I’m curious...did your Bible come with this phrase [No Action Required] stamped across it?

I see that wording used occasionally, usually when I get an email notifying me that my banking institution (or something similar) detected a ‘log on from a new device’...and if that was me, then ‘no further actions is required’. So the reason I ask is because there seems to be a lot of ‘Christian theology’ that suggests that all one ‘must do to be saved’...is ‘believe’; and no further action is needed. But you’ll usually hear the quick qualifying statement added on suggesting that if one ‘really believes, it will produce positive action’; or something similar to that.

It's quite amazing how many verses we read in our beloved Bibles that actually suggest, imply, and even command or call us... to ‘action’; as if it is not even an option. And yet, the minute anyone tries to point such verses out, you’ll most likely hear cries of: ‘that’s legalism’...or... ‘we’re not saved by works!’

When did ‘obedience’ to God become a ‘legalistic work’?

How are we to interpret the words of Jesus when He said: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who ‘does’ the will of My Father in heaven.” (Matt. 7:21)

And why do so many people want to point to John 3:16 and declare that one verse is the ‘gospel in a nutshell’, placing emphasis on the word ‘believe’...but then shrug or dismiss other verses like Hebrews 5:9 that state how Jesus became the author of eternal salvation to those ‘who obey Him’?

I mean, after all...when Jesus first arrived on the scene, His message was clear: “Repent ...and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15). The last time I checked, the word ‘repent’ is a verb; and Jesus would later warn us that ‘unless we repent, we will all likewise perish’ (Luke 13:3,5).

I don’t mean to break out and have a simple English lesson where we have to identify nouns and verbs, but humor me and use an imaginary pencil and underline the verbs in each of these following verses if you would:

“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Col. 3:2)

“Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness...” (Matt. 6:33)

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:8)

“Cleanse yourself from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Cor. 7:1)

Hopefully that was not too challenging for any of us.

Ready for the ‘extra credit’ question? What is the verb in these words uttered by Jesus: “Abide in Me....” (John 15:4). Pretty easy bonus question if you ask me. And if you were to read the whole verse there in that passage, Jesus went on to explain that unless we truly abide in Him...then no fruit can be produced in our lives. Would you take a moment and reflect on that thought alone and what that implies?

If we don’t abide in Jesus, then it’s impossible for any fruit of His Spirit to be produced in us; and friends...fruit matters! (Matt. 3:8-10; 7:17-19; Luke 13:6-9; John 15:6).

I’m not one who looks to dive into deep theological debates or specialize in ‘splitting hairs’, but have you ever wondered how can a person be truly ‘saved’...if they don’t (actively) abide in Jesus? And I’m hoping here that we are all on the ‘same page’ when we view ‘salvation’ as being a bit more than getting some holy ticket punched that guarantees entrance into God’s heavenly resort where we will spend eternity after we ‘die’.

So if we can, I’d like to explore further what it means to ‘abide in Jesus’, how it looks, and what role, if any...we play in doing this. And here’s some added good news...this ‘abiding thing’ is a two-way street; meaning Jesus promises to ‘abide in us’...if we abide in Him. Let me also remind you that for all that I have seen, learned, and experienced over the past 46 years of my life after first ‘coming to Jesus’ at the age of 20...it was only 6 years ago, shortly after I had my personal ‘awakening’...that I truly came to understand what it means to abide in Him. And I am committed to continue teaching and writing on this topic for as long as I believe the Lord would have me to do this. My only prayer, other than I please Him...is that others might come to taste and see how good the Lord is...and they too would experience the freedom and joy that I have come to experience that comes from abiding in Him.

Let me wrap up for today by telling you how we can continue... to abide in Jesus, which is actually a ‘redundant’ statement, since ‘abide’ means to ‘continue’. I'd like to share a statement I used to hear an old friend make often, after he had a true, life changing encounter when he came to Jesus, later in his life. His name was ‘Joe’, and he’d be the first one to tell you that he was ‘unpolished and with rough edges’. But there was no doubt that God got a hold of him and gave him a new ‘heart’. I spent a lot of time with Joe, since he was a close neighbor for years, and I was blessed to witness his transformation that took place before my eyes.

I was reminded this week of that phrase he use to tell me, which always struck me as odd when he said it, but I knew what he meant, and even more so today. “Brother Tony”...he’d begin...”I go to ‘huntin’ Him first thing every morning when I wake up.”

Friends...welcome to a simple introduction to what it means to abide in Jesus. It begins every morning when you wake up. Is He the first one you go to ‘hunting’? 

More tomorrow, Lord willing.