Seeking the highest good of being, which is love, is the Royal Law. “If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, You shall love your neighbor as yourself, you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors” (James 2:8-9 NKJV). Love is the medium that flows from God to us and should flow from us to God, as part of we, the “branch” (John 15:4), abiding in the “vine” (15:4) of Christ. This is “faith working through love” (Galatians 5:6). When we remain or “abide” (John 15:4) in the “vine” (15:5) of Christ, the Holy Spirit makes us to become like Christ and produces the fruit of new or renewed disciples for Christ. Remember, love causes us to remain or abide in Christ, and even then, “it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).
God practices what He expects us to copy. He seeks the highest good of being for its own sake, which is the very epitome of love. He chooses it, so it is appropriate to say, “God is love” (1John 4:8, 16). God seeks the highest good of His being, which is also the rightness of seeking His own glory, for He is worthy. God models the concept of love, and emotionally connects with us by giving us His Son after we rejected His Royal Law. We should have been seeking the highest good of God first and pursuing good for our neighbor equal to our own, which is the Golden Rule. We should have been pursuing God and our neighbor according to each their relative value — “seek[ing] first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33), and loving our neighbor as ourself (Mark 12:31). Sadly, we sinned, when we did not keep the Royal Law, and we desperately needed the Gospel of forgiveness and restoration. Christ alone does “all things well” (Mark 7:37); so, our only hope is to abide in Him that we, too, would do well. But, unless we finally learn to rest, remain, and “abide” (John 15:5) in Christ the Vine, we will “grow weary while doing good” (Galatians 6:9), faint, and cease doing well.
What is the secret of abiding in Christ?
First, NORMAL. Abiding in Christ is the normal or natural position of rest in our relationship with Christ. “Abide [Greek imperative, menō, remain] 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” (John 15:4). Abiding in Christ could be compared to learning to relax or not struggle, when experiencing a leg cramp.
Second, VOLITIONAL. Abiding in Christ is a choice or volition, which means we can choose to do or not do it; so, the better we understand how the Holy Spirit accomplishes His work in us, the more fully we can cooperate in allowing Him to complete His task. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29).
Third, NUTRITIONAL. Abiding in Christ is the key to the Holy Spirit transferring spiritual nutrition to ourselves and sharing with others in the Body of Christ. Consequently, spiritual death is the consequence of not abiding in Christ. “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” (John 15:6).
Fourth, REPROBATE. Though not abiding in Christ, reprobated, disapproved, being cast away, and burned may be intellectually shrugged off as an impossibility for those, who know they have come to Christ; for that very reason, Jesus gives us the warning, “He who endures to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 24:13; Mark 13:13). Reexamine the proof texts of how to know that you know Him in 1John, and you will find that knowledge only comes to those, who are abiding in obedience. “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” (1John 2:4-5).
Fifth, CHRISTLIKE. Abiding in Christ is the key to Christlike character. We take on the characteristics of the Vine of Christ, of which we are only one of the branches (John 15:2, 4, 5). Just as we are part of His Body, we can expect Him to rewire our body’s neuroplasticity (“ability of the brain to change in structure or function in response to experience”).
A kind of cross-education effect takes place in our physical body which allows for neurological and strength gains, when physically exercising one part of the body and realizing a beneficial result in the opposite side of the body. Even so, spiritually “if one member [of the Body of Christ] suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it” (1Corinthians 12:26).
Sixth, SELF-GOVERNING. If the Body of Christ cannot regulate itself, then it does not understand how to overcome the “sin which so easily ensnares us” (Hebrews 12:1). Confusing temptation with sin causes us to be defeated, even before engaging our enemy the devil. “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1Corinthians 10:13).
Self-governing is only walking in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:25), which is exactly what the Corinthians did, when Paul directed them to deal with sin in their church.
The problem of incest within the church was declared by Paul:
“1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife! 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore put away from yourselves the evil person” (1Corinthians 5:1, 4-5, 12-13).
The solution of repentance by that previously identified sinner was also joyfully noted by Paul:
“1 But I determined this within myself, that I would not come again to you in sorrow. 2 For if I make you sorrowful, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me? 3 And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy, having confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all. 4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you. 5 But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent—not to be too severe. 6 This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, 7 so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. 8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. 9 For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. 10 Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ [Divine Council], 11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices” (2Corinthians 2:1-11).
It may commonly be thought someone is proud, if they do not profess themself frequently declaring their ongoing failures. “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief” (1Timothy 1:15).
Or, was Paul simply acknowledging his Road to Damascus need of being saved, and not declaring a constant need of being forgiven for sins continually committed?
Otherwise, what are we to make of Paul’s statement, “Let us therefore, as many as be perfect [Greek, teleios, of full age, mature], be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you” (Philippians 3:15 KJV)?
Isn’t perfection the same understanding Christ preached in His Sermon on the Mount? “Be ye therefore perfect [Greek, teleios, of full age, mature], even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48 KJV).
Temptation is not sin, since even Christ was “tempted by the devil” (Matthew 4:1 NKJV).
The flesh is definitely fallen and a chief source of temptation, but fallen flesh does not necessarily mean we are sinful, since Christ “was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15), being God of very God, as well as at the same time, entirely man in the flesh. “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory” (1Timothy 3:16 NKJV).
Perfection is our completeness in Christ Jesus, and “he who does the will of God abides forever” (1John 2:17). “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely [Entire Sanctification]; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1Thessalonians 5:23).
Seventh, UNIFIED. Long has the Body of Christ desired unity. “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1Corinthians 1:10).
[A] Jesus prayed for Unity in the Body of Christ at the end of His ministry, while in the Garden of Gethsemane.
“11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me” (John 17:11, 21-23 NKJV).
[B] Antichrist also understands the need of unity or ecumenicity and the power of cooperation in worship among divided denominations, and ultimately among all religious traditions. But, the False Prophet, in cooperation with the Antichrist, will “15 cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast [Antichrist] to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads [Mark of the Beast], 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast [Antichrist], or the number of his name” (Revelation 13:15-17).
Notice how seemingly esoteric (understood by only a select few) discussions of Biblical Prophecy surface, when we attempt to align the trajectory of the Church to our ultimate destination of New Heavens and New Earth? Remember, Jesus taught His disciples Bible Prophecy, as if it is profitable and understandable. “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near” (Luke 21:28).
Or, have we descended to a level of understanding, where we cannot interpret, “Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation” (Hebrews 9:28)?
Heavenly Father, be merciful and graciously instruct us concerning Your Royal Law! Make all the pieces come together in our understanding that we may be one with You, as You are with Your Son. Lord Jesus, return quickly! In Your Name, we pray. Amen and amen.
We Need A Miracle 