SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 10/3/2024 9:29 PM
My Worship Time Focus: “The Test
Exemplified
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: 1 John 2:6
Message of the
verses: “the
one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He
walked.”
The truth is that the only person who can pass the
test of obedience and then realize full assurance is the one who…abides in Him—and
the reason is because Jesus Christ is the perfect role model for obeying the
Father: “4 "Abide in Me, and I in
you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so
neither can you unless you abide in Me. 5 “I am the vine, you are the
branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from
Me you can do nothing” (John 15:4-5). Jesus
is the one who is commanding this, what is seen in the verses above. The truth is that believers draw spiritual
life from the Lord Jesus Christ, even as branches do from a vine. What it means “to abide in Christ,” is to remain
in Him—not a temporary, superficial attachment, but a permanent, deep connection,
and I can suggest some verse to look at this truth: Luke 9:23; John 6:53-65; Phil. 1:6;
2:11-13). MacArthur writes “Such
authentic abiding in the Savior characterizes those who ‘continue in faith
firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the
gospel that [they] have heard’ (Col. 1:23; cf. 2:7; Eph. 3:17), because they
are truly regenerate—new creatures who posses irrevocable eternal life.”
John is making it perfectly clear
that the ones who claim to abide in Christ must walk in the same manner as He
walked.” MacArthur explains that “Walk
is a metaphor for daily conduct by believers (1:7; John 8:12; 12:35; Rom 6:4;
8:4; 1 Cor. 7:17; 2 Cor. 5:7; Gal 5:16; Eph. 2:10; 4:1; 5:2, 8; Col. 1:10; 2:6;
1 Thes. 2:12; 4:1; 2 John 6; cf. Mark 7:5).
The Lord Himself perfectly exemplified this principle during His earthly
ministry. In every way He obeyed His
Father’s will.”
We will now
look at a series of verses to show this truth beginning with John 6:38:
"For I have come down from
heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.”
"And He who sent Me is with
Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to
Him’” (John 8:29).
17 "For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay
down My life so that I may take it again. 18 “No one has taken it away from Me,
but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I
have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father’”
(John 10:17-18).
“but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I
do exactly as the Father commanded Me. Get up, let us go from here” (John
14:31).
Obviously, believers’ obedience will not be perfect,
as Jesus’ was, I think that all true believers understand this truth; however
Jesus established the perfect pattern they are to follow. Now if anyone claims to know Him and abide in
Him, it will thus be very evident in his or her life. He or she will walk in the light—in the realm
of truth and holiness—and guard (obey) His commandments because of his
passionate love for the truth, and also the Lord of truth. Therein lies the key to real assurance of
salvation.
Now
I ask all believers who are reading my Spiritual Diaries to remember to keep
the children of Israel in their prayers as their enemies, headed by Satan are
trying to eliminate them off the face of the earth. However Scripture is very clear on who will
win this battle in the end and it won’t be Israel’s enemies, nor Satan, but God
through Jesus Christ will reign forever.
10/3/2024 9:55 PM
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