One won’t be distracted by comparison if they are captured with purpose… adding, if we’re not abiding in Christs’ purpose with passion, then we’re left with the temptation of one’s self-purpose and pleasure.
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” —Jn 15:4
You can’t have an idea without a
So how does the church (believer) mediate this coming truth in which all of life is judged?
One, God is with us on this impossible journey in and of ourselves, meaning we can obtain this impossible goal with something greater on our side…
This is a process within the one’s faith walk that can and will continue to unfold the truths we need for the journey. It’s this process that allows the believer to continue, step from plateau to plateau in our faith in Christ-likeness. But often we face these finite thoughts that we can’t do it, we can’t overcome our
This is a pivot point of the cross, a point of tension - that we can’t in and of ourselves stand against judgement; that what we do and who we are susceptible to being burned up…
Look at 1 Cor 3:13. Paul is writing about the foundation of one’s faith in Jesus and what resources the believer uses to build upon it.
This is the logos (G/W - message) of Jesus Himself, that in Him all things are judged and
So what does this reveal to the believer? - That if one is to remove this transcending truth that abides only in Jesus, one will eventually be left with emptiness. Once one dispenses with abiding in Christ as their source of truth, hope and strength - along with the notion of sin, forgiveness of such sin, or the notion that we are less than - then one is left with self-emptiness!
Because it will not matter what else we elevate - be it self-works, self-will, self-gratification, self-whatever. Such abidance is, and will be, unfulfilling, lonely and empty of worth, because
Here is why being concerned with where we abide is so important. It has to do with the receptiveness of one’s faith. This is why the Gospel message starts with the Love of Christ for the sinner and calls him in truth to abide in Him. Faith, Hope and Love - the greatest of these is love. Why? Because love sustains, provides hope, and offers perseverance.
I don’t believe we can grasp the nature of our sin outside the understanding of God’s great love for us! Can we have a sense of our own ugliness and imperfections outside of a real encounter with a redemptive & loving God? It’s the experiencing of that great love that draws us to Him and our receptiveness of our need for Jesus!
So, how do we discern between the truth of God’s great love for us through Jesus Christ and our self-defined efforts? How do we discern between the truth in Jesus and the false narratives of this world and our own wisdom? The truth offers us a clear, desirable path to abide in that leads us to the promised hope we have in Jesus and eternity.
This alone defines our hope, the
“Abide in me, and I in you…” —Jn 15:4a
This is the exercising of our faith, in His love we cleave to Him with purpose of heart and so deriving grace, strength.
“the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” —Jn 15:4b
This strongly expresses that when believers depart from Christ we cannot do good through ourselves, fruitless efforts.
Which brings us back to eventual emptiness and loss of hope from our efforts, which drives (anxiety/fear/depression).
This is the basis of God’s great love for us… a love that sees past who and what we are, and a love that is provisional. Thus Jesus’ plea of “
One can’t help but think of the endless invitation towards the “prodigal son” – this is the antithesis of the ego of man. No matter how far we go or where we went, God is calling us - inviting us back to Jesus and to abide in Him.
When we look at the “Prodigal Son” we can often identify with all three characters…
1) with the brother who demanded justice based on his feelings/emotions for what others had done to him.
2) with the father who was trying to deal with one who had wandered away and yet trying to pray them home.
3) maybe with the son himself, who was lost in his way and abiding in self-interest and not the truth in Jesus.
Jesus’ plea to the believer comes down to who or where we choose to abide in… Jesus or
In closing, look at Jn 15:5 – Abidance brings about
We often have a false definition of spiritual maturity… Maturity is often defined and based on: Did we read our bible today, did we pray today, did we go to church today? But what Jesus examines is the fruit, and that’s how you recognize a tree: by its fruit Lk 6:44.
That’s why the Pharisees, who did read the Bible, prayed and went to church, yet they didn’t produce any fruit! They had knowledge, but they didn’t have maturity… they abided in religious practices, but not in Christ!
However, here is the supporting plea John gives us prior to being banished to the Island of Patmos… 1 Jn 2:5-6 – How can we be sure that we are abiding in Christ?