Abiding Fruit
The Need for Obedience
John 8:31
Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him,
"If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed."
NKJV
The concept of sanctification is one of becoming more and more holy and Christlike as we walk the Christian walk, in the Spirit. Jesus anticipated this by telling His Apostles:
John 15:9-11
9 As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 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. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
From our perspective, the goal is to live an abundant life as a Christian. We often confuse the measures of worldly success with God's view of success and, thus, fail to live the abundant life. Jesus Himself tells us this abundant life is ours to claim.
John 10:10
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
What we often miss in this statement is that the way to abundant life is by abiding in Christ. In these verses, Jesus tells us the way to abide in Christ is to be obedient to His commandments. Obedience is the key to abiding.
But, lest we become bogged down in legalistic ritual, remember how the true New Testament commands are stated. There is no set of specific rules. Rather, when asked about the commandments, Jesus tells us there are but two. They are based upon an attitude of desiring to be holy and wanting to display love.
Matthew 22:35-39
35 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 36 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" 37 Jesus said to him, " 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 "This is the first and great commandment. 39 "And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'
So, in obedience, we should
Follow Jesus
John 10:27
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.Love each other
John 13:34-35
34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."Praise God and bring glory to God in all that we do.
1 Corinthians 10:31-33
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
But, remember, the entire lesson this chapter is that this is not a blind obedience. When we abide in Christ, He will lead us where ever we are to go.
