Abide in Me

Intro to Translations

Paraphrase - The Message, The Living Bible

Dynamic/Functional Equivalence - NLT, NIV

Formal Equivalence - ESV, NASB

None are necessarily better than the next, but they each have their own usefulness. For example, a formal equivalence is best utilized for word study and a deeper understanding of the literal meaning of Scripture. A dynamic/functional equivalence is more for smooth reading and introducing someone to studying the Bible. It’s better English syntax than the formal. The paraphrase is good to see someone else’s point of view on howw they understood the passage. For example, the Living Bible is a paraphrase of the Bible from English to English by Kenneth Taylor. His intention was to provide an easy to understand Bible for those who couldn’t grasp the wording of the KJV.

The Message is translated from the original languages. However, it is very similar to a paraphrase in that the original wording is lost, but the meaning is still conveyed.

Read from the Message

The command to “abide in Him” requires a twofold response. First, it is a call for holiness. Secondly, it is a call for commitment. Pg 592

A Call for Holiness

Abide in Him. We discussed this a little in the past few weeks. When we abide in the Lord, we are making camp in the Lord. We are setting up our tent and staying a while. We are right there ready to soak it all in.

So abiding in him is a very important task for us. We must be focused on him otherwise we may stray. God calls us to be holy constantly throughout scripture.

Hebrews 12:14 ESV

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

Holiness is required to be in communion with the Lord. Our goal here is to glorify God and make disciples. How can we accomplish that without living a holy life?

I understand that we are tempted and allow the impurities of the world around us. But we must be strong and overcome the temptations through Jesus.

In fact, Paul tells us that in Jesus we can avoid these things!

Ephesians 4:20–24 ESV

But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Holiness is not just making the right decision some of the time. Holiness is being in a constant state of righteousness. Holiness is being set apart for a greater purpose. A couple months ago I compared being holy to the one special item that only gets used on special occasions. Like the white shoes that a dad only wears for going out to a fancy dinner like Texas Roadhouse. Or the special Christmas plates that grandma only gets out for Christmas Eve dinner.

I think a great definition for holiness is to be set apart for a greater purpose.

So just as God is set apart for a greater purpose, we are to be set apart for that greater purpose. Think about what this means in our lives. If we join in and partake in that which the world wants us to, what will that do to our purpose and mission? It would likely compromise it, right?

We are called and commanded to abide in him!

A Call for Commitment

I love how The Message worded this: stay with Christ.

Stay with him. Through the good times and the bad. Live deeply in Christ.

John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

Jesus came to give us life and life more abundantly. He came to make a way for us to have an abundant life! Abundance means to go without need and worry! Jesus provides all that we need in him. All that we must do is stay with him. Live deeply in him.

We must be so far in his word that Satan has to wade through scripture to get to us!

Temptation shouldn’t easily find us. I feel as though we live too close to the edge in this day and age. Like if this stage were a life of holiness and righteousness, we like to hang out right here on the edge. It’d be so easy to get dragged down off of there. Where instead we should be so far away from the edge that it takes a ridiculous amount of work by satan and the world to find you!

We are to be commited so that we can point others to him. There are non-Christians watching you right now awaiting a slip. They’re seeing if your faith is the real deal. And if you can’t make it to the end, why should they jump on board?

Also, we must be commited to a life of holiness because he is coming soon!

Prepared for His Coming

We love to talk about the signs of the times. Right? Easily the hottest topic in most southern US churches for at least the last century. Is this the end? Are we living in the end times?

I think we are. I think every day since Jesus left has been the end times. And today, we are one day closer that we were yesterday.

This passage talks about the return of Christ and how holiness comes into play. Our focus on the end and the return of Jesus should be less focused on the signs and order of events and more on the holiness of the church.

When doing something whether sinful or not, ask yourself: “If Jesus came back right now, would I be proud or ashamed of my current actions?”

This is why John is calling for holiness and purity. We never know when the trumpet will sound and we’ll be called up. We never know when our savior is going to head this way. So we have to be ready! Being ready doesn’t mean to know about what the war in Israel means or what the red heifers mean. Being ready means to be living a holy life and be constantly sharing our faith with those around us.

With the war in Israel, and all the other craziness happening in the world, there is and will be lots of talk about the end times, most of which is misinterpreted and/or misapplied Scripture. Nonetheless, it will be easy to get caught up in the hype of it all. You can’t let the talk and fear mongering of the end times distract you from continuing in holiness and righteousness and from exercising our calling of making disciples.

Closing

John’s call to us is clear. Abide in Jesus, so that when he returns, we can be greeted with a “well done good and faithful servant” rather than a “depart from me, I never knew you.”

Following the service will be the nursery and kid’s church training. Please stay for that if you are interested in serving in either of those ministry roles.

In two weeks, we will be having communion following the service. The apostle Paul said to examine yourself and not partake unworthily. Be praying for God to cleanse any unrighteousness from your life and forgive those who have wronged you. We need to be a church pursuing his level of righteousness.