Abiding in Jesus' Teaching

II John 1:9 - "Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.

In context, John speaks of deceivers—Gnostics, in particular—that had gone too far and perverted the teachings of Jesus. These had severed themselves from Christ and were seeking to do the same with those with whom he was writing.

Today, our churches have many who would seek to disavow the teachings of Christ and secularize the Gospel to fit their lives. Usually, it comes in two forms – friendship with the world or slavery to the Law. The former embraces the world, saying God is filled with grace and we can live however we desire because Jesus will inevitably forgive us. The latter is built on the idea that we have to work our way to God by pleasing Him through our strict observance of the Law. Neither heresies are correct and have nothing to do with abiding in the teaching of God.

To abide in Jesus Christ, one must be in love with Him. We follow Him and obey, not because we have to, but because we want to. He offers us grace when we fail, but our main desire is not to sin. The teaching of Christ is a roadmap to romance with God, not a plan of enslavement to this world or to the Law.

Overcoming the World

Overcoming the WorldI John 5:4 - "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith."

This is a troubling statement John makes if this benchmark is applied to most of western Christendom. If we take an honest look at the church in America, are we overcoming the world or is the world overcoming us? We can make a lot of excuses why much of the church looks no different than the world. Or, we might say that we are waiting for Jesus Christ to appear to set all things right. Then, we say, the church will overcome the world! It is hogwash to believe that overcoming only happens upon Christ's return. If we are not overcoming now, then something is amiss.

Are we truly born again? We will all struggle against sin in one degree or another whether we are or not. However, if we are not steadily pushing back the enemy then we may want to relook at whether we have truly been born of God. Surrender, repentance, and the power of the Holy Spirit are all characteristics of a believer who is overcoming the world. When God finds spiritual soldiers with these credentials, the world will once again be turned upside down for Jesus.

Are We From God?

I John 4:4 - "You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world."

The new birth is the most remarkable event that any of us can experience. It is secured for every man, woman, and child. However, few will receive God's great gift because of the enemy's great deception. Satan overcomes the majority of the human race, not through overt evil, but through his lie that they are good enough for both heaven and earth. Therefore, they are in agreement only with their own soul and the evil one, rather than what the Lord says about them.

Only those who have accepted Jesus' great gift have the opportunity to live as a true overcomer. We may conquer alcoholism, drug addiction, anger, jealously, or any number of other sins of the flesh. However, until we accept God's gift of salvation we will never know victory that will last through eternity.

We are either from God or from the devil, beloved. If we have not surrendered to Jesus, then we have surrendered to the evil one. May we all look to Jesus today ... there is no lasting victory without Him.

True Freedom

Galatians 5:16 - "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh."

The reason why more Christians are not experiencing victorious living is determined on allegiance. Many have chosen to live under the tyranny of the flesh, disavowing God and all His goodness. Instead of walking with the Lord, they have run toward the things of this world and the lusts thereof. They have practiced evil instead of pursuing righteousness. That is the reason our country is in the deep, dark dilemma it faces. We have put our hand in the one who seeks to destroy us rather than the One who would give us life and liberty.

To really understand freedom, we must first be free individually. Then, collectively, we must cry out to God and against sin and say, "This far and no more!" Until we live for Christ in our homes, it will never happen in our country. May God captivate us and cause us to desire to walk with Him. For if we heed not His call, we will instead crawl with despair through life as our captors continue to enslave us.

Faith and Love

I John 3:23 - "This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us."

Philosophically, it is quite easy to say that we should love one another. However, to love as God commands takes every bit of heaven and nothing of this earth. True love from the Father is born in belief "in the name of His son Jesus Christ." Anything other than the love which has been poured out within our hearts by the Holy Spirit is merely sympathetic emotionalism (Romans 5:5). We need God to energize our love otherwise it will wane like any other feeling or emotion.

When we are really ready to live as Christ desires, then we will begin to understand that faith and love are inseparable. When faith springs up in us, then love for God and our fellow man will become the outworking of our belief. Beware of faith without love. While love without faith is purely unsustainable emotionalism, faith without love is dead religion.

To God be the Glory

John 5:44 - "How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God?"

This penetrating, rhetorical question by the Lord Jesus nonetheless requires an answer by us all. How is it possible to come to Jesus on anything but His terms? There is no bargaining with God. He will either have all the glory or none. Even as Cain offered a half-hearted sacrifice, we must be careful to constantly be giving our best to Him (Hebrews 11:4). This means laying down our lives daily.

The writer of Hebrews stated that all who come to God must first believe "He is" and then that He rewards faith (Hebrews 11:6). It is impossible to come to God, in faith, if we are trying to keep back some of His glory for ourselves. We must lay our ministries, our families, our businesses, our jobs, our education, and anything else before the Lord and say, "If I am not bringing glory to you in these areas, then change it today!" Everything must be surrendered to Him before we can truly enter in by faith to God’s reward of peace of joy.

Spirit and Truth Worship

John 4:24 - "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Jesus proclaimed the way to true worship of Himself and His Father to the Samaritan woman. It is impossible to worship God with merely good intentions or fleshly enthusiasm. This type of behavior is best left to sports arenas. However, when God is helping us through His Holy Spirit, there may indeed be a joyous shout or a dance to confirm His presence. However, what we must discern is the truthfulness of our actions. Both of the aforementioned displays of emotion are scriptural in the context of God's Spirit moving through us.

Those who do not know the Savior will often attempt to worship God in the "spirit" that has become most familiar. However, if they do not know Jesus, then they are merely following a familiar spirit that is not of God. Unless we are surrendered to the truth of the Gospel, we cannot worship the Lord in spirit and truth. It is an impossibility. May we all humbly look to God and His scriptures and worship Him according to His word for this is His delight.