ABIDING IN CHRIST SERIES: PART 2

 

ABIDING IN CHRIST: THE RESULTS

In the first and previous part of this series, I explained the concept, the fundamentals and simply what abiding in Christ entails. I briefly explained the need for Christians to trust in Him and how to abide in Christ.

    Today, we'll be looking at the results of abiding in Christ. By that I mean, the benefits of abiding in Christ.

I presume you didn't know there are benefits of abiding in Christ, but there are!

Wonderful, wonderful benefits.

If you know God, you know He doesn't tell us to do something without it  being beneficial to us, either by edifying our spiritual man or strengthening our walk with Him(physical and spiritual benefits altogether).

      However, Jesus doesn't tell us to remain in Him just because it's pleasing to Him but also helps to edify our spirit man and encourages our journey with and in Him.

How?

That's what we'll be discussing today, but first if you aren't subscribed to this blog yet, go to the homepage and pls do that🙂We post regular faith-based messages, devotionals, bible study tips and sermons specials, Q&A's on Saturdays and Christian-living tips, you wouldn't want to miss and update.

Let's get into it:

BENEFIT ONE: SPIRITUAL FAITHFULNESS

John 15:5

[5]I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

What exactly is spiritual faithfulness?

I can't answer this without defining faithfulness.  According to Wikipedia, Faithfulness is the concept of unfailingly remaining loyal to someone or something, and putting that loyalty into consistent practice regardless of extenuating circumstances. Spiritual faithfulness(in a biblical context) can be said to imply being unfailingly committed, loyal, and obedient to God. 

When a Christian is spiritually faithful, God's will is always his/her desire for his/her life. As God's will for a Christian's life is always the best and if that Christian submits fully into God's hands and doing, together, they will bear fruit (v.5). It may be fruit of security, good works, saved souls, or whatever the Lord says it is.

     Without God one can do nothing

      With God, we can do all things

Always abiding in Christ not only offers you a possibility of being the closest to God's heart but also the reality of both God and you being like two spiritually  connected minds to make His will possible for your life, resulting in greater exploits for His kingdom and of course your inevitable salvation.

BENEFIT TWO: ANSWERED PRAYERS

John 15:7

[7]If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

 

I can't possibly talk about the results of abiding in Christ and not mention the most sought after desire of not just Christians but savior-seeking unbelievers.......answered prayers.

   Everyone on this earth undoubtedly would want a chance to get to ask God for a wish or just for all of one's general prayers to be answered but unfortunately, not all of these are possible, well for those who don't believe in God. As there are some reasons for unanswered prayers, there are also reasons for frequently answered prayers, the secret of those people who were/are so close to God and one of these is abiding in CHRIST.

If you fully have faith in Christ, no matter the circumstance you find yourself in or the season you may be passing through, God will not turn His back on you. His ears are fully open and He hears all put prayers, mostly of those who remain and trust in Him at their lowest points. If you ask and have complete trust in God to answer you, He will.

       Remember, don't just be asking Him when you feel helpless or during terrible times........ even when the times seem to be unbearable or unreal and even abnormally difficult, still abide.

 Pray to Him and He will answer you. If you are constantly faithful to Him, He says whatever you ask Him(according to His will), He will grant it into you.

BENEFIT THREE: PEACE IN THE STORM

John 16:33

[33]These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. 

It is in only God man can experience true peace. In Him, there is peace. All these things that happen in the world and the extent to which this earth gets more sinful and harder for saints to Stan in Christ, God still offers us a place where we can be calm and acknowledge His existence. The dwelling place for all who trust in Him, the only source of overflowing, neverending pure peace........in Christ.

      

   Why do you think anytime you do yoga, meditation classes, take sedatives or calming drugs and any relief-giving activity/substance, you end up feeling empty afterwards? 

At the moment, there is a false illusion of peace and relief the devil concocts in your mins, making you think...... oh! all is ok now.......but shortly after, it's all gone! 

Why? 

Because nothing and no one in this world gives peace freely else from our Lord. A peace which is irrevocable and calming. That peace is only found in, with, through and in God, the Most High. 

     Those who have the Holy Spirit are always seeming to be peaceful and stress-free. This is because they know and have Christ in their lives.

   When you trust God unconditionally and abide in His every word, instructions and His love, that peace comes almost effortlessly and you'll gradually start acknowledging the presence of God in your life.

Let no man decieve you that you can recieve peace from partaking in occultic, fetish and “universal" rituals and sessions....those are all devilish and the devil is not a spirit of peace but of death, pride and fear. Only the Lord God is the one who gives peace freely. His love is unconditional and those who trust in him are glad in His love daily, dwelling in His peace.

BENEFIT FOUR: NEW LIFE

2 Corinthians 5:17

[17]Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

When one becomes born-again, he automatically and literally becomes “born-again". 

Ok, what do I mean?

When you denounce the devil, the world and all things related to it, you're stripped from your flesh (the dominating part of your being), then you confess your sins and ask God to wash you clean of your sins and forgive you(you are then stripped of tainted garment your spirit man had on), the asking God to come into your life, for the Holy Spirit's anointing and accepting Christ as your Lord and Savior (you are then reclothed by a pure white garment signifying your redemptive truth/state).

This entire process I like to refer to as the redemption/born-again process.

This is actually what happens when you become born-again, indicating that you're actually a new man now. A new man with a new life.

Your old ways have been washed awyd by Jesus' blood, forgotten and forgiven by God's mercy and your new life and journey with God has begun. Now that you're in Christ, you have a new way of living your life and new aspect of God and this world. All these goes to show you how being in Christ results to having a new and refined life. A life which is only desires to serve and please God.

If you are just recently accepted Christ as your Lord, and don't know what's next, this post will be helpful.

BENEFIT FIVE: ROBE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

Philippians 3:9

[9]And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

.....Which is through the faith of Christ......

Abiding in Christ. No one is righteous before God except Christ. He is our role model and our savior. It's because of His victory in conquering sin and self that He us now the only one deserving to be our mediator, our advocate. By faith in Him, we are justified and experience righteousness in God. By faith......in Christ alone.

   Not by the rules and regulations of your school or the laws in the constitution but by faith alone, we see true righteousness of God and can also be of that righteousness through and in Christ. God is the one who will view our ‘righteousness' by faith in Christ. 

Our petty good works doesn't play a huge role in making God deem us as “holy than thou" but it is only by faith in Christ that we can see the righteousness of God. He also comes to knowledge of your reverence to Him.

Nonetheless, we should always work hard to keep our garments clean and spotless before the Lamb. Endeavouring to be holy already makes us to be deemed as faithful servants to God.

The bottom line: When one is faithful and ever-trusting in Christ, benefits follow and these are all things to help to edify you for your journey with Him. Things may be hard and rough,but still abide in Christ because He sees, hears and knows all that we go through and ask of Him. If you are a true, servant of Christ constantly thanks God for everything, trusts in Him and never questions Him, you will spiritually grow more faithful, your prayers will be answered, you will always have peace in your heart, you will be reborn everyday in Christ and the Lord will gift you with the robe of righteousness. I sincerely hope and pray the Lord lays the Spirit of faithfulness and obedience in your heart in Jesus name. AMEN.