We are assured that we know God if the truth abides in us and if we abide in Christ. We have been through a series of studies that have encouraged believers to know God. God has given believers several ways to assure our relationship with Him. We have seen that many falsehoods and antichrists have arisen. To combat those, we have received an anointing from the Holy One and we have received the Word of Truth that is able to keep us. In this section, we are being encouraged to abide in Christ. In John 15 Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.”
John 15:4-5 NKJV Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
When we abide in Christ, we are partakers of God’s nature. We are enabled to live as we should. We are given His righteousness and are enabled to live obedient lives. The person who abides and lives in Christ is the person who knows God. Anyone who does not abide in Christ does not know God.
1 John 2:28 NKJVAnd now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.
The word, “abide” means: to dwell, endure, stay, to continually be present, rest in or upon, to remain as one. The idea presents being fixed, unmovable and remaining in the same place.
Therefore, to abide in Christ means…
- to come to Christ and continue to stay in Christ
- to rest in and upon Christ
- to be set and fixed in Christ and to remain in Him
- to find our permanent home in Christ
The basic idea of abiding in Christ is just like being a branch on a vine. We dwell in Christ, or remain in Christ in the same way a branch remains on the vine. When we abide in Christ, we begin to know and demonstrate the nature, character and life that is in Him. The life that is gained by abiding in Christ brings us into a new and personal relationship with Him and the Father. In our last study, we learned that we have been given the Word of God and the anointing of the Holy Spirit to teach us all things and protect us from antichrists.
How can we know that we abide in Christ?
First, abiding in Christ means that we confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
1 John 4:15-16 demonstrates the rapid transition that occurs in believers.
1 John 4:15-16 NKJV Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 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.
Look at these words: confesses, abides, known, believed, abides, in, love. Each of these words depict degrees of abiding in Christ. As soon as we confess or declare that Jesus is the Son of God — (believe that He is God’s Messiah or Christ) — God lives in them and they live in God. God is love and when we live in love, we live in God. God’s nature begins being revealed in us.
Second, abiding in Christ means that a person walks as Jesus walked.
1 John 2:6 NKJV He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
Jesus’ life is our pattern. It is clear that His life of strength and power is only possible by the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 8:11 NKJV But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
Third, abiding in Christ means that a person walks in open confession before God. They are constantly assessing and confessing before God.
1 John 1:6 AMP[So] if we say we are partakers together and enjoy fellowship with Him when we live and move and are walking about in darkness, we are speaking falsely and do not live and practice the Truth.
Our abiding relationship cannot be hidden. What is in Christ will be revealed in our lives as we are partakers of Him.
Fourth, abiding in Christ means that a person continues in the Word of Christ and knows the truth.
John 8:31–32 NKJV Jesus said: “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
This is much more than reading the Bible, it is abiding in His word. We feast and live on the Word of God.
Fifth, abiding in Christ means that the Holy Spirit dwells within.
1 John 4:13 NKJV By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.
The Spirit that is in Christ is being poured into us. We are partakers of His Spirit. Being a partaker of His Spirit enables us to manifest and live in His love. Think about the wonder and privilege of being made a partaker of the Holy Spirit.
Sixth, when we abide in Christ we dwell in love, unity and fellowship with other believers.
1 John 4:12 NKJV If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.
This is the practical living in community with one another. Loving one another is a testimony that God abides in us.
Seventh, Jesus said when we abide in Him we will bear much fruit.
John 15:5 NKJVHe who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
When you begin bearing much fruit, do not forget that it comes from abiding in Christ. Your success is a direct result of Christ in you.
What is the purpose for abiding in Christ?
1 John 2:28 NKJVAnd now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.
If we abide in Christ, we will have confidence and not be ashamed when He returns. Jesus Christ is coming again, and we must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. This judgment will be based on what we have done in this life.
2 Corinthians 5:10 NKJV For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
This same warning appears several times in the Bible.
Matthew 16:27 says, “He will reward each according to his works.”
Matthew 25:31-32 …He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.
In the last chapter of the Bible, Jesus said: “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” (Revelation 22:12 NKJV)
How can we prepare ourselves for this?
1 John 2:28 NKJV And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.
If we abide in Christ, we will have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. The word “confidence” means unshakable boldness and assurance. If we abide in Christ every day, we can have an unshakeable confidence, assurance, and boldness when Jesus returns. If we do not abide in Christ, we shall be ashamed when Jesus returns to earth. The word “ashamed” means to shrink back; to sense guilt and disgrace; to feel embarrassment. Some people will be ashamed and disgraced at His coming.
We know for certain that Jesus is going to return.
No one will be exempt from appearing before Him. Everybody’s works shall be judged. Sinners and believers will have to stand before the Lord for judgment. Good works and evil works will be judged. There will be joy and rejoicing for those who have been abiding in Christ. There will be shame, guilt, disgrace, and embarrassment for those who have been walking unfaithfully.
The proof that we are abiding in Christ is the fruit of righteousness.
1 John 2:29 NKJV If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.
If we abide in Jesus Christ, we will live a righteous, moral, upright life. The fruit and treasure of our life is a testimony that Christ is in us and we are abiding in Him. Jesus said every tree is known by its fruit.
Matthew 7:18-19 NKJV Every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
This brings us to a moment of personal inspection. When you are truly born again, you will have a new nature. That new nature is established upon the righteousness of Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJVTherefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Personal or self-righteousness is not enough. We need the righteousness that comes from abiding in Christ.