Abiding in Christ

Jesus Himself made this unmistakably clear: “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me” (John 15:4).

Fruit is never produced by force. A branch does not strain to grow grapes—it simply stays connected. In the same way, the Christian’s primary concern is not self-denial, self-correction, or even self-discipline, but the continual presence of Jesus Christ. When our attention is fixed on Him, life begins to change from the inside out.

Scripture consistently reveals that God’s work in us is inward before it is outward. “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). When we attempt to put away the deeds of the flesh through willpower alone, we quickly discover our limitations. Paul describes this frustration in Romans 7, but then declares the victory that follows: “The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death” (Romans 8:2).

Notice the order—life in Christ produces freedom, not the other way around.

As we dwell continually upon the God who lives within us, something remarkable occurs. Without obsessing over self-denial or fighting every impulse head-on, the flesh begins to lose its power. God Himself causes a natural subduing of what once ruled us. This is not passivity; it is surrender. It is the quiet but radical choice to trust God to do what only He can do.

Paul echoes this truth when he writes: “It is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).

The Christian who faithfully abandons himself to the Lord soon discovers that he has laid hold of a God who does not quit halfway. God is not casual about holiness. He is patient, but He is thorough. “He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). What remains unfinished in us does not frustrate God—it invites His continued work.

This is why Scripture says, “If by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (Romans 8:13).

It is not you alone who puts them to death—it is you by the Spirit. The Lord Himself addresses what still needs to be surrendered, healed, or removed. Our role is not to control the process but to remain present within it.

So what, then, is required of us?

The answer is simpler—and more demanding—than we often expect. We are called to remain steadfast in giving our utmost attention to God. Not divided attention. Not occasional attention. But a steady, inward turning of the heart toward Him. Scripture calls this “fixing our eyes on Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2).

Not everyone is capable of severe outward self-denial. Not everyone can perfectly manage disciplines, routines, or structures. But everyone is capable of turning inward and abandoning themselves wholly to God. This is the universal invitation of the gospel. “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8).

True transformation is not manufactured—it is received. When we remain in Christ, He does what we cannot. He subdues what we cannot tame. He heals what we cannot reach. He completes what we cannot finish. Our part is to remain. His part is everything else.