Bible Study: Allowing Christ to Abide in Us

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Today is Saturday October 9, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Matthew, chapters 21-22. If you would like to read today's chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: imfollowingjesus.com/bible-october-9 In today's Bible reading we will read about, the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, Jesus cleansing the Temple of God, Jesus teaching in the Temple, more parables and the resurrection are explained.

Today's Message: Allowing Christ to Abide in Us
As Christians, it is a wonderful comfort to know that no matter what we have done or will even do in the future that we do not have to worry about where we are going when our time here on earth is complete. It is not our works that get us to heaven, but our faith, acknowledgment, and trust in the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ that gets us to heaven. If you do not know Christ, you do not know God. The Bible says, “Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.” -I John 2:23-25. While our works do not get us eternal life, they do get us to remain faithful and allow Christ to abide in us. Since Jesus came here in the flesh to show us how to live in the will of God, it is important that we allow Him into our lives beyond salvation and do the things that He did.

Word had gotten around all over the country about the amazing and wonderful things that Jesus was doing for the Jews and even Gentiles, so, naturally when He came into Jerusalem he was cheered and praised upon entering. The first thing Jesus did when He entered Jerusalem was go into the Temple of God. “And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.” - Matthew 21:12-14.

The people were buying and selling worldly things in the Temple, that was to be used just for worshiping God, Jesus cast all of them out and destroyed all the tables. Now, do not get this confused with giving tithe, giving tithe helps keep the church maintained and helps minister to the people, but selling things in the church for personal gain is what has Jesus all fired up. “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” - Malachi 3:8-10.

Just as Jesus cleansed the Temple we too our to cleanse our Temples, God no longer dwells in a building, but in every person who accepts Christ as their Savior. We are to cast away all things that defile our Temples. “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” - I Corinthians 3:16,17.

The amazing thing is that the more we allow Christ to abide in us the more faith we have in Him, the more blessings we receive. Jesus explains this further through a mere fig tree. “Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”- Matthew 21:18-22.

As our faith in Jesus grows we learn to trust Him more and lessen our doubt that He can deliver the things we are asking Him for. When we pray, we must pray as though we see it right before our eyes and that is the faith that gets prayers answered. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” - Hebrews 11:6.

Once again, all are invited and encouraged to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior, but not everyone will accept. Jesus explains this further in this parable, “And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage....And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.”-Matthew 22:1-4,11-14.


Receiving Christ as our Savior is much like a wedding, God is the King, and we are all invited to a wedding feast, Jesus is the Son and bridegroom, we are His bride, just as a man and woman become one when they marry, we become one with Christ when we ask Him to save us. The man that did not have on the wedding garment, was a person who hoped in his works to get him to heaven, but did not actually receive Him as his Savior. No matter who we are or what we do for God, unless we have accept His invitation we will be cast into the darkness (fire). “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” - Revelation 20:14,15.

When we allow Christ to abide (remain, continue) in us there is no better way to live, we not only learn the true meaning of what He actually sacrificed to give us eternal life, we also find peace, comfort, and and amazing blessings because we allowed Him to lead us. “And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.” - I John 3:22 Praise God!

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and weekend.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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