Abiding In Christ

Romans 8:1-2 states, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”   Every Christian has received the Spirit of life and forgiveness of sin.  If we learn to walk, to live our daily lives according to that Spirit, we will not be living in sin as Galatians 5:16 tells us.  “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”  The result will be, “That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit,” according to Romans 8:4. 

Unfortunately, today, there are some who believe that as Christians, we no longer have to worry about the consequences of sin in our lives.  They have forgotten what Hebrews 12:6-8 says.  “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.”  If we are truly God’s children, we will be corrected and punished as needed when we do wrong.  If a person can sin with impunity, it indicates he is not truly God’s child.  It is important to understand that God’s chastening is intended to keep us from facing the same eternal judgment as the unsaved, according to I Corinthians 11:32.  “But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.”  Hebrews 12:11 warns, “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”

If we wish to avoid that chastening, Galatians 5:25 advises, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit,” so that we are not controlled by our fleshly lusts.  But how can we walk in the Spirit?  In John 15:4-8, Jesus said, “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.  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.  If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.  If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.  Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”

A branch on a fruit tree or vine is incapable of producing fruit unless it remains connected to the main tree or branch, and Christians are incapable of walking in the Spirit or producing spiritual fruit unless they remain firmly connected to Christ.   When they wholly submit to him, trusting him to support them and supply every need, then they will be living and walking in the Spirit, and producing as much spiritual fruit s they are capable of doing. 

Insects or parasitic plants may divert or prevent the flow of sap, leaving the branch unhealthy and unable to produce fruit.  It is critical the branch maintains the proper connection and not allow outside influences to interfere.  The same is true for the Christian if he is to fulfil his purpose before God.   

not getting distracted by different kinds of sin or trying to do things in their own power.  When completely dependent on the tree for sustenance, the branch brings forth as much fruit as it is capable of bearing, but when insects or restrictions divert the sap and nutrients the tree supplies, it stops producing fruit, and may die.