Abiding in Christ

What does it mean to “abide in Christ”?  Abiding in Christ is discussed in John chapter 15.

To abide in Christ is, on the one hand, to have no known sin unjudged and unconfessed, no interest into which He is not brought, and no life which He cannot share.  On the other hand, the abiding one takes all burdens to Him, and draws all wisdom, life and strength from Him.  It is not unceasing consciousness of these things, and of Him, but that nothing is allowed in the life which separates from Him. 

To better understand “Abiding in Christ”, let’s look at “Fellowship with Christ” as discussed in 1 John chapter 1.

^“3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

⁴ And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.”

The conditions of fellowship

1.        To walk in the light

⁵ This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

⁶ If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

⁷ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

2.        The fact of indwelling sin admitted

⁸ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

3.        Sins confessed, forgiven and cleansed

⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

¹⁰ If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

What it is to “walk in the light” is explained in verses 8-10.  “All things . . . are made manifest in the light” (Ephesians 5:13).  The presence of God bring the consciousness of sin in the nature (v. 8), and sins in the life (v. 9, 10).  To walk in the light is to frankly confess both.  The blood of Christ is the divine provision.  In the Cross “sin” was condemned (Romans 8:3), and “sins” put away (Hebrews 9:26).  “In the light” means acknowledgement of these facts, and belief in Christ crucified as the remedy.