Big Idea: Abiding in Christ produces a number of results. Jesus requires perfect righteousness and he provides that righteousness both through his sacrifice on the cross but also in his work of regeneration and his abiding presence in us by the indwelling Holy Spirit. Jesus is the source of our righteous living. And we must Abide in Him to “do” righteousness.
Titus 2:11–14 (ESV) — 11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
In order to produce righteous deeds two things must be true;
- We must be __________________________ to a new sorce.
- We must __________________________ in that source.
Poieo: to do or to act
James 1:22, 25 (ESV) — 22 But be doers (same word we find in 1John 3) of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves… 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer (same word) who acts, he will be blessed in his doing (same word).
Verse 3-4:
The contrast is set up before us in verse 3 and 4. The one who purifies himself acts in accordance with the one who is pure. The one who sins acts in accordance with the one who has been lawless, or opposed to God, from the beginning. Two sources, two actions.
Verses 5-6:
1 John 3:6 (NASB95) — 6 No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him.
The act of not sinning is necessarily tied to abiding in Christ and having seen Christ and having known Christ. The question beloved is how do we not sin in our actions, the answer, we must abide in Christ.
1 John 3:5–6 (NET) — 5 And you know that Jesus was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 Everyone who resides in him does not sin; everyone who sins has neither seen him nor known him.
Verse 7:
Verse 8-9:
John 8:44 (ESV) — 44 You are of (same preposition, ek) your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Here is the point, as we identify with and remain in this new life we will not sin, furthermore we cannot sin as we abide in this source because this source is absolutely holy and righteous. But, if we remain or abide in the old source, we will sin, because the old is sold under sin and cannot produce righteous deeds before God.
Questions to consider:
- Are you in Christ this morning? What effect does this have on your actions?
- In what ways do you need to put off the old in your life? In what ways do you need to put on the new?
