“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.” John 15:5
It was David Livingston who penned the following words: “I only have one life, And that will soon be past; I want my life to count for Christ, What’s done by Him will last.” The last few words of this stanza are very important, as they speak of the work of God through the believer, and this, by the Spirit. It is as Christ “dwells in the heart by faith,” and the believer is filled with the Spirit, that Christ reveals His blessed nature, and His will is done.
One of the greatest neglected truths of our day is that of union with Christ. Often, in our presentation, and study, of the Gospel, we deal with primarily the forgiveness of sins. Now, this is essential, but it is like coming to Jericho, conquering it, and then sitting down and not pursuing the greater calling. Forgiveness of sins is just the beginning. Justification before God, having peace with God must be grasped at this point, for we cannot approach God with confidence unless we see ourselves in Christ, having peace with God by His blood and righteousness. But what of the remainder of “Canaan,” that land of promise. And how do the promises of Canaan apply to the believer in this day?
When the Lord Jesus gave to John the Apostle the truths found in the fifteenth chapter of his gospel, He spoke primarily of one’s position IN Christ, and the life that is now to be lived because of that union. At the moment of one’s conversion to Christ, and the new birth, Paul writes: “…but of God are ye IN Christ.” (1 Cor. 1:30) This inseparable spiritual union was established so that the believer could know God, have communion with God, abide IN Him as their life, and Christ abide in them to reveal His glory. The cross stands as the testimony to the fact that the old life spent out of Christ, with all the sinful manifestations of the old nature, has been crucified with Christ, and buried. That which is of the “flesh” is worthy of nothing more than to be crucified in the eyes of God, and removed completely from sight. This is essential so that the believer, by virtue of union with Christ by the Spirit, can know the new life given by God. However, if one is to live this new life, there must be the embracing of the cross on a daily basis, that stand taken by faith that the old life is passed away, and has nothing to do with this new life in Christ. One must also take hold of Christ as one’s life. To truly live IS knowing Christ. As the branch is connected to the true and living Vine, so the believer is now in a relationship with the Son of God by which he is to live trusting Him fully. (Gal 2:20) The child of God is called to live abiding in Jesus Christ, deriving all from Him by faith, assured and certain that Christ will faithfully abide in him. Living this exchanged life by the power of the Spirit is essential to the bearing of much fruit. What are some guidelines to this communion with Christ, which enable us to abide?
The Apostle Paul gives us three. He writes of the first one being, “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again, I say rejoice.” (Phil 4:4) If we are consistently to abide in Christ, then HE must be our satisfaction, joy, and sufficiency. Christ is our life, goal, portion and objective. It is as our affection and gaze is set upon Him, rejoicing in Him, delighting ourselves in Him, that we begin to abide. Secondly, we are to “…pray without ceasing,” constantly giving Christ access to every need, quietly acknowledging Him, relating all to Him (1 Thess. 5:17) Thirdly, we are to give thanks at all times in everything. (1 Thess. 5:18)
Dear Father, Strengthen us to abide in Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.