I have come to an area of much discourse and discussion dealing with what is meant by this phrase "in Christ." I will begin this study with John chapter 15 because it was John who was the closest to the Lord Jesus and was an aid to Paul during his crusades and missionary trips. So John know much of the revelation of the LORD Christ that Paul received from Him. Because they shared of the same Holy Spirit within themselves. This will be done by breaking up this chapter into three areas, the first is where Jesus reveals Himself as being a Vine where believers are likened to being branches engrafted into Him, the second where Jesus speaks of the disciples relation to each other, the third is where He shares how the disciples relate to the world. There are many warnings that we as receivers and abiders in Christ need to take to heart. There is a Hebrew word used throughout scripture translated as "LORD" this is "Adoni" which means, Master, Father, Vine, husband and husbandmen and the anointed one, which today we know as Christ the Greek meaning of the Hebrew term "Messiah."
Abiding in Messiah- Christ,
John 15:1-11, 12-17, 18-25, 26-27 "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser (husbandmen). Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit HE takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit HE prunes, that it may bear more fruit (this reveals the loving care of the Father for His sons and daughters). Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. (Therefore continue to) Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I (abide) in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples. As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Abide in My love. If you keep (this) My commandment, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full."
"This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but (for) I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father (now being) in My name, HE may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another."
"If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, for I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will also keep yours. For all these things they will do to you on account of My name, because they do not know Him who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates Me hates My Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both Me and My Father. For the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: 'They hated Me without a cause.'
"But when the Helper comes, Whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness about Me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning."
1John 2:3-6 "By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandment. Whoever says "I know Him" but does not keep His commandment (this being the law of truth, love and faith which are operating in grace and grace is the person of Christ) is a liar, and the truth is not in him, for whoever keeps His word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in Him: for whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked."
1John 2:25-27, 28-29 'This is the promise that He made to us—eternal life. I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. For the anointing (Christ is this anointing) that you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. For as His anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it (Christ) has taught (teaches) you, abide in Him.
For now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears we may have confidence and not shrink from Him in shame at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of Him."
1John 3:4-10 "Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that He appeared in order to take away sins, for in Him there is no sin. No one who abides in Him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen Him nor knows Him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as He is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother."
2John 1:7-11 "For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is a deceiver and antichrist. Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. For everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in His teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works."
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