Chapter 285—Abiding in Christ
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.
John 15:5
.
Many have an idea that they must do some part of the work alone.
They have trusted in Christ for the forgiveness of sin, but now they seek
by their own efforts to live aright. But every such effort must fail. Jesus
says, “Without me ye can do nothing.” Our growth in grace, our joy, our
usefulness—all depend upon our union with Christ. It is by communion with
Him, daily, hourly—by abiding in Him—that we grow in grace. He is not
only the author, but the finisher of our faith. It is Christ first and last and
always. He is to be with us, not only at the beginning and the end of our
course, but at every step of the way. David says, “I have set the Lord always
before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved” (
Psalm
16:8
).
Do you ask, “How am I to abide in Christ?”—In the same way as you
received Him at first. “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord,
so walk ye in him” (
Colossians 2:6
).... You gave yourself to God, to be
His wholly, to serve and obey Him, and you took Christ as your Saviour.
You could not yourself atone for your sins or change your heart, but having
given yourself to God, you believed that He for Christ’s sake did all this
for you. By faith you became Christ’s, and by faith you are to grow up in
Him—by giving and taking. You are to give all—your heart, your will, your
service—give yourself to Him to obey all His requirements; and you must
take all—Christ, the fullness of all blessing, to abide in your heart, to be your
strength, your righteousness, your everlasting helper—to give you power to
obey....
Your weakness is united to His strength, your ignorance to His wisdom,
your frailty to His enduring might. So you are not to look to yourself, not
to let the mind dwell upon self, but look to Christ. Let the mind dwell
upon His love, upon the beauty, the perfection, of His character. Christ in
His self-denial, Christ in His humiliation, Christ in His purity and holiness,
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