The essense of a life in Christ

In the Gospel according to John, Jesus tells His disciples;

This is the essence of what it is to live a life in Christ - to abide in Him. So, what does it mean to abide in Christ?

Jesus uses the illustration of the grape vine to make clear to His disciples what He means, and in this illustration the word abide is used eleven times. Since this word was used so frequently, it would be wise to ensure we fully understand its meaning - especially in this context.

In general, the word abide means to continue on in a permanent state. The Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible gives us a fuller understanding of the Greek word that is translated as "abide"...

Wow. Now we have an even better understanding of what Christ was telling His disciples and now there is no room for doubt as to what He meant when He said, "Abide in me and I in you." In fact, if you are at all like me, you are probably realizing some conviction from God's Spirit of Holiness at this point. For if you are at all like me, you know that you have not been "abiding" in Christ. Instead you have been "abiding" in a life-long pursuit of what makes you feel good - not what pleases God.

All of the "Greek Text" - that is, the New Testament - makes clear that a life in Christ is a life of commitment to God via our faith in Christ. To live a life of faith in Christ means that every aspect of our life is evidence that we believe and that we cannot help but live a life of loving obedience to God - because of who He is and what He has sacrificed to prove His love for us.

When we "abide" in Christ, our very life bears witness to the fact that God's Spirit of Holiness lives in us. God desires us to be with Him for ALL eternity, and our life in Christ is the greatest testimony of the greatest love that can ever be. A love that will never disappoint, never falter, and never end.

If you long to experience true love, then what are you waiting for? Have you found it in anything here on earth? No, and you never will. You know that as well as I do. There is nothing and no one on earth that can truly satisfy the longing in our heart for all eternity. Things wear-out, people change, and our heart gets broken into a million pieces more times than we care to recall. Without the love of God in your heart, I can guarantee that you will go to your grave lonely, miserable, and unfulfilled. You will die full of regret, sorrow, and disappointment. What kind of a life is that?