“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing -John 15:5
I love this verse because it explains our relationship and our dynamic with Jesus Christ. It emphasizes the kind of relationship we should be having with Jesus, which is an intimate one. It then shows us the benefits of being in an intimate relationship with Him. So if you've ever wondered how this relationship with Jesus is supposed to go, here is your answer.
What is ABIDING?
It is being steadfast, clinging to or holding on to Christ, dwelling in Him and settling.
It is having a firm, unwavering faith in Him.
At the forefront of abiding in Christ is submission to God himself and then to the church family we have been placed in.
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. - James 4:7
When we abide in Christ we have to understand that we are saying: "Lord, I want to dwell with you. I want to live in you." Jesus says “Abide in me and I in you”; Live in me and I will live in you...
When we decide that we are going to dwell in Him, we must also decide that we are going to submit to Him, and to His rulership over us and His commands. Submission to God sounds like; "God, not my will but your will be done in my life". When we say this, we are declaring that He has the authority to govern our lives and that we will allow Him to do just that.
What we often see in the body of Christ (the church), is a people who say that they are "in Him" but they live a life that denies that declaration. That means that we have people who are saved by Jesus, but they are not submitted to Him.
Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. - Romans 6:13
Submission to Christ requires a whole heart and bodily yielding. There are no certain parts you can decide to keep for yourself. When we die and are raised in Him through salvation, we belong to Him wholly, or at least were supposed to.
This is about you and Christ, your relationship with Him. There is another relationship we try to wiggle our way out of submitting to, the church.
Submitting to the church family
”not forsaking our meeting together [as believers for worship and instruction], as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more [faithfully] as you see the day [of Christ’s return] approaching.“ - Hebrews 10:25 AMP
Many Christians have no problems submitting to Jesus, but when they have to submit to other people (members of the body of Christ) it becomes an issue. We have decided to ignore the verse above and instead join online services from the comfort of our homes, negating the very clear instruction to not forsake gatherings as believers.
Some people have taken a permanent break from physical church gatherings since COVID-19 and are yet to return. Siting many excuses as to why they have not yet returned and failing to see the disobedience they are operating in.
"submitting to one another in the fear of God.” - Eph.5:21
If we are expected to submit to our brothers and sisters in Christ as well, by way of serving them. How do we do so when we refuse to attend services where we will be equipped by the word yes, but also be sharpened by our brethren as we gather?
Christ is calling people out of their comfort zones. Online church is convenient but when you are using it as a crutch to not fellowship with the saints, you are in direct disobedience to the word of God.
Submission to God requires us to yield to His word and His word is that we submit to each other, by attending church and building relationships with the people in the house of faith so that we may pray for each other and sharpen each other on the journey.
Be blessed
Ps Mish 🤎
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