ties the process to how we treat each other. The Kingdom of God is about eternal, peaceful relationships. We cannot withdraw from people and still develop the necessary relationship skills, just as God never leaves us but continues to work with us. Life would be easier for Him if He ignored us, but He works on, helping us develop our relationships with Him. He is the One who works perfection in us. Abiding with Jesus (staying close to Him and following His lead) equips us to bear the fruit of the Spirit, the foundation of the faithful life. That’s why our devotional life is indispensable; it is the one choice we need to make each day. If walking with Him is not our main concern, then Jesus warns us that anything we do apart from Him will result in nothing—nothing of eternal value that will bring glory to God. A branch bears fruit by simply abiding. Christians, though, must be wholeheartedly committed to abiding—to concentrate our thoughts and affections on Christ. Just as Martha was distracted by her preparations, we, too, can be easily drawn away from our time with the Lord. Jesus highlighted this truth in the parable of the farmer scattering seed: “The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced.” (Matthew 13:22). How very true. Countless days I have allowed the cares of the world to choke out the Word. What does abide mean in the bible? The Greek/Hebrew word menō is used in our text and it means: To remain, dwell, continue, tarry, endure. Define Meno That definition doesn’t help me as much as I’d like, so let’s look deeper.  What is the Biblical definition of abide?  To break the definition of menō down better we will look at the Outline of Biblical Usage from BlueLetterBible.org. To remain in a place Sojourn Tarry, not to depart, to continue to be present, to be held, kept, continually To continue in reference to time, to continue to be, endure, to survive To wait for, await one. What Does Abide in Christ Mean Today? If we connect the usages of “abide” and apply them to the definition of abide in Christ from John 15 we see a picture begin to form.  To abide in Christ we: Remain with Him, where He places us. Sojourn (stay or live life together) with Him while we remain. Continue to be present with God while we live where He places us. Wait for Him to say so before we move or change anything He has set in place. How do you abide in Jesus Christ? How do you remain in Jesus Christ?  Well, to understand this abide in Christ definition, to know what Jesus meant, we must look at the specific situation He spoke into in John 15.  The context will help us apply the concept. Jesus and the disciples had just finished the feast of the Passover (we often call it The Last Supper). Some things to know before we begin about the context: In John 13 we watch with bated breath as Jesus dons the dress of a servant and washes the disciples’ feet. We listen as Jesus tells them how to remember Him in holy communion. Judas sneaks out to betray his friend. We watch as Jesus comforts His disciples who are confused about what is coming. Jesus speaks to unity in the Body of Christ in a beautiful way. We see Jesus promise to send the Holy Spirit to comfort and help His believers. This is the context into which Jesus says to abide in Him.  Abiding Feels Backward and Hard “These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you.” :25  Jesus admonishes the disciples to not be fearful of what is to come.  Can you imagine how the disciples felt?  Fear came as they watched Jesus be hauled off, falsely accused, tortured, and hung to die on the cross. For three years Jesus had been abiding with them.  They walked with Jesus, talked with Jesus, asked questions, looked to Jesus for direction and wisdom. How would they abide in Him now that He was gone? That would have been deeper grief than I can imagine.  Alone, hopeless, confused.  Abiding in Christ would have felt backward and hard for the disciples.  Shoot!  It is a hard concept for us today and we have the whole counsel of God’s Word to explain it!  Honestly, every abide in Christ verse or abide in Christ Scripture can be found easily, read, and meditated on.  If we are ever in doubt or fear we can look them up and be reminded of God’s promises.  The disciples would have struggled with understanding it.  It probably wasn’t until they received the Holy Spirit that they would have understood Jesus’ Words, the abide in me meaning.   What Does Abiding in Jesus Mean? “Abide in Me,” Jesus implored.  We could think of it more like this, “Remain with Me, hear My words, think of Me, talk to Me, do life together with Me.” How can we abide in Christ today or how do you remain in Christ? Just like you would abide, remain or live with anyone else.  Spend time with them.  What Are the Benefits of Abiding in the Lord? “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.” :11  Abiding in the Lord teaches us how to experience the joy of the Lord to the fullest measure.  When we make abiding in Christ and being still with God a way of life we know and experience His Joy in any circumstance! Related Post: How to Have Joy in Every Trial and Please God 8 Ways You Can Abide in Christ to Be Still Every Day What does it look like for a Christian to abide in Jesus? Be in the Word. Pray Spend time in solitude alone with God Fasting helps Give freely of what God gave to you Gather together with other believers to talk about Him Serve others, meeting the needs as the early believers did Tell others about Christ John 15 lays those 8 ways to abide in Him out and we will spend the remainder of our 40-day fast dissecting them.  Today we will just get an overview.   1. Abide in God’s Word “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you” :7a  How do you abide in God’s Word? Read it, listen to it, talk about it, think about it, learn it, apply it and pray it.  Abiding in God’s word leads to abiding faith. What does abiding faith mean?  Abiding faith is a faith that is more than words, more than just going to church at Easter and Christmas.  To live out an abiding faith you walk with God every day. Learn How to Abide in God’s Word here ~> How to Abide in the Word of God to Be Still More verses we will look at on how to abide in God’s word: Romans 10:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Psalm 119:11; Hebrews 4:12; John 1:8 2 & 3.  Abide in Prayer and Solitude “ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” :7b  Ok, I can almost hear you click away with that last word but hear a girl out.  Abiding is about a real relationship.  Most of my prayer time is a one-sided conversation.  If I expect a real relationship I have to have time (quiet and alone) where I am listening to His side of the conversation.  Solitude is a spiritual discipline we have lost but desperately need! Learn How to abide in Prayer and Solitude here ~> Abide in the Power of Prayer to Be Still with God More verses about how to abide in prayer and solitude: Matthew 6:5-6; James 1:19;  1 John 5:14; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Matthew 5:44; Psalm 17:6; Romans 12:12; Philippians 4:6 4.  Abide in Christ By Giving “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love” :10a Jesus lived a life without strings. In the book of Acts, we see that the early Church didn’t hold tightly to their stuff, their time, or their lives either. The early church gave to support each other.  Daily they spent time together (abiding) and helped build, teach, serve, cook, etc. They gave. Giving is a beautiful way to abide in Christ.  Giving is like saying to God, “All that I have is Yours.  Well to be fair, it was Yours when You gave it to me.  Now I am just giving back a portion of it to love You and serve others for You.” Learn How to Abide in Giving here ~>Give Your Life Away to Be Still and Abide in God More verses about how to abide in Christ with giving: 2 Corinthians 9:7; Proverbs 18:16; Proverbs 11:25; Luke 6:38; Proverbs 3:9; 2 Corinthians 9:8-11; Proverbs 3:27; Matthew 6:2; Matthew 10:8 5.  Abide in Christ through Fasting “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.” :8  Earlier in the gospels, Jesus said His disciples would fast and seek God fervently (when He was no longer with them).  So we know that fasting and prayer are an expectation.  When we fast, we bear much fruit, proving to be God’s disciples. Learn How to Abide in Christ Through Fasting here ~> What is the Benefit of a Fast to Be Still? More verses about how to abide in Christ through fasting: Matthew 6:16-18; Exodus 34:28; Matthew 4:2; Esther 4:16; Joel 2:12; Ezra 8:21-23; Jonah 3:5-6; Daniel 1:12; Daniel 10:3; 1 Corinthians 7:5 6.  Abide in Christ by Gathering With Other Believers “As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine” :4b  There is rarely a healthy vine branch that is isolated.  Branches of a vine gather together for strength and support.  God knew we would need each other to get through this Christian life which is why He told us to gather together. Learn How to Abide in Community here.  More verses about how to abide in Christ by gathering: Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 10:24-25; Matthew 18:20 7.  Abide in Serving Others “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.” :12  How did Jesus love the disciples?  He served them, taught them, and met their needs.  Jesus tells us to serve others as He served us.  Living life by Jesus’ example is another way we abide in Christ. Learn How to Abide in Serving here ~> When You Abide in God a Servant Heart Grows More verses about how to abide in Christ by serving others: Galatians 5:13; John 12:26; Hebrews 6:10; Joshua 22:5; Matthew 23:11; Mark 10:45; 1 Peter 4:10 8.  Abide in Christ by Witnessing “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.” :6  When we love others the way Jesus instructs us we will want everyone to know about Him.  Why?  There is a very real place, Hell, where people will spend eternity apart from God. How many people in your life will be there?  Will it be because you never told them about God’s love for them? There is a very real place, Heaven, where eternity with God will be a paradise.  There is a very real helper for this life – the Holy Spirit- and He brings abundant life.   We want our loved ones to walk in abundance! Learn How to Abide in Witnessing here ~> When You Abide in the Love of God It Spills Over More verses about how to abide in Christ by witnessing: Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Timothy 1:8-11; Mark 16:15; 1 Peter 3:15-16; 2 Corinthians 5:20; Isaiah 55:11; Romans 10;15; Matthew 9:37-38; Matthew 5:16; Ephesians 5:15-17 A Prayer to Abide in Christ Holy Spirit, Thank You for coming gown, indwelling us, making it possible to abide in Christ every day.  You bring comfort and hope when life is hard.  As we walk toward abiding more with God every day, open our eyes to the practical side of this discipline. Help us not to become overwhelmed with this or think of it as a to-do list.  Abiding in Christ is not a religious practice, it is a relationship practice that brings joy and blessings.  We will give You all the glory as you strengthen us and enable us to learn, apply and practice all 8 ways to abide and be still. Amen Will You Abide in Christ Today? Jesus says, “Abide in Me.”  He longs for us to remain with Him, walk with Him daily, build a strong relationship that shines His light all around.  Will you choose to abide in Christ today?   Abiding in Christ is not about rules, even the “how-to” is not legalistic.  These are ways to connect with God, to walk in His presence.  We want to be in God’s presence daily don’t we? What does it mean to abide in God’s presence?  This is about hearing from Him and speaking to Him daily.  These 8 ways to abide can help.   Be in the Word. Pray Spend time in solitude alone with God Fasting helps Give freely of what God gave to you Gather together with other believers to talk about Him Serve others, meeting the needs as the early believers did Tell others about Christ