Thus far in our series, we have noticed that one who truly belongs to Christ is one who has obeyed the Gospel, is a faithful member of the Lord’s church, and lives a transformed life.
We now want to close out our series by emphasizing that spiritual growth and faithfully “walking in the light” unto death is essential to belong to Christ now and on into eternity.
The Importance of Remaining Faithful
The Bible clearly teaches that it is possible to obtain salvation but then lose it as a result of a choice to go back to a life of sin. Christians are warned about the possibility of falling away and being lost (Heb. 3:12; 6:4-6).
Peter states it would be better to have not known the way of righteousness than to know it and then fall away (2 Pet. 2:20-22). He wrote those words to those who had “escaped the pollutions of the world” but were “again entangled.”
We read of individuals who fell away such as Judas (Matt. 10:1-4; Luke 22:3; Mark 14:21), Demas (Col. 4:14; Philemon 24; 2 Tim. 4:10), King Saul (1 Sam. 10:6, 9; 15:23), and Simon the Sorcerer who was instructed to repent and pray so he would not be lost (Acts 8:12-24).
These examples teach us the importance of staying faithful to the very end.
Abiding in Christ
I now invite you to the Book of 1 John. The apostle whom Jesus loved repeatedly emphasizes the importance of abiding in Jesus. The word “abide,” which means “remain,” is found 21x in 16 verses in the Book of 1 John alone.
Written to Christians (1 John 1:4), John encourages them to stay faithful by “walking in the light” (1 John 1:7-9), walking as He (Jesus) walked (1 John 2:6), abstaining from sin (1 John 3:6), continually confessing that Jesus is the Son of God by the way that we live (1 John 4:15), and ultimately having confidence that if we abide in Christ, we may know that we have eternal life (1 John 5:13).
We want to focus in on the context found in the second chapter in which John points to the importance of abiding in Christ:
“My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.”
Our Aim.
First, notice our aim.
It should be our aim to avoid sin at all costs. We know that sin leads to death (Rom. 6:23) and if sin goes unchecked, we are in danger of spending an eternity apart from God.
John notes that while our aim is to avoid sin, we, as imperfect human beings, will mess up.
Our Advocate.
Second, notice our Advocate.
Jesus Christ effectively serves as a lawyer pleading our case before the Father that we belong to Him.
He Himself paid the price for our sins and makes it possible for us to be forgiven.
Our Assurance.
Third, notice our assurance.
John says, “by this we KNOW that we KNOW Him: IF we keep His commandments.” Notice that he connects abiding in Jesus Christ with continuing to keep His commandments.
We must stay faithful and keep on obeying Jesus if we want the assurance that we belong to Him and that we will live with Him in Heaven!
Our Actions.
Fourth and finally, notice our actions.
One who says, “I know Him,” but does not keep His commandments is a liar! What I say and what I do need to match. James says to be “doers of the Word not hearers only” (Jas. 1:22). Jesus asked, “Why do you call me, “Lord, Lord’ and not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46).
Do our actions prove that we truly abide in Christ? We must display an active faith and be completely submissive to the Lord in all we say and do.
John writes, “whoever keeps His word” and connects that with “by this we know that we are in Him.”
We can know that we belong to Jesus and that He is our Lord if we are willing to obey Him, faithfully serve Him as a member of His church, live a transformed life, and abide in Him until we draw our last breath.
I close this article and this series with the words of the Lord Jesus:
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “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. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:1-11).
Drew Suttles is a minister for the Quitman church of Christ in Quitman, Georgia, and one of my best friends in this world. They live-stream all their Bible classes and sermons on their YouTube channel.
Drew also hosts the “Weathering the Storm” podcast on the Scattered Abroad Network. Drew talks about facing life’s challenges as a child of God. His podcast will be a blessing to your life.
