Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
All men are sinners at birth through their connection and representation with Adam, and this earns physical and spiritual death as all men become actual sinners. Due to God’s perfect justice, the wages of sin must be paid. However, God offers eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord as a free gift. By being in Christ Jesus by faith, the wages of a person’s sin were placed on Jesus Christ. Jesus received God’s justice on the cross of Calvary, and He provides the righteousness needed to stand before God for all who are in Christ Jesus by this faith. Believers should look to Christ for both salvation and sanctification.
Focus on Christ #72
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
71) Believers have been set free from sin by grace (REPRINT)
Romans 6:22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.
Grace not only saves sinners from the penalty of sin, it saves them from the power of sin. Believers are given a new nature that leads to a new focus and sanctification through the fruit of the Spirit. Instead of being slaves to sin and death, believers are slaves of God, and the end result is eternal life. While believers still struggle with sin, they are no longer captive to its power thanks to God’s grace. The Law has no power to defeat the slavery of sin and that is why Paul makes it clear that sanctification comes from the fruit of the Holy Spirit through grace and not from the Law carved on tablets of stone.
Focus on Christ #71
Grace not only saves sinners from the penalty of sin, it saves them from the power of sin. Believers are given a new nature that leads to a new focus and sanctification through the fruit of the Spirit. Instead of being slaves to sin and death, believers are slaves of God, and the end result is eternal life. While believers still struggle with sin, they are no longer captive to its power thanks to God’s grace. The Law has no power to defeat the slavery of sin and that is why Paul makes it clear that sanctification comes from the fruit of the Holy Spirit through grace and not from the Law carved on tablets of stone.
Focus on Christ #71
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
135) Ashamed of the unregenerate life
Romans 6:21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.
Those who have been set free from being slaves of sin are ashamed of the fruit that was produced during the time they were in bondage to sin and death. The distinction Paul is making is not between two different classes of Christians and physical death. No, the end result of being in bondage to sin and death is the eternal spiritual death of hell.
Focus on Christ #135
Those who have been set free from being slaves of sin are ashamed of the fruit that was produced during the time they were in bondage to sin and death. The distinction Paul is making is not between two different classes of Christians and physical death. No, the end result of being in bondage to sin and death is the eternal spiritual death of hell.
Focus on Christ #135
Sunday, May 2, 2010
134) Free from righteousness
Romans 6:20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.
All people are slaves of sin before the power of God touches their hearts and gives them new birth through the gift of a new heart of flesh. This is the mercy and grace of God’s new covenant love. However, until this happens people are free in regard to righteousness. They have no inclination or reason to serve righteousness. They are basically conformed to the world by nature and even when they oppose the world it is from a motive of doing what is right in their own eyes rather than submitting to the righteousness of God. Those who are slaves to their fallen nature are free from the righteousness of God.
Focus on Christ #134
All people are slaves of sin before the power of God touches their hearts and gives them new birth through the gift of a new heart of flesh. This is the mercy and grace of God’s new covenant love. However, until this happens people are free in regard to righteousness. They have no inclination or reason to serve righteousness. They are basically conformed to the world by nature and even when they oppose the world it is from a motive of doing what is right in their own eyes rather than submitting to the righteousness of God. Those who are slaves to their fallen nature are free from the righteousness of God.
Focus on Christ #134
Sunday, April 25, 2010
133) All believers are sanctified
Romans 6:19 I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.
Paul is emphatically stating that unregenerate sinners are not unwilling slaves to sin, but are more than willing to present their members to the slavery of lawlessness. As such the unregenerate are dead in sin and have no freedom or ability to refrain from presenting their members to impurity and sin. But now Paul is exhorting those who have been set free from sin by the power of God to present their members as slaves to righteousness. Having been set free from the slavery of sin, believers have the freedom and power to pursue righteousness, and Paul completely rejects any possibility of a Christian having two masters. While Christians still sin, they no longer willingly, regularly, and without remorse present themselves to lawlessness and impurity. There are no carnal or nominal Christians! A person is either a regenerated disciple of Christ being led by the Spirit of God or he is not a Christian at all. The fruits of sanctification flow from the internal Spirit caused desires of the new covenant and not from the external legalistic performance based old covenant.
Focus on Christ #133
Paul is emphatically stating that unregenerate sinners are not unwilling slaves to sin, but are more than willing to present their members to the slavery of lawlessness. As such the unregenerate are dead in sin and have no freedom or ability to refrain from presenting their members to impurity and sin. But now Paul is exhorting those who have been set free from sin by the power of God to present their members as slaves to righteousness. Having been set free from the slavery of sin, believers have the freedom and power to pursue righteousness, and Paul completely rejects any possibility of a Christian having two masters. While Christians still sin, they no longer willingly, regularly, and without remorse present themselves to lawlessness and impurity. There are no carnal or nominal Christians! A person is either a regenerated disciple of Christ being led by the Spirit of God or he is not a Christian at all. The fruits of sanctification flow from the internal Spirit caused desires of the new covenant and not from the external legalistic performance based old covenant.
Focus on Christ #133
Thursday, April 22, 2010
132) Set free from sin
Romans 6:17-18 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, (18) and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
A Christian is a disciple who obeys the teachings of Christ. This is caused by God’s grace and not by unaided human decision. The end result of God intervening with his grace is sinners are set free from sin. This doesn’t make believers sinless, but it does break the power of sin and enables and causes them to respond to a new master. This passage leaves no room for someone to be a carnal Christian and still be a slave to sin. If someone is a slave to sin, he is not a believer and is still the wretched man that Paul goes on to describe in chapter 7. It is God who saves sinners from their body of death and frees them from their slavery to sin.
Focus on Christ #132
A Christian is a disciple who obeys the teachings of Christ. This is caused by God’s grace and not by unaided human decision. The end result of God intervening with his grace is sinners are set free from sin. This doesn’t make believers sinless, but it does break the power of sin and enables and causes them to respond to a new master. This passage leaves no room for someone to be a carnal Christian and still be a slave to sin. If someone is a slave to sin, he is not a believer and is still the wretched man that Paul goes on to describe in chapter 7. It is God who saves sinners from their body of death and frees them from their slavery to sin.
Focus on Christ #132
Monday, April 19, 2010
131) We are all slaves
Romans 6:16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?
The distinction Paul makes in this verse is between believers and non-believers. Paul makes the point that everyone is either a slave to sin or obedience that leads to righteousness. The obedience that leads to righteousness is a result of the new covenant promise of a new heart. Through regeneration by the Holy Spirit and the leading of the Holy Spirit, believers have a new nature that causes them to pursue righteousness through obedience to Christ. Please note the fruit of righteousness is a result of regeneration and not the cause of it.
Focus on Christ #131
The distinction Paul makes in this verse is between believers and non-believers. Paul makes the point that everyone is either a slave to sin or obedience that leads to righteousness. The obedience that leads to righteousness is a result of the new covenant promise of a new heart. Through regeneration by the Holy Spirit and the leading of the Holy Spirit, believers have a new nature that causes them to pursue righteousness through obedience to Christ. Please note the fruit of righteousness is a result of regeneration and not the cause of it.
Focus on Christ #131
Thursday, April 15, 2010
130) Grace is not a license to sin
Romans 6:15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!
Paul makes it crystal clear that being under grace instead of law DOES NOT mean believers are still slaves to sin and now have a license to sin. New Covenant grace provides believers with new desires and also the power to not sin. A person that professes Christ but is unrepentant and continues full steam ahead in all his sinful behavior has not been regenerated. He may claim to be a believer, but he is not under grace and is still under the wrath of God. Paul makes it clear that God’s grace does not make sin an acceptable option to willingly participate in without concern.
Focus on Christ #130
Paul makes it crystal clear that being under grace instead of law DOES NOT mean believers are still slaves to sin and now have a license to sin. New Covenant grace provides believers with new desires and also the power to not sin. A person that professes Christ but is unrepentant and continues full steam ahead in all his sinful behavior has not been regenerated. He may claim to be a believer, but he is not under grace and is still under the wrath of God. Paul makes it clear that God’s grace does not make sin an acceptable option to willingly participate in without concern.
Focus on Christ #130
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
REPRINT....70) Grace defeats the law of sin and death
Romans 6:14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
Grace came by Jesus Christ and it came with power. When Jesus came into the world full of grace and truth, more was provided than just satisfying the legal requirements for salvation. In addition to his atonement for sin, Jesus also provided believers with the indwelling Holy Spirit. Under the law sin had dominion and sinners were slaves to sin, but under grace the power of the Holy Spirit sets sinners free from the slavery of sin [Romans 8:2]. Not perfectly of course, but sin will no longer control the rudder and direction of all who are in Christ Jesus by faith. Grace earns the victory over the law through faith [1 John 5:4].
Focus on Christ #70
Grace came by Jesus Christ and it came with power. When Jesus came into the world full of grace and truth, more was provided than just satisfying the legal requirements for salvation. In addition to his atonement for sin, Jesus also provided believers with the indwelling Holy Spirit. Under the law sin had dominion and sinners were slaves to sin, but under grace the power of the Holy Spirit sets sinners free from the slavery of sin [Romans 8:2]. Not perfectly of course, but sin will no longer control the rudder and direction of all who are in Christ Jesus by faith. Grace earns the victory over the law through faith [1 John 5:4].
Focus on Christ #70
Sunday, April 4, 2010
129) Present your members to God
Romans 6:12-13 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. (13) Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.
While the born again believer is no longer a wretched man captive to sin, he still retains an ability to sin. The pre-conversion old man is no longer in control of a believer’s heart and actions, but he still has influence. Just as lobbyists work to influence congress, the old man is always there urging believers to participate in sin. However, God has brought believers from death to life and Paul is making it clear that believers are to present themselves to God as instruments of righteousness rather than give in to sinful passions. Believers are not perfect and sometimes stumble, but they follow the lead of the Holy Spirit in a positive direction of discipleship and sanctification. Paul thoroughly explains this in Romans 8:2-14 where he makes distinctions between believers and unbelievers. Anyone who continually follows his sinful passions and walks according to the flesh has not been regenerated. He may claim to be a saved carnal Christian, but he is deluded and bound for hell unless he repents and turns to Christ. Those who proclaim and encourage such false doctrine are very much like the serpent that deceived Eve by saying, “Did God actually say?” Christ did not die on the cross of Calvary so redeemed believers could live unchanged sinful lives and through the indwelling Holy Spirit that does not happen.
Focus on Christ #129
While the born again believer is no longer a wretched man captive to sin, he still retains an ability to sin. The pre-conversion old man is no longer in control of a believer’s heart and actions, but he still has influence. Just as lobbyists work to influence congress, the old man is always there urging believers to participate in sin. However, God has brought believers from death to life and Paul is making it clear that believers are to present themselves to God as instruments of righteousness rather than give in to sinful passions. Believers are not perfect and sometimes stumble, but they follow the lead of the Holy Spirit in a positive direction of discipleship and sanctification. Paul thoroughly explains this in Romans 8:2-14 where he makes distinctions between believers and unbelievers. Anyone who continually follows his sinful passions and walks according to the flesh has not been regenerated. He may claim to be a saved carnal Christian, but he is deluded and bound for hell unless he repents and turns to Christ. Those who proclaim and encourage such false doctrine are very much like the serpent that deceived Eve by saying, “Did God actually say?” Christ did not die on the cross of Calvary so redeemed believers could live unchanged sinful lives and through the indwelling Holy Spirit that does not happen.
Focus on Christ #129
Friday, April 2, 2010
128) Christians are alive to God in Christ Jesus
Romans 6:11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Paul reminds Christians they must consider themselves dead to sin. This means they are not captive to sin as they were before God regenerated and gave them a heart of flesh to replace their heart of stone. In Romans 7, Paul relates how he was a slave to sin before his conversion when he was attempting to achieve his righteousness through law keeping. While the Romans 7 wretched man is a slave to sin and does not have the ability to do what is right, the redeemed regenerated Christian has the ability because he is alive to God. He is in Christ Jesus and has been delivered from his body of death. Although Christians still battle sin, they are not wretched men who are enslaved by sin with no ability to do right. Praise God that the law of the Spirit of life has set us free from the law of sin and death [Rom. 8:2].
Focus on Christ #128
Paul reminds Christians they must consider themselves dead to sin. This means they are not captive to sin as they were before God regenerated and gave them a heart of flesh to replace their heart of stone. In Romans 7, Paul relates how he was a slave to sin before his conversion when he was attempting to achieve his righteousness through law keeping. While the Romans 7 wretched man is a slave to sin and does not have the ability to do what is right, the redeemed regenerated Christian has the ability because he is alive to God. He is in Christ Jesus and has been delivered from his body of death. Although Christians still battle sin, they are not wretched men who are enslaved by sin with no ability to do right. Praise God that the law of the Spirit of life has set us free from the law of sin and death [Rom. 8:2].
Focus on Christ #128
Saturday, March 27, 2010
127) Death has no dominion
Romans 6:9-10 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. (10) For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.
Jesus Christ destroyed the dominion of death through his resurrection and he will never die again. Sin and death had dominion over the human race under the curse of the law. Christ perfectly fulfilled the law and yet suffered the penalty that the law imposed for not fulfilling it. Therefore, all that are baptized into the death Christ Jesus through faith have had their sin debt paid in full by Christ, and are counted as righteous because of Christ’s perfect obedience to the law. Thus, the dominion of death was destroyed by Christ. This is the amazing grace that leads Paul to conclude that believers are not under law but under grace. Through this grace the wretched man that is captive to the law of sin and death [Romans 7:23] is set free from the captivity and slavery of sin through regeneration and the New Covenant promise of a new heart.
Focus on Christ #127
Jesus Christ destroyed the dominion of death through his resurrection and he will never die again. Sin and death had dominion over the human race under the curse of the law. Christ perfectly fulfilled the law and yet suffered the penalty that the law imposed for not fulfilling it. Therefore, all that are baptized into the death Christ Jesus through faith have had their sin debt paid in full by Christ, and are counted as righteous because of Christ’s perfect obedience to the law. Thus, the dominion of death was destroyed by Christ. This is the amazing grace that leads Paul to conclude that believers are not under law but under grace. Through this grace the wretched man that is captive to the law of sin and death [Romans 7:23] is set free from the captivity and slavery of sin through regeneration and the New Covenant promise of a new heart.
Focus on Christ #127
Monday, March 22, 2010
126) Death with Christ
Romans 6:8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.
Those that God redeems and regenerates by crucifying the old self will also live in a manner consistent with his new self. Believers will follow the lead of the indwelling Spirit and walk in a new direction. The old self [wretched man] was powerless to keep from sinning. The new man still sins, but lives a life that has been empowered to follow Christ and be conformed to his image [Romans 8:29]. The power of sin has been broken in all who are in Christ, and through the Holy Spirit the power has been given to not sin and live with Christ.
Focus on Christ #126
Those that God redeems and regenerates by crucifying the old self will also live in a manner consistent with his new self. Believers will follow the lead of the indwelling Spirit and walk in a new direction. The old self [wretched man] was powerless to keep from sinning. The new man still sins, but lives a life that has been empowered to follow Christ and be conformed to his image [Romans 8:29]. The power of sin has been broken in all who are in Christ, and through the Holy Spirit the power has been given to not sin and live with Christ.
Focus on Christ #126
Thursday, March 18, 2010
125) God sets the prisoners free
Romans 6:7 For one who has died has been set free from sin.
When believers are baptized into Christ by the power of God, they have been set free from the penalty and power of sin. This is NOT speaking of death or the physical act of water baptism, but is speaking of the supernatural act of the new covenant promise of a regenerated heart. It is nothing less than a spiritual heart transplant. The new God given spiritual heart is free from the power of sin. The new creation in Christ is no longer captive to the law of sin and death. While he still sins, he is no longer the wretched man that is powerless to do what is right. The victory that overcomes the world has been achieved through faith in the Son of God [1 John 5:4].
Focus on Christ #125
When believers are baptized into Christ by the power of God, they have been set free from the penalty and power of sin. This is NOT speaking of death or the physical act of water baptism, but is speaking of the supernatural act of the new covenant promise of a regenerated heart. It is nothing less than a spiritual heart transplant. The new God given spiritual heart is free from the power of sin. The new creation in Christ is no longer captive to the law of sin and death. While he still sins, he is no longer the wretched man that is powerless to do what is right. The victory that overcomes the world has been achieved through faith in the Son of God [1 John 5:4].
Focus on Christ #125
Monday, March 15, 2010
124) United with Christ
Romans 6:5-6 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. (6) We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
Sin was dealt with on the cross as believers who were children of Adam and in bondage to sin are raised in union with Christ. Christ dealt with the penalty of sin on the cross. When believers are baptized into the death of Jesus Christ, Christ also deals with the power of sin as the old self is crucified with Christ. The body of sin that was previously enslaved and ruled by sin is brought to nothing by the power of God. Those who are in Christ through faith are no longer enslaved to sin, but have become slaves to righteousness. Paul described his personal enslavement to sin before conversion in Rom. 7:13-25. In Romans 8:2 he described how the Spirit set him free from the law of sin and death. This freedom occurred at the moment he was baptized into Christ’s death and resurrected into newness of life.
Focus on Christ #124
Sin was dealt with on the cross as believers who were children of Adam and in bondage to sin are raised in union with Christ. Christ dealt with the penalty of sin on the cross. When believers are baptized into the death of Jesus Christ, Christ also deals with the power of sin as the old self is crucified with Christ. The body of sin that was previously enslaved and ruled by sin is brought to nothing by the power of God. Those who are in Christ through faith are no longer enslaved to sin, but have become slaves to righteousness. Paul described his personal enslavement to sin before conversion in Rom. 7:13-25. In Romans 8:2 he described how the Spirit set him free from the law of sin and death. This freedom occurred at the moment he was baptized into Christ’s death and resurrected into newness of life.
Focus on Christ #124
Friday, March 12, 2010
123) Newness of life
Romans 6:3-4 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? (4) We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Those who are in Christ have been baptized through saving faith into his death. This is not merely a baptism done by men with water, but is a baptism of regeneration performed by God that is immediately followed by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of believers. Just as Christ died for sin, believers die to sin when the Holy Spirit makes a new creation out of hearts of stone that were once captive and slaves to sin. Through the power of God in this work of the Holy Spirit, believers are enabled to walk in newness of life. God gives a new nature to believers that cause this transformation as the old has passed away and the new has come. Amazingly some things they once liked suddenly become unappealing, and things that once were unappealing become things desired. While the old man strives to regain control, those who are in Christ have been set free from the power of sin.
Focus on Christ #123
Those who are in Christ have been baptized through saving faith into his death. This is not merely a baptism done by men with water, but is a baptism of regeneration performed by God that is immediately followed by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of believers. Just as Christ died for sin, believers die to sin when the Holy Spirit makes a new creation out of hearts of stone that were once captive and slaves to sin. Through the power of God in this work of the Holy Spirit, believers are enabled to walk in newness of life. God gives a new nature to believers that cause this transformation as the old has passed away and the new has come. Amazingly some things they once liked suddenly become unappealing, and things that once were unappealing become things desired. While the old man strives to regain control, those who are in Christ have been set free from the power of sin.
Focus on Christ #123
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
122) Dead to sin
Romans 6:1-2 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? (2) By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
After thoroughly explaining justification by faith alone in Jesus Christ alone in the previous chapters, Paul asks the obvious question about sin. Paul answers his own rhetorical objection by stating that believers have died to sin and can no longer live in it. Why? What has changed and what does it mean to die to sin? This change comes through the power of God in regeneration and the gift of the indwelling Spirit. Believers are new creations in Christ with new desires. The power of sin has been broken in believers by the power of irresistible grace and the wretched man [Romans 7:24] has been delivered from his body of death. Sin is not completely eradicated, but believers are no longer captives to sin.
Focus on Christ #122
After thoroughly explaining justification by faith alone in Jesus Christ alone in the previous chapters, Paul asks the obvious question about sin. Paul answers his own rhetorical objection by stating that believers have died to sin and can no longer live in it. Why? What has changed and what does it mean to die to sin? This change comes through the power of God in regeneration and the gift of the indwelling Spirit. Believers are new creations in Christ with new desires. The power of sin has been broken in believers by the power of irresistible grace and the wretched man [Romans 7:24] has been delivered from his body of death. Sin is not completely eradicated, but believers are no longer captives to sin.
Focus on Christ #122
Monday, March 8, 2010
121) The fruitless branches are burned
John 15:6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
If anyone does not abide in Jesus, he is not in Christ and is not saved. Such a person bears no fruit and is taken away just like a branch that does not bear fruit. Many claim to be fruit bearing branches, but Jesus said you will recognize them by their fruits. Many falsely claim Christ, but only those who are truly in Christ will bear fruit. On that day, Jesus will tell those who falsely claim to be disciples “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.”
Focus on Christ #121
If anyone does not abide in Jesus, he is not in Christ and is not saved. Such a person bears no fruit and is taken away just like a branch that does not bear fruit. Many claim to be fruit bearing branches, but Jesus said you will recognize them by their fruits. Many falsely claim Christ, but only those who are truly in Christ will bear fruit. On that day, Jesus will tell those who falsely claim to be disciples “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.”
Focus on Christ #121
Friday, March 5, 2010
120) All Christian fruit comes from Jesus Christ
John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
It is impossible to produce any fruit apart from Christ. Grace flows directly from Christ to believers as surely as nourishment from the vine flows directly to the fruit of the vine. Jesus reminds all disciples of all ages in this verse that there is no “I” in the fruit produced by disciples. Grace is the source of all fruit produced by believers. This union with Christ inspires and causes all the fruit produced by his disciples. Believers are created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared in advance for them to do [Eph. 2:10]. Believers are created in Christ Jesus! If God creates believers, then how can any fruit production be credited to the free will of man in the slightest way? If human decision apart from Christ is needed in producing fruit then there is reason for boasting in this fruit. Not only is there boasting, but the success of the kingdom of God on earth would be dependent on human decision.
Focus on Christ #120
It is impossible to produce any fruit apart from Christ. Grace flows directly from Christ to believers as surely as nourishment from the vine flows directly to the fruit of the vine. Jesus reminds all disciples of all ages in this verse that there is no “I” in the fruit produced by disciples. Grace is the source of all fruit produced by believers. This union with Christ inspires and causes all the fruit produced by his disciples. Believers are created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared in advance for them to do [Eph. 2:10]. Believers are created in Christ Jesus! If God creates believers, then how can any fruit production be credited to the free will of man in the slightest way? If human decision apart from Christ is needed in producing fruit then there is reason for boasting in this fruit. Not only is there boasting, but the success of the kingdom of God on earth would be dependent on human decision.
Focus on Christ #120
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
119) If anyone is in Christ he abides in Christ
John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
Without abiding in Christ, there is no fruit. Jesus told this truth to his disciples and it is still valid today. If a person is in Christ, he abides in Christ and if he abides in Christ he bears fruit. Conversely, if there is no fruit in a person’s life that person does not abide in Christ. Such a person is not in Christ and has not been saved. It is folly to think that a person can be in Christ through the power of regeneration and the indwelling Holy Spirit and not abide in Christ. There will be times of apathy and neglect with very little fruit in the lives of believers, but never a time of total failure to abide in Christ. This verse is an exhortation by Jesus for his disciples to continually abide in him, and is not meant to infer that a true disciple may never abide in him.
Focus on Christ #119
Without abiding in Christ, there is no fruit. Jesus told this truth to his disciples and it is still valid today. If a person is in Christ, he abides in Christ and if he abides in Christ he bears fruit. Conversely, if there is no fruit in a person’s life that person does not abide in Christ. Such a person is not in Christ and has not been saved. It is folly to think that a person can be in Christ through the power of regeneration and the indwelling Holy Spirit and not abide in Christ. There will be times of apathy and neglect with very little fruit in the lives of believers, but never a time of total failure to abide in Christ. This verse is an exhortation by Jesus for his disciples to continually abide in him, and is not meant to infer that a true disciple may never abide in him.
Focus on Christ #119
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