Abiding in Christ - Day 11 - The Crucified One

I have been crucified with Christ: it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. ~Galatians 2:20

We have been united together in the likeness of His death.  ~Romans 6:5

Andrew Murray explains in Chapter 11 how the Christian is crucified with Christ, planted together in the likeness of His death, as Romans 6:5 is rendered in the KJV.

Before you can understand the spiritual concepts, you must understand a bit about grafting.  Some plants, if grown from seed, end up with fruit that is unacceptable.  Apple trees purchased from a nursery, for example, have branches from a good tree that have been grafted in to the root stock, or stem of the plant.

Why Graft Plants?There are a number of reasons to graft. The most frequent is to reproduce a plant that has favorable characteristics. When grown from seeds most plants are not 'true', that is they do not produce an exact duplicate of the parent plant. This is because they are the result of pollination and will have differences in their genetic code. Plant an orange or apple seed and it might grow into a tree with tasty fruit. It also might grow into a tree with fruit whose taste is unacceptable. With grafting you can plant the same seed, and then, at the right time, cut the top off and attach a piece of a desirable orange or apple that grows into an exact copy of the desirable parent, complete with tasty fruit. 

God desires to reproduce His people with favourable characteristics - conformed to the image of His Son.  He wants them to grow into an exact copy of Him, bearing good spiritual fruit, for His glory.

Grafting is the joining together of two plant parts (scion and rootstock) in a manner that causes these parts to unite and become one plant.

No graft is possible without wounding.There are different types of grafts to be used in different situations, but each entails cutting the root stock and the scion and binding them together so they are immovable.

In the death of the cross, Christ was wounded, and in His open wounds a place was prepared where we might be grafted in. The scion is torn from its natural tree and cut to fit into the graft. In the same way, we are torn from our sinful nature and cut to fit into Jesus.

There is a fellowship between Christ's sufferings and your sufferings.

Abide in the wounds of Jesus; there is the place of union, life and growth. There you will see how His heart was opened to receive you; His flesh was torn so that the way might be opened for your being made one with Him, and having access to all the blessings flowing from His divine nature. ~p.69, Abiding in Christ by Andrew Murray

Regard the cross as an atonement to God - Jesus paid the price - and regard it as victory over the devil - Jesus conquered Satan!

Oh, Lord Jesus, I yield myself to You in undivided surrender. I know You plan my life and order my steps and design my sufferings so that You are most glorified, and I am most conformed to You, My Saviour. Lord, keep me grafted into You. Let me share in Your sufferings so I know You more. You were despised and rejected, disregarded by Your own brothers, misunderstood, unappreciated, persecuted, crucified. You deserved none of that. I know nothing of the depth of suffering that You experienced - and yet I deserve it all, and so much more.

Christ came and took my place, so I must put myself in His place, and abide there, at the cross.

How?

• entire surrender of all self-will 
• complete denial of every desire and pleasure of the flesh 
• perfect separation from the world's thinking and acting 
• losing one's life for Christ's sake; hating one's life for Christ's sake 
• giving up of self for the sake of others 

Lord, help me. I want Your will, Your way, Your heart, Your wisdom. I desire to be sanctified, holy, set apart for Your purposes, living coram deo, before the face of God, in full fellowship and intimacy. I want to die to self and to live as Your servant, Your slave - only an instrument in the Hand of God, to minister grace to others. Thank You for the cross. By Your wounds I am healed. By Your death I have life. Your love is vast beyond all measure.

Abiding in Christ - Day 10 - He is Your Redemption!

Because of Him you are in Christ Jesus, Who became for us wisdom from God - and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. ~1 Corinthians 1:30

Think about REDEMPTION.  What does it mean to you, Christian?  It is the complete and final deliverance from all consequences of sin.  Amazing. Grace.

Jesus Christ has three offices, Prophet, Priest and King.

As the Prophet, He is our wisdom, revealing to Who God is, how He loves, & the great salvation He gives.
As the Priest, He is our righteousness, restoring us to right relationship with God, securing His favour.
As the King, He is our sanctification, forming and guiding us into obedience to the Father's holy will.

We long for the grand consummation, when we will have complete deliverance from sin and all its effects, regaining all that was lost in the Fall of Man.  Can you imagine?  What would it have been like to walk with God in the garden, before sin entered the picture and marred everything?  Don't you long for that day, when you are free from sin?

As our communion with Jesus becomes more and more intense, we feel the power of an endless life working in us, a foretaste of glory.  Oh, to sit at the feet of Jesus!  Oh, to feel His power in me!

As I type this, a sister in Christ lays on her death-bed.  Gitzen Girl is full of grace, and has chosen joy in spite of living in pain for the past 14 years.  As her world got smaller, her heart for God and others expanded, and she has lived a full and joyful life.  She soon will be in the presence of Jesus, her Prophet, her Priest, her King!  She'll be free, delivered from her body and from all of the sin that so easily entangles.  She'll be experiencing grace first-hand.

Blessings From Abiding in Christ as our Redemption

• NO FEAR OF DEATH - it is simply the servant that removes the last rags of carnal clothing so that we can be clothed in glory - a new body with a glorified spirit awaits!
• WILLINGNESS TO SURRENDER the sinful members of our body to Him to be put to death, so we can give them to Him to reign over them.

Matter & Spirit

God created angels as spirits with no material bodies.  He created the world as matter without spirit.  Man was made in His image, to be both matter and spirit in perfect harmony.  This was to be a type of the most perfect union between God and His creation.  By sin, however, the material became supreme over the spiritual.  Men worried about their bodies, what they would wear, what they would eat, where they would lay their head.  That became more important than what was most important - their hearts before God.

God's plan was still in place.  The Word became Flesh and dwelt among us.  And we beheld His glory.

When we abide in Christ as our Redemption, 

• we triumph over the fear of death - He is our Redeemer, and we have nothing to fear.
• we see Christ as Lord of our body - We present our body to Him as a living sacrifice.
• we look on nature as part of the kingdom of Christ.  We know that it groans, awaiting His return.
• we anticipate life in the heavenly places.  How glorious it will be to be finally free and fully restored!

Abide in Christ as your wisdom, following Him with humility.

Abide in Christ as your righteousness, dwelling clothed in Him before the Father.

Abide in Christ as your sanctification, experiencing His power to make you holy.

Abide in Christ as your redemption, living here as an heir of future glory.

LIVE WORTHY OF THAT HIGH AND HEAVENLY CALLING

BY ABIDING IN HIM.

To Christ Crucified

I am not moved to love you, God,
By hope for heav'n's reward;
Nor am I moved by fear of hell
To turn from sin, my Lord.
What moves me, God, is seeing you,
Despised and nailed up high
Upon that cross with gaping wounds,
Rejected, left to die.
Your love so moves me, Lord, that if
There were no heav'n or hell,
I still would fear your holy name
And truly love you well.
And so I need no promises
To sway my love for you;
For even if I had no hope,
I'd love you as I do.
               —Translated by Hugh Seay, Lent, 1978
           

Abiding in Christ - Day 8 - He is Your Sanctification

"Because of Him, you are in Christ Jesus, Who became for us wisdom from God - and righteousness and SANCTIFICATION and redemption.  ~1 Corinthians 1:30

In the Old Testament, believers are referred to as "righteous", while in the New Testament, they are called saints- holy ones, sanctified in Christ Jesus.  It is only because we are holy that we can approach a Holy God, who said "Be ye holy, for I am holy." (See Matt.5:48; I Pet.1:16)

In personal experience, righteousness comes BEFORE holiness.  A new Christian is overjoyed with the deliverance he has experienced.  He knows it was God's gracious work that justified him, and he figures it is now his work to live a sanctified life out of gratitude for all Christ has done for him.

Reality soon hits, and the new believer finds himself struggling hopelessly to live a holy life.  He prays.  He cries out to God.  He tries harder, and makes lists of things to do, and things not to do.  He only has to learn to partake in the holiness of God by faith.

Consider the example of a fruit tree that needs to have branches grafted in so that it will bear fruit:

"Make a tree good and its fruit will be good." ~Matthew 12:33

Carnal Christian

I can graft a tree so that only a single branch bears good fruit, while many of the natural branches remain, and bear their old fruit--a type of believer in whom a small part of the life is sanctified, but in whom, from ignorance or other reasons, the carnal life still in many respects has full dominion. ~ Andrew Murray, Abiding in Christ

Most new believers struggle with the old nature like this type of tree.

Weak Christian

I can graft a tree so that every branch is cut off, and the whole tree becomes renewed to bear good fruit; and yet, unless I watch over the tendency of the stems to give sprouts, they may again rise and grow strong, and, robbing the new graft of the strength it needs, make it weak. Such are Christians who, when apparently powerfully converted, forsake all to follow Christ, and yet after a time, through unwatchfulness, allow old habits to regain their power, and whose Christian life and fruit are but feeble.

This is the reality for many believers who become weary.Consecrated Christian

But if I want a tree wholly made good, I take it when young, and, cutting the stem clean off on the ground, I graft it just where it emerges from the soil. I watch over every bud which the old nature could possibly put forth, until the flow of sap from the old roots into the new stem is so complete, that the old life has, as it were, been entirely conquered and covered by the new. Here I have a tree entirely renewed--emblem of the Christian who has learnt in entire consecration to surrender everything for Christ, and in a whole-hearted faith wholly to abide in Him.

This is a picture of the Christian who has learned to Abide in Christ continually, by faith.

It is true for all of us that the old nature is ever-present within, continually seeking to rise up and lead you to evil.  But do not fear, because Your Heavenly Father, the Vinedresser, has grafted the life of Christ onto your life.  That holy life is STRONGER than your evil life.  

You WILL bear fruit to the glory of the Father!

This holy nature within you is especially made for living a holy life and performing holy duties.  It will grow stronger as you abide and allow the life-giving sap from the Source to flow through you.

• Believe that God delights in keeping you holy and vibrant in Him
• Surrender daily all of your self-confidence
• Confess daily the utter corruption of your old nature
• Remember that IN HIM you can be holy
• Lay yourself and your time, talents and energy on the altar for His use

"Do not look upon a life of holiness as a strain and an effort, but as the natural outgrowth of the life of Christ within you."

What do I know of holy?  Nothing.

But Christ is in me, the hope of glory.  And He is holy.  As I surrender to His will, He sanctifies me, and in Him, I am holy.

Abiding in Christ - Day 8 - He is Your Righteousness

 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption ~1 Corinthians 1:30

Sin disturbed all of our relationships and put us out of harmony - with ourselves, with others, and with God.  We needed peace - the quietness and assurance that comes when things are right with God.  Peace can only come with righteousness, when everything is in God's order and everything is in harmony with His will.

Jesus came to restore peace by restoring righteousness.

"A king will reign in righteousness. . . the fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever." ~Isaiah 32:1, 17
We are made the righteousness of God in Him. ~ 2 Corinthians 5:21

When the sinner is first led to trust in Christ for salvation, he looks more to Christ's work than to His person. He realizes that Christ paid the price for his sin, taking on the punishment he deserved, and that He atoned for him, removing the curse.

Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God. ~Romans 5:1

The new Christian seeks to wear this robe of righteousness by renewing his faith and by being thankful for this glorious gift!  But as he grows in grace, he learns about the true union of the believer with Christ, Who made Himself One with His people.

The work of Christ does not become less precious; yet the person of Christ becomes more and more precious. We have to remember that we do not love God for the goodies He gives.  It's not just about the robe of righteousness that I was given and gladly wear.  It's all about Jesus.  The Living Christ is my righteousness.


Jesus is my Righteous Redeemer

In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’ ~Jeremiah 23:6

“Only in the LORD, it shall be said of me, are righteousness and strength; ~Isaiah 45:24 ESV

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— ~Philippians 3:8-9 ESV

"Believer , abide in Christ as your righteousness.  You still have within you a nature altogether corrupt, which is always trying to rise up and discourage your sense of acceptance and access to unbroken fellowship with the Father.  Nothing can enable you to dwell and walk in the light of God, without even the shadow of a cloud between, but habitual abiding in Christ as your righteousness.  To this you are called.  Seek to walk worthy of that calling. Yield yourself to the Holy Spirit. . . realize that the King's own robe has been put on you, and in it you need not fear entering His presence.  It is the token that you are the person the King delights to honour. ~p.55 Abiding in Christ by Andrew Murray

You are an object of delight in God's sight.  Like Mordecai who was paraded through the streets, wearing the King's robe and his signet ring, we wear the robe of Righteousness.  Not only that, but we are IN CHRIST, so we have HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Overheard in an Orchard

I am organizing our Great Room - the room where we study, do crafts, create and learn.  I found a collection of old cards that I inherited from various aunts.  This card is particularly meaningful to me today.

Said the Robin to the Sparrow,
"I should really like to know
Why these anxious human beings
Rush about and worry so."


Said the Sparrow to the Robin,
"Friend, I think that it must be
That they have no Heavenly Father
Such as cares for you and me."


~Elizabeth Cheney

"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? (Matthew 6:26)."


Elisabeth Elliot is worth reading on this subject:  His Eye is on the Sparrow.

Abiding Brings Victory

Abiding Brings Victory

Abiding in Christ - Day 7 - He is Your Wisdom

God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” ~1 Corinthians 1:28-30


in whom (Jesus)  are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ~Colossians 2:3

Do you seek to be wise?  Then abide in Jesus!

"Let it be your first aim to abide in Him in focused, fervent devotion of heart; when the heart and the life are right, ROOTED IN CHRIST, knowledge will come in the measure we need.  Without such abiding in Christ, knowledge does not really profit, but can actually be hurtful." ~ p. 47 Abiding in Christ by Andrew Murray

Ordinary Pastor wrote about the most dangerous person in the church. Knowledge puffs up, but wisdom comes from Jesus.  Don't let your soul be satisfied with forms and images of the truth.  Jesus is the Truth - seek Him.  Abide in Him.

"Man seeks the knowledge first and often never gets beyond it.  God gives us Christ, and in him are hidden the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." ~p. 47

Don't seek knowledge for knowledge's sake. Instead, seek to know Jesus, for in Him are hidden the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  In Him, you can live wisely.

"The life you have in Christ is a thing of infinite sacredness, far too high and too holy for you to naturally know how to act it out.  He alone can guide you."

Life is not easy, and often we encounter things that puzzle, worry, or frighten.  We get angry at injustice and frustrated by things that seemingly never change.  It's in those instances that we truly need to abide in Christ.

I know what I am talking about.  I've often been tempted to worry, or to rely on self to "fix" a problem.

Just yesterday, three of our children went to piano lessons.  I knew there was a chiropractor appointment scheduled after their lessons.  I wasn't worried as the clock ticked on. But as it ticked on, and on, and on... one hour, two hours... I began to imagine all sorts of terrible things had happened.  Did the car break down on the side of the road?  Did a combine come off the field and crash into them?  Was I going to see a police car pull into our lane to tell us our kids were in the hospital, or worse?

Vain imaginings.  Ridiculous thoughts.

Oh, I prayed and kept on acknowledging how faithless my fears were - but there it was... I was not abiding in Christ.  I was relying on self.

Live Life Confidently

We must live life confidently, knowing all is perfectly clear to Him.  Trust Him!  He knows!  Not for a moment did Jesus lose track of my children yesterday.  Not for a moment were they out of His care.

Study God's Word with Anticipation

Jesus abides in you, as you abide in Him.  He is light, the wisdom of God.  The words He speaks are spirit and life to those who live in Him.  As you study His word, trust that He will guide you and open your eyes to what He is teaching you.  Read the Word humbly, patiently waiting on God to reveal Himself to you.

Do Your Work Joyfully

In your work, rejoice that God is guiding you, even where you do not see the way.  Jesus is deeply interested in your daily life, its ways and its work.

"Trust His sympathy, believe His love, and wait for His guidance - it will be given.  Abiding in Him, the mind will be calm and free from distraction, judgment will be clear as the light of heaven shines on earthly things, and your prayer for wisdom, like Solomon's, will be fulfilled "exceedingly abundantly above all that (you) ask or think." (Eph. 3:20)" ~ p. 49

• Wait on Jesus.
• Withdraw from needless distraction.
• Wisdom is in Him, so abide in Him.             

  Christ is our Wisdom.

Abiding in Christ - Day 6 - God Has Done It!

God Has United You to Himself.



For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:26-31


“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.
(John 15:1 ESV)

Every single day, I must remind myself of my position in Christ.  By faith I say, "I am in Christ", and this is the work of God Himself, and the Holy Spirit teaches it to me.

It is the believer's desire to become one with Christ, but hear this: it is God's desire that we should be one with Christ, too!  He is the One who silently worked in every believer a spiritual awakening.  God does His work by moving us to do our work, which is distinct and tangible.  We are converted, we grow in faith, we learn to pray, we are obedient.  But God is the One who does a wondrous, secret work in us.

"So often when the believer tries to say, "I am in Christ Jesus," he looks more to  the work he has done than to that wondrous secret work of God, which united him to Christ.  This is to be expected at the beginning of the Christian course.  "I know that I have believed," is a valid testimony.  But it is important that the mind be led to see that at the back of our turning, believing, and accepting of Christ, God's almighty power was doing its work of inspiring our will, taking possession of us, and carrying out its own purpose of love in planting us into Christ Jesus.  As the believer understands the divine side of the work of salvation, he will learn to praise and to worship with new enthusiasm and to rejoice more than ever in his salvation.  At each step he reviews, the song will come, "This is the Lord's doing" - Divine Omnipotence working out what Eternal Love devised." ~p.44, Abiding in Christ by Andrew Murray.

OF GOD I AM IN CHRIST JESUS!

"And those He predestined, He also called."  ~ Romans 8:30

The calling in time is the manifestation of God's purpose in eternity!  

"The Lord has appeared to us in the past, saying 'I have loved you with an everlasting love, I have drawn you with loving-kindness.'" ~Jeremiah 31:3

CHRIST IS THE VINE.

THE BELIEVER IS THE BRANCH.

THE FATHER IS THE VINEDRESSER.

And every single branch the Vinedresser grafted into the Vine will never be plucked out of His hand.  (John 10:28)  What safety!  What security we have, in Christ!

The God Who chose me

                    and grafted me into Christ Jesus my Lord

                    has ensured that I will be worthy of His Son

                                       as I yield to His will

                                       and rest in His care

                                       and abide in Him constantly!

This deepens my sense of dependence.

                   and causes me to pray without ceasing

                                    and to praise my God continually

                                    for I am IN HIM because OF HIM.

What God has created is exquisitely suited for its purpose.

• the sun gives light and heat perfectly!
• the eye sees beautifully!
• the new man does good works - for if any man be in Christ Jesus, he is a new creation!

We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.  ~ Ephesians 2:10

Oh, believer, stop looking at your old nature so much!  Stop complaining about your weakness!  Stop focusing on your failures!

Your new nature is perfectly formed for its good purpose - to do good works!  Accept that, and fulfill your glorious destiny!

In your Christian walk, with all of its

• claims
• duties
• needs 
• desires          LET GOD BE EVERYTHING!

"See Jesus, as He speaks to you, "Abide in Me," pointing upward and saying, "My Father is the vinedresser.  Of Him you are in ME, and through Him you abide in Me, and to Him and to His glory shall be the fruit you bear." ~p. 44, Abiding in Christ by Andrew Murray

IT IS GOD'S WILL FOR ME TO ABIDE IN CHRIST.
IT IS BECAUSE OF GOD THAT I AM IN CHRIST.
IT IS TO HIS GLORY THAT I WILL BEAR FRUIT.

ALWAYS

In Him

With Him

Through Him

Every breath;

By Him

For Him

To Him

Life and Death.

by Linda Billson

Abiding in Christ - By Faith - Day 5

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him, and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.  ~ Colossians 2:6-7

Christian, how did you come to Christ?  Do you remember fear and trepidation as it dawned on you that God IS, and that He is pure and holy and completely righteous, and that He requires the same of you?


Do you remember feeling the corruption and guilt of your soul?  How could pardon and love be for a sinner like me?


Do you remember feeling the weakness of your resolve, and the ever-present death of your slowly dying body?  How could I get the power to surrender and trust?


Do you remember the inability to stand firm?  How could a sinner like me remain faithful?

Corruption and guilt, weakness and death, unfaithfulness and failure - these difficulties were like mountains looming over your soul.  How were they removed when you came to Jesus?  Simply by the Word of God.

"That Word compelled you to believe that despite guilt in the past, weakness in the present, and unfaithfulness in the future, the promise was sure."                                           ~ Andrew Murray; p36, Abiding in Christ

Think of it!


We come to Christ by faith.
We are united to Him by faith.
We are rooted and established in the faith.


Abiding in Jesus can only be BY FAITH.


Sadly, some Christians who profoundly believe that justification is by faith alone think that everything that follows depends on their diligence and faithfulness.


Not true.

The just shall live by faith! ~Romans 1:17

The old nature of the believer remains evil and sinful.  
It is only as he comes daily,
                                      empty and helpless
                                      to Jesus His Saviour,
               to receive HIS LIFE
                         and HIS STRENGTH
that he can bear fruit for God's glory!


Learn a lesson from when you first came to know Jesus.

• He called you
• He received you
• He pardoned you
• He loved you
• He saved you

He did this for you when you were an enemy and a stranger!  Now that you are His own, will He not do so much more for you?  Will He not keep His promises?

For if, while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His life.  ~Romans 5:10

Oh, Beautiful Saviour, You are my Vine.  You hold me fast by your strength and nourish me daily with Your food.  You cause me to grow in grace and wisdom, and You see that I bear fruit for Your glory.  Remind me each moment that I am a branch in You, my Vine.  Without You, I am nothing.  You keep me by Your power.  I am ever grateful to be Yours.

Amen.

The Daily Spurgeon: We need fellowship with Jesus

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