We read the Bible, go to church. Yet many of us, as Christians may not know how to abide in Jesus Christ? Forget that, many Christians may not know, why we should greatly desire to abide in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Without doubt this should be an earnest desire, a KPI we aim to improve every year of our life on earth. The joy and peace we get through this – is more precious than silver or gold we can ever buy or own.
Yes, the benefits are eternal, starting from our life on earth today. Here are a few questions on abiding in Christ we discuss in this article.
Read them one by one and click on the topic as your interest leads you.
Q1) What is the meaning of abiding in Christ? How to abide in Christ?
Q2) What are the key scripture verses on Christ abiding in you?
Q3) Does love have anything to do with abiding?
Q4) How to access your progress on Christ abiding in you?
Q5) Are there examples of abiding in Christ?
Q1) What is the meaning of abiding in Christ? How to abide in Christ?
A1) Years ago, I did not even know what this question meant. I thought it was a concept, probably a distant theoretical spiritual state one can aim at reaching sometime in the distant future. I had thought only a very holy person could ever abide in Christ. But a few years later, I can say, this is very much available for each one of us. Its greatly desirable and we should apprehend it. After we start to enjoy a life abiding in Christ, we would share this amazing truth and process with our near and dear so that, they too enjoy this.
First let us explore the dictionary meaning. Abiding is continuing for a long time : not changing. We can say for instance use it in a sentence thus: Elizabeth has an abiding [=lasting] love of paintings.
3 step process to knowing and abiding in Christ Jesus
Step 1) Knowing Christ in the Bible
From the dictionary meaning, we understand that abiding in Christ should mean an on going and continued passion for Christ. Just like an abiding love for paintings would mean availing every opportunity to attend painting exhibitions, observing nature and surroundings for inspiration, spending time and money to improve painting skills, learning to critique & appreciate paintings, meeting those interested in paintings etc.. Even when not painting, when awake and asleep, you may consider and explore various matters related to painting. Not only would you read about paintings, you may hear and watch videos about paintings, read and understand the history of paintings, read about the leading painters in the genre you may like, you may even travel, visit galleries just to quell your hunger and thirst for paintings.
Thus the journey to abiding starts with a desire to know more about Jesus Christ, acquainting more with Jesus, his Words. You would read the Bible more often as you know it has the Words of Jesus and about Him. As you read the Bible, you will get to know what Jesus stands for and likes and what HE dislikes. Simply put a passion for Jesus would obviously lead us to read the Bible daily and often.
So how would you steward the passion for Jesus? How would you read the Bible, because you know that the Bible is a huge book made of the new and the old testament?
Here is how you can navigate across reading a big book like the Bible.
- Priority 1) Reading the 4 books of the Gospels in the Bible, i.e. Gospels according to Mathew, Mark, Luke and John respectively.
- Priority 2) Reading the other books of the New Testament after having gone through the Gospels a few times.
- Priority 3) The old testament book of Prophet Isaiah.
- Priority 4) Only there after reading the other books of the Old Testament
As we read the priority 1 Books, we get to progress on knowing Christ, His thinking. As we read earnestly and repeatedly, we get to understand and retain what He spoke, retain His words. Eventually, we start to have the thinking of Jesus and thus abide in Christ Jesus.
Only the blind and deaf miss out in knowing the love, brilliance and holiness of Jesus. The blind and the deaf are those who say they can see and hear, yet as they are in reality blind, they are blind and deaf to the deeper spiritual matters.
I cannot control the urge to share the brilliance of Jesus. How he summarized the law and prophets. In an amazing way, he summed up the 600+ laws in the old testament and prophets into just two laws. Has anything like this been ever done before? He simplified it all for us. The beauty and brilliance of this perspective and clear understanding of Jesus cannot be ever described.
Back to the books in the Bible, start to read the 4 books of the Gospel aloud – strongly recommended. This starts your journey. As you read the priority 1 books, you may perhaps want to read the Gospel according to John a couple of times, for developing a better understanding and deeper abiding in Christ Jesus.
Step 2) Seek the Holy Spirit to highlight specific verses
As you read the portions of the Bible, ask the Holy Spirit to highlight specific verses so that you could think about the specific verses – by writing them down in a notebook. You will be amazed, How the Holy Spirit highlights verses which are most relevant to the condition of your heart. Remember, He (the Holy Spirit) is the most skilled heart surgeon and does not require anesthesia, nor do you require to go to the operation theater!
When specific verses are highlighted, value them, write them in a note book with dates – this will ensure you have well documented in one of the best process you would discover to guide yourselves and help others as well.
Later you may write these on a piece of paper or on your mobile, so you can carry it and refer conveniently by securely storing them in your wallet or pocket for easy reference.
Here is what Jesus says about the Holy Spirit.
Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: (John 16:7-8 NKJV)
Step 3) Think and ponder on the specific verses
Once the verses the holy Spirit quickens you are known, you should desire to think on the verse,
through the day and night,
when driving,
when you are remain still,
when you are on the treadmill,
when you wash vessels,
when you water plants,
in between tasks and jobs as you transition activities.
We have no excuse of lack of time to think about verses in our busy routine. Most certainly, when we try, we would identify pockets of time to remember the verse. The Holy Spirit will help you, apply the verse to shape and change your behavior, habits and your life in general. The person of the Holy Spirit, changes us by using the verse as a surgeon’s knife to cut and prune our heart.
As we keep writing the highlighted verse in the notebook regularly, read them and think about them through the day, the process of our change starts. Week on week the Holy Spirit will lead us to identify aspects, natures that need improvement, as part of the process.
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 NKJV)
Yes, as this verse says the verses which the Holy Spirit highlights would change the way we think, act and live – as we remember the verses through the day and night, we are changed and shaped, we start to truly abide in Christ Jesus.
Q2) What are the key scripture verses on Christ abiding in you?
A2) Here is a powerful verse – a great truth on Jesus Christ abiding in you and you abiding in Jesus Christ. Jesus says: Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit in itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in Me. (John 15:4 NKJV)
Recommend camping on this verse day and night for six weeks. You will change your default nature and thinking. Your words and thoughts would start changing. Jesus further assures: 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. (John 15:5 NKJV)
Abiding in Christ is a key to the fulfilment of our desires. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.(John 15:7 NKJV) Remember that as you start aiding in Christ and as you start thinking and meditating on the words of Christ, you start thinking different, you speak different and even desire different. You would try to please Jesus Christ in all the ways as He becomes your one desire.
Q3)Does love have anything to do with abiding?
A3) Abiding in Jesus means continuously staying in the awareness of love of Jesus. We ought to remember that Jesus Christ willing chose to die on the cross for us. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. (John 15:13 NKJV). Thus the dying on the cross expresses the love of Jesus for each one of us.
Jesus Christ obeys His Heavenly Fathers commands and abides in His Fathers love. Jesus says: In the same way: 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.(John 15:10 NKJV). This is a plain truth told in a direct and understandable manner for us.
Jesus Christ, our Lord and savior desires us to be fruitful. That our joy becomes full. That we abide in His love. That we love another. All this packed in the verse John 15:8-14
By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. (8) “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. (9) 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. (10) These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. (11) This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. (12) Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. (13)You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.(14)
Q4) How to access your progress on Christ abiding in you?
A4) When we abide in Christ, we can certainly find out how well we are doing so by assessing how fruitful we are. Here is what Jesus says along with the above verses on abiding in Christ. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.(John 15:7 NKJV)
If the above is still a mystery, here is the truth after removing the wrapping. It’s when you ask what you desire as per the 3rd verse highlighted in blue is mentioned as part of (A2) and when it’s done for you, that you know that you bear fruit.
As mentioned in John 15:16, we can clearly see that fruitfulness becomes evident in receiving what you ask for. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.
Q5) Are there examples of abiding in Christ?
A5) Yes most certainly. In the Bible we read about the disciples – they were fruitful as they abided in Jesus Christ.
The disciples of Jesus Christ obeyed Him, obeyed His commandments – thus abiding in Him and Jesus Christ abiding in them. Jesus gives the Great Commission to His disciples. He asks them to go into the world and preach the Gospel. Those who believes and is baptized are saved. Jesus says that these signs and wonders will follow those who believe in Him. Just like those abiding in Christ ask and receive from God, we know that various signs and miracles followed the disciples lives.
And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.(Mark 16:20 NKJV)
We also come across many people around us who abide and Jesus. Their lives are fruitful in the ways Jesus and His disciples are fruitful – flowing in various signs and miracles including healing, leading many from demonic oppressions.
You too can abide in Jesus Christ and have a life giving expressions of signs and miracles. If you truly desire this can be so.
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.(John 14:12 NKJV)
Be blessed. Abide in Christ Jesus.
