Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Remain in Christ (Rather than Occasionally Visiting Him)

Green Lake Christian Conference Center (Wisconsin)

At Redeemer we teach people to abide in Christ. For followers of Jesus this is the first thing we must learn, and live. 

To "abide," or “remain” in Christ means “to take up permanent residence” (Greek meno). "Abide" is a dwelling word. This refers to a slow cooker, not a microwave; a lifestyle, rather than a trend; a relationship, rather than a rule.

It's like being a branch, connected to a Vine, who is Christ. This is about a day after day after day thing, rather than occasional visits.

Greg Boyd writes:

“Branches don’t visit a vine once in a while on special occasions. Rather, branches are permanently attached to their source of life. So too, followers of Jesus are to take up permanent residence in Christ, remaining attached to him at all times as their source of their Life.” (Boyd, Present Perfect, 34)