Learning to Abide
Prove It! • Sermon • Submitted
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· 7 viewsWithout anyone relizing it, the offences of our sin can destroy others and lead them away from Christ. As Christians we must learn to abide in the love of God and so walk with him leading others in the direction of God's love and forgiveness.
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Transcript
Introduction
Over the last few weeks we have been discussing how we prove out our salvation to our friends and family and allowing them to see our walk with God and His power on our lives.
Chapter one was all about who God is in our lives.
Jesus is the joy in our lives that supersedes all the circumstances of life.
He is our constant in the midst of the storm.
The joy of the Lord is our strength. Happiness is a feeling that comes and goes.
God is light and in him is no darkness at all.
Jesus exposes our darkness to bring healing and forgiveness.
We are the light that exposes darkness to bring healing to the brokenhearted around us.
Now that we have established who God is in our lives we turn to Chapter 2 where we are going to focus on how to live this new life in Christ.
There are three places in this chapter in which is speaks of abiding In Christ. If we the first one is in verse 6
6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
So what does it mean to abide in Christ. That is what we will try and define in a very practical way this morning.
Abiding is different than than knowing about someone it is a state of being with someone.
There are three major aspects to your Christian life that will cause you to abide in Christ. So let’s take a minute and explore each one.
Salvation is proved by your freedom from sin. (vs. 2:1-2)
Salvation is proved by your freedom from sin. (vs. 2:1-2)
“Sin is a willful offence toward God or people that results emotional, spiritual, or physical harm.”
Sin hurts people. No one is an island unto themselves. Your sin is guaranteed to cause pain to someone else.
1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
The righteousness and suffering of Jesus removes our penalty of sin and secures our eternal state.
The righteousness and suffering of Jesus removes our penalty of sin and secures our eternal state.
Rightiousness is secured by the advocacy of Christ on our behalf.
Penalty for all sin was paid by Christ stepping into our place.
A Child of God should walk in the righteousness of Christ and not the sin of the world.
A Child of God should walk in the righteousness of Christ and not the sin of the world.
1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
Romans 6:
6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin.
Romans 6:5
11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.
11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Romans 6:
I am hoping that you will Think Differently:
I am hoping that you will Think Differently:
Sin is no longer the controlling factor of my life.
I have been set free from sin to abide in Christ.
Freedom from sin perfects God’s love in you. (vs. 2:3-5a)
Freedom from sin perfects God’s love in you. (vs. 2:3-5a)
3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:
1 John 2:
The greatest commandment is love.
The greatest commandment is love.
37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
“Love is the unconditional acceptance and sacrifice for others more than yourself.”
Loving God with all your heart is the root from which everything else grows.
Loving God is to guard your relationship with him.
To love God is to walk with God.
To love God is to draw near to God.
39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
Matt 22:
Loving your neighbor as yourself.
If you don’t love yourself in Christ how can you ever love others like yourself.
Love puts the needs of others first even if it cost you something.
Love puts the needs of others first even if it cost you something.
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Love = sacrifice.
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Matthew 22:
Matt 22:
Love = sacrifice.
I am hoping you will make some decisions.
I am hoping you will make some decisions.
We must choose to love first no matter what the circumstances.
Let love be the driving force behind our thoughts and actions.
Perfection of your love reveals your abiding in Christ. (vs. 2:5b-6)
Perfection of your love reveals your abiding in Christ. (vs. 2:5b-6)
5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
1 John 2:
“Abiding in Christ is to walk with him in his love for the World.”
7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
Abiding in Christ starts with you receiving his love for you.
Abiding in Christ starts with you receiving his love for you.
9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.
The love of Christ has saved us, adopted us, renewed us, and empowered us.
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If you don’t love yourself in Christ how can you ever love others like yourself.
Keeping the commandments of God is simple when you abide in his love.
Keeping the commandments of God is simple when you abide in his love.
10 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.
I hope that you will form some new habits:
I hope that you will form some new habits:
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
James 4:
Cleanse your hands of sin as you draw near to God. The decision is yours.
Live in sin.
or Abide in Christ.
Let the words of Christ abide in my heart so that the love of Christ abides in my Actions.
Renounce my sin knowing that I hurt myself and others in the process.