July 9th, 2024
This week, I’ve been thinking about the power of abiding. That word is not used often outside of the church, but it means to stay, remain, and dwell. Especially today, we must learn to remain in Jesus, unwavering from the hope of the gospel. The world today doesn’t need the gospel repackaged into something appealing and palatable. Jesus, when He is lifted up, will draw all men to Himself. The truth of the Word is as powerful now as it was the moment the Holy Spirit inspired it. Stability is found only in our ability to remain in that truth. In John 15:4-5 Jesus said,
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.â€
Apart from Jesus, we can do absolutely nothing, but fruit is the inevitable result of abiding in Him. Anything we accomplish for the kingdom of God will not come from our own ability, but consistently abiding in the One who gives life. Striving doesn’t bear fruit; abiding does. Jesus went on to explain how to abide. John 15:9-11 says,
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.â€
Keeping the commandments of God is not a religious activity, but the fruit of love. Obedience keeps us in a place of intimacy with the Father, and it’s only there that our joy is full!
The book of Colossians gives a beautiful picture of the supremacy of Christ and declares the importance of remaining in the truth of the Gospel. Scholars tell us that Paul wrote the letter (from prison, by the way) to counteract false teaching in the church in Colossae. However, Paul didn’t spend a great deal of time speaking about or even against that false doctrine. Instead, he emphasized again and again, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the wonder of Christ. Look at just a few verses in which Paul describes what we find in Jesus:
“[The Father] has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.†(Colossians 1:13)
“He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.†(Colossians 1:17)
“For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.†(Colossians 1:19-20)
“He has now reconciled in His body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him. (Colossians 1:22)
“To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.†(Colossians 1:28)
“…God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.†(Colossians 2:3)
“For in Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in Him, who is the head of all rule and authority.†(Colossians 2:9-10)
“…having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised Him from the dead.†(Colossians 2:12)
I encourage you to read those again and think about what they mean for your life.
In Him, you are redeemed and forgiven.
In Him, you have been reconciled to God.
In Him, the mystery of God has been made known and it’s Christ in you, the hope of glory.
In Him, the One who dwells in you, are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
You have been filled in Him, the very head of all rulers and authority.
You were buried with Him and raised to life.
Sometimes the most significant choice we can make is to stay, remain, and abide in the One who holds all things together. Paul encouraged the church not to shift from the hope of the gospel that they had heard. Colossians 1:23 sums up his exhortation saying, “…continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard.†The Word of God never changes and amidst every change in life, society, and culture, truth is unmovable.
Nothing exposes a lie more quickly than the truth. Nothing obliterates darkness but light. Paul could have spent four chapters explaining only why the false doctrines plaguing the church were wrong, but it’s only the truth that sets people free! The people needed to be reminded of the hope that had set them free. They didn’t need to learn something new but to remain in the One that gave them life!
This week, I encourage you to abide – stay, remain – in Jesus. He is unchanging, purely light and wholly good. All the mysteries of wisdom and knowledge are in Him. In Him is peace, love, joy, and strength. You won’t be victorious in striving, but only in remaining in Jesus, who has already won!
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.â€
Apart from Jesus, we can do absolutely nothing, but fruit is the inevitable result of abiding in Him. Anything we accomplish for the kingdom of God will not come from our own ability, but consistently abiding in the One who gives life. Striving doesn’t bear fruit; abiding does. Jesus went on to explain how to abide. John 15:9-11 says,
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.â€
Keeping the commandments of God is not a religious activity, but the fruit of love. Obedience keeps us in a place of intimacy with the Father, and it’s only there that our joy is full!
The book of Colossians gives a beautiful picture of the supremacy of Christ and declares the importance of remaining in the truth of the Gospel. Scholars tell us that Paul wrote the letter (from prison, by the way) to counteract false teaching in the church in Colossae. However, Paul didn’t spend a great deal of time speaking about or even against that false doctrine. Instead, he emphasized again and again, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the wonder of Christ. Look at just a few verses in which Paul describes what we find in Jesus:
“[The Father] has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.†(Colossians 1:13)
“He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.†(Colossians 1:17)
“For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.†(Colossians 1:19-20)
“He has now reconciled in His body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him. (Colossians 1:22)
“To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.†(Colossians 1:28)
“…God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.†(Colossians 2:3)
“For in Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in Him, who is the head of all rule and authority.†(Colossians 2:9-10)
“…having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised Him from the dead.†(Colossians 2:12)
I encourage you to read those again and think about what they mean for your life.
In Him, you are redeemed and forgiven.
In Him, you have been reconciled to God.
In Him, the mystery of God has been made known and it’s Christ in you, the hope of glory.
In Him, the One who dwells in you, are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
You have been filled in Him, the very head of all rulers and authority.
You were buried with Him and raised to life.
Sometimes the most significant choice we can make is to stay, remain, and abide in the One who holds all things together. Paul encouraged the church not to shift from the hope of the gospel that they had heard. Colossians 1:23 sums up his exhortation saying, “…continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard.†The Word of God never changes and amidst every change in life, society, and culture, truth is unmovable.
Nothing exposes a lie more quickly than the truth. Nothing obliterates darkness but light. Paul could have spent four chapters explaining only why the false doctrines plaguing the church were wrong, but it’s only the truth that sets people free! The people needed to be reminded of the hope that had set them free. They didn’t need to learn something new but to remain in the One that gave them life!
This week, I encourage you to abide – stay, remain – in Jesus. He is unchanging, purely light and wholly good. All the mysteries of wisdom and knowledge are in Him. In Him is peace, love, joy, and strength. You won’t be victorious in striving, but only in remaining in Jesus, who has already won!
No Comments