Abiding In Jesus Christ

Abiding in Jesus Christ Part 2 It is either you abide in Christ - the fullness of God - or outside of Christ - the fullness of God. It is either we are filled with His Joy, that our joy may be full or we are of all men most miserable. (John 15:11; 1 Cor 15:19) It is either we are filled with the fruits of the Spirit and therefore not fulfilling the lusts of the flesh or we are a corrupt tree that bears no fruit unto perfection. (Gal 5:22; Luke 8:14) It is either we are filled we His righteousness – perfect conformity to His Law failing in no point – or we are filled with unrighteousness failing in just one point thus breaking all. (Job 33:26; Ps 4:1; 119:172; Isa 41:10; 45:24; 51:7; 54:17; Jam 2:10) Is not a tree known by its fruits? Does not the mouth speak that which comes from the abundance of the heart? (Luke 6:45; Mat 7:15-20) The Standard of God is high because it is GOD’S Standard. God will not excuse one sin. He requires perfect conformity to His will and His ways. What is His will? The Psalmist says, “I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy Law is within my heart.” (Psa 40:8) But without Him ‘ye can do nothing.’ (John 15:5) Jesus says, “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.” (John 15:4) He by this most certainly wants you to “Abide” in Him. He is calling you saying “Abide in me.” But wait it gets better. He further states and “I in you.” He can only state and “I in you” if He did want to be “in you”. “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37) He will refuse none who come unto Him. He will refuse none who “will take of the water of life freely.” He will refuse none who heed the call “Abide in me.” He calls “Come”. He seeks that lost sheep and when he finds it, He will not drive it back to the fold but lay it on His shoulders rejoicing with all the angels “over one sinner that repenteth.” HE WILL NOT REFUSE. And He further states that “...the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.” (John 14:10) And “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself.” (2 Cor 5:19) “Many are inquiring, "How am I to make the surrender of myself to God?" You desire to give yourself to Him, but you are weak in moral power, in slavery to doubt, and controlled by the habits of your life of sin. Your promises and resolutions are like ropes of sand. You cannot control your thoughts, your impulses, your affections. The knowledge of your broken promises and forfeited pledges weakens your confidence in your own sincerity, and causes you to feel that God cannot accept you; but you need not despair. What you need to understand is the true force of the will. This is the governing power in the nature of man, the power of decision, or of choice. Everything

depends on the right action of the will. The power of choice God has given to men; it is theirs to exercise. You cannot change your heart, you cannot of yourself give to God its affections; but you can choose to serve Him. You can give Him your will; He will then work in you to will and to do according to His good pleasure. Thus your whole nature will be brought under the control of the Spirit of Christ; your affections will be entered upon Him, your thoughts will be in harmony with Him. Desires for goodness and holiness are right as far as they go; but if you stop here, they will avail nothing. Many will be lost while hoping and desiring to be Christians. They do not come to the point of yielding the will to God. They do not now choose to be Christians. Through the right exercise of the will, an entire change may be made in your life. By yielding up your will to Christ, you ally yourself with the power that is above all principalities and powers. You will have strength from above to hold you steadfast, and thus through constant surrender to God you will be enabled to live the new life, even the life of faith.” {Steps to Christ pg 47 -48.}