Automatic Transcript Generated:
Wendy:
So Paul is asking in first John two six, what is meant by he that sayeth he abideeth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked.
Tina:
That’s a great question, Paul.
Jay:
That is yes.
Tina:
Love that. Honestly, when I read this, I want to tell you the answer before I tell you my spiel. How’s that? First John two. I honestly say that the full answer is in first John three. That’s going to tell you the bulk of your answer. But let’s start really quick. Let’s look at the verse in its entirety. First John, chapter two, verse six, and it reads just to get some context for everybody listening. It says he who says he abides in Him being God or Christ also to walk just as he walked.
Tina:
So we want to see what the Bible is saying here is if you’re saying that you abide in Christ, that you need to walk the same way that he walked. And Jesus mentioned this in the book of John, chapter 15, and it says this throughout verses one through five. But I’ll just read versus four and five. So John 15 versus four and five. And I love this because this is still John talking. This is just a different piece of John’s contribution to the Bible. So again, in John 15, verses four and five, Jesus is speaking and he says, Abide in me, and I in you, as the branch cannot bear fruit in itself unless it abides in the vine.
Tina:
Neither can you, unless you abide in me. So we need to abide in Christ. And Jesus goes on to say in verse five, I am the vine, and you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in Him bears much fruit, for without me you can do nothing. So we need to be connected to Jesus, just as it says in the first verse, Jesus is the vine. We are the branches, and just in the same way if we’re not connected to Jesus, if His life is not in us and we’re not communicating with Him through prayer, through studying His word, we’re not connecting with Him.
Tina:
There’s a problem. And so we’re not going to have that spiritual life that eternal life that God wants us to have. And one, basically the litmus test that God has for us in order for us to know, hey, are we abiding in Him? Is something very true, which it says in first John, chapter two, if you go back to this original passage, just a few verses up in verse three, actually, just the first right before this, or just a few verses up in one John, chapter two, verse three, it says, now, by this we know that we know Him Jesus if we keep His Commandments.
Tina:
And so it’s not that keeping God’s commandment saves us? Absolutely not. We can’t do anything to save ourselves other than believe in Christ. However, it is important that as we’ve allowed God to come in our hearts. And as we’ve accepted His righteousness for our sin, that we allow the life of Christ to change us. And we make a conscious choice to obey Him. And it’s not that we do it out of fear or we’re afraid of being punished, but rather just because we love God, and we want to do what pleases Him.
Tina:
And you see this really clear as you look at the next chapter in one John three. And I’ll just read a few of these verses, starting in verse one, in one John three, verse one, we’ll just read a bit of the passage. It says, Behold, what matter of love the Father has bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God or the children of God. Therefore, the world doesn’t know us because it didn’t know Him beloved. Now are we the sons of God?
Tina:
And it does not yet appear what we shall be. But we know that when he shall appear being Jesus, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as he is in verse three and four. This is really the pinnacle of what I want to get at. And it says, and every man that has this hope in him purifies himself even as he Jesus is pure. So just as Jesus was pure, Jesus was without sin, we want to live that same sinless life. And if you look at the next verse in verse four, it says, Whosoever commits sin, transgresses the law for sin is the transgression of the law.
Tina:
And so if we sin, what does that mean? It means we’re transgressing God’s law. We’re not obeying His Commandments. And that tells you that there’s something wrong with my walk with God because God is telling me these Commandments are there for you to obey as a Covenant between you and I. And they’re to be written in our hearts, not on tables of stone, but rather in our hearts as part of the new Covenant. And so when we choose to obey God’s word, we say, you know God, I want to be faithful to you.
Tina:
I’m going to choose to be faithful to my spouse. I’m going to put you first in my life. I’m not going to dishonor my parents. I’m going to not steal. I’m going to be an honest person. These things honor God. And when the people see, hey, we live a different type of life that gives glory to God. But when we say, hey, I’m a Christian, but yeah, I can cheat on my taxes or cheat on my spouse or do whatever I feel like. That’s not the behavior of somebody who claims to know God, because God doesn’t do that.
Tina:
And as you go down in one John, chapter three and the last verse 24, it says, And he that keeps His Commandments dwells in him. So again, this is a sign that we are dwelling in. Christ is if we keep His Commandments, he that keeps His Commandments dwells in Him and he and Him. So Jesus in us and us and Jesus. And hereby we know that he abides in us by the Spirit which he has given us. So us obeying God’s Commandments are the sign that we are abiding in Him and that we’re not sinning against God, and we are obeying His Commandments because like I said in one John three, sin is a transgression of God’s law.
Tina:
So if we say we’re abiding God, but we’re choosing to continue in sin, then we’re really not abiding Him. We’re breaking that connection just like a branch is being broken off the tree. But praise God, even if we sin, we can be reconciled again. One John One Nine says, if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from unrighteousness. But our work is just to abide in Christ and allow Christ to work in us, so that when His Spirit is in us, we’re going to have the power to overcome sin, and we’re going to start to lose that desire and that taste for sin as we continue to surrender our life to Christ.
Tina:
Jay, Wendy, any other thoughts on this one?
Jay:
Just one. I saw a meme today. Someone posted where there was a Christmas light that just sitting loose by itself, and it’s dark. It’s not doing anything. And then you see the strand of Christmas lights. All the lights that are plugged into the strand are lit and looking beautiful. And the little capture says or points to the strand. The chord it says, this is Christ, and it really is. It sums it up right. If you’re not in Christ, you’re going to be a dull light. You’re going to be in darkness.
Jay:
You’re not going to have life and love and all that.
Tina:
Exactly. And it’s always so touchy when we talk about keeping God’s Commandments, because I’m never saying like, you earn your Salvation by keeping God’s Commandments. Absolutely not. We’re saved by Grace through faith, not of ourselves. It’s a gift of God. But overcoming sin is also a gift of God that is also part of Grace. Like it says in Titus chapter two, it says that Grace gives us the power to overcome sin in this world. And so we definitely need to abide in Christ so they can dwell on us and give us that power.
Tina:
Because trust me, I know from experience when I’m not giving God that time and prayer in this word, it’s very easy to go back to your selfish ways, and we definitely need Jesus every moment of every day.
Jay:
Amen. Yeah. So true. By the way, if you’re just joining us, just tuning in, please say Hello. Let us know we’re here. We are live, and we love to know who’s joining us. And if you have a question, drop it. And we’ll love to try to answer it on the fly. Try to stomp Tina and I.
Tina:
Please do. I’m happily stumped.
Wendy:
I got to say – you guys are below my mind. How well you’re able to answer questions on the fly. That’s what I’ve always admired about both of you.
Jay:
We’ve read some very good books.
Tina:
Yeah, well, one really good one.
Wendy:
You also just have a really incredible way of remembering things and articulating things. And I think it’s just such a gift you both have. And it’s a blessing that you’re able to share.
Jay:
Praise God.
Tina:
Yeah, that’s all Jesus. And if I say anything good, trust me, I am not good with words. So if I say anything good, that’s Jesus, that’s not me.
Wendy:
It’s your heart. That is good.
Jay:
It’s called Bing listening to the Bible like on long two hour drive. Recommend that to everybody.
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