Jan 02, 2022

Made Able: How to Abide in Christ

One of the most important questions we can ask ourselves is “Why?” Why am I here? Why do I do the things I do? Asking the question “Why?” helps us to recalibrate our energies and focus on what’s really important.

We ask the “Why?” questions because as followers of Christ we believe the gospel is true. The gospel is the good news of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and that through faith in Him we can be reconciled to God. The gospel changes everything!

The Lord Jesus gave His followers the “what” when He told us to make disciples. The first disciples of Christ were ones who went where Jesus went. They sought to know what Jesus knew. They also did what Jesus did.

Paul instructs Timothy, in 2 Timothy 2:1, “You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” The word translated “strengthen” carries the idea of being made able to accomplish a certain task by God’s grace.

Our strategy for making disciples at Carmel is called ABLE.
We desire to be disciples who
Abide in Christ so that we can
Build relationships and
Live the gospel with
Everything.

In John 15:1-11, Jesus reminds His disciples how important it is to abide in Him. The word abide occurs ten times in only six verses! The type of abiding Jesus is talking about describes one who dwells, lives, remains, and stays in a life-giving relationship with the Savior.

As one abides in Christ, he or she bears fruit. Be aware that one can have the appearance of bearing genuine fruit but that fruit will not last. Fruit confirms the identity of the plant. Be sure you do not live a counterfeit life but rather one that bears the lasting fruit of the Spirit. The more fruit we bear the more we think and act like Christ. This translates into having a Christlike aroma to our lives.

Questions to Consider:
What is the gospel according to the Bible?
Where are you currently regarding bearing spiritual fruit (no fruit, fruit, more fruit, much fruit)?
How important is abiding in Christ?
How would you help a friend who asks you how to abide in Christ?