Results 1 - 8 of 8
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Abiding in Christ | Bible general Archive 3 | jlhetrick | 183400 | ||
"During the life of Jesus on earth, the word He chiefly used when speaking of the relations of the disciples to Himself was: "Follow me." When about to leave for heaven, He gave them a new word, in which their more intimate and spiritual union with Himself in glory should be expressed. That chosen word was: "Abide in me." "It is to be feared that there are many earnest followers of Jesus from whom the meaning of this word, with the blessed experience it promises, is very much hidden. While trusting in their Saviour for pardon and for help, and seeking to some extent to obey Him, they have hardly realized to what closeness of union, to what intimacy of fellowship, to what wondrous oneness of life and interest, He invited them when He said, "Abide in me." This is not only an unspeakable loss to themselves, but the Church and the world suffer in what they lose. (Andrew Murray) |
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2 | Abiding in Christ | Bible general Archive 3 | jlhetrick | 183401 | ||
Sorry, I had posted the quote from Andrew Murray without including my question. My point was to ask any responder to articulate their biblical understanding of "abiding in Christ". Thanks, Jeff |
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3 | Abiding in Christ | Bible general Archive 3 | kalos | 183404 | ||
"To abide in Christ is, on the one hand, to have no known sin unjudged and unconfessed, no interest into which He is not brought, no life which He cannot share. On the other hand, the abiding one takes all burdens to Him, and draws all wisdom, life, and strength from Him. It is not unceasing consciousness of these things, and of Him, but that nothing is allowed in the life which separates from Him." ____________________ Source: Note at John 15:4, New Scofield Reference Bible, 1967, Oxford University Press) |
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4 | Abiding in Christ | Bible general Archive 3 | jlhetrick | 183438 | ||
Good points kalos. And what of the man who has not yet reached this level of fellowship with the Lord? Would it be accurate to say that that man's abiding would be best described as a consistently improving situation that is ever drawing closer to the state which you have described? Would this understanding be consistent with that of being sanctified? Thanks for your feedback, Jeff |
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5 | Abiding in Christ | Bible general Archive 3 | kalos | 183441 | ||
Jeff, Yes, I agree that a man's abiding is "a consistently improving situation that is ever drawing closer to the state" described in my previous post. It is as John MacArthur wrote when teaching on the evidences of genuine saving faith: "Without question Christians fail in each of these areas, but the direction of a Christian's life is to love God, hate sin, to live in humility and self-denial, recognizing his unworthiness and being devoted to the glory of God. It is not the perfection of one's life but the direction of a life that provides evidence of regeneration." "If you are a true Christian, you are going to be growing-and that means you are going to be more and more like Christ. Life produces itself. If you're alive you are going to grow, there's no other way. You'll improve. You'll increase. The Spirit will move you from one level of glory to the next. So examine your life. Do you see spiritual growth? Do you see the decreasing frequency of sin? Is there an increasing pattern of righteousness and devotion to God?" Grace to you, John |
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6 | Abiding in Christ | Bible general Archive 3 | jlhetrick | 183443 | ||
Very excellent John, Thank you brother. In my life as a Christian there has been very substantial, obvious evidence of growth. Yet there has also been more than one occasion where I have jumped over the edge like I never even knew Him. The one thing good that I know comes from these moments or events in life is that each time I have truly grown both in my understanding of my own inadequacy and my dependency on God. Thanks for your response, Jeff |
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7 | Abiding in Christ | Bible general Archive 3 | azurelaw | 183492 | ||
Dear Brother Jeff, A man's abiding is "a consistently improving situation that is ever drawing closer to the state" 2 weeks ago, our elder (in his sermon) used an interesting example to demonstrate a Christian must not stay still but to continue to grow - he said you cannot be an egg forever, either you hatch to become a chick and grow, or you turn out to be a bad egg. Do you know the smell of a bad egg? Horrible. Shalom Azure |
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8 | Abiding in Christ | Bible general Archive 3 | jlhetrick | 183506 | ||
Dear sister Azure, Thank you for that feedback. Your answer does contribute to the biblical presentation of those in Christ being sanctified. The encouraging thing is that of His faithfulness. I can trust in that alone and witness my own faith grow and my own obedience become more consistent. There was a time of many years where I believed that my faith and obedience were solely dependent on my own efforts. You can imagine how frustrating the Christian life was or me. I do still struggle with my own efforts at times as though they are the primary work. Thankfully, the Lord convicts me more suddenly than was true in the past; or perhaps it's that I am more grown up in Him now and am more sensitive to His mercy and patience. Thanks for your insightful feedback, Philippians 2:12-13 (NASB95) 2:12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Jeff |
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