In the 15th chapter of John’s Gospel Jesus has spoken to His disciples about the importance of being IN HIM and of bearing much spiritual fruit (holiness, righteousness, godliness). The Scriptures tell us that there is no gray area relative to our spiritual location–WE ARE EITHER IN CHRIST OR IN SATAN. Beginning with verse 9 He tells them that to remain in Him and prove their love for Him they must continue to keep His Ten Commandment Law. The work “keep” in the Greek language (tereo) means to surround so as to protect and preserve. It is the same as the Hebrew word used in Exodus 20 where He (the Word Who became Jesus of Nazareth) told the Israelites to “keep (qadas) the Sabbath Day holy.” Here He says that IF the disciples would keep His commandments they would abide in His love, “even as I have kept my Father’s commandments (the same commandments) and (thereby) abide in His love.” As a man, JESUS HAD TO OBEY GOD’S LAW IN ORDER TO REMAIN IN HIS LOVE. Are we better than the Messiah?

Jesus had spoken about the love-Law connection in 14:23,24 where He said: “IF a man loves Me he will keep My Words and (then) My Father will love him and We (Father and Son) will come unto him and make our abode (live) in Him (in the form of their Holy Spirit). He that does not love Me will not keep My sayings (Words/Commandments). The Words you hear Me say are not mine, but are the Father’s Who sent Me.” In Luke 10:16 we find Jesus saying basically the same thing to the disciples: “He who hears you (speak My Words) hears me, and he who despises you despises Me, and he who despises me despises Him Who sent me.” The message is clear for anyone having eyes to see and ears to hear God’s Truth about the love-Law connection. Read The Trinity and The God of the Old Testament. Key words–Trinity and Old respectively

In 15:11-14 Jesus continues speaking about love, telling the disciples to love one another as He had loved them. In verses 13 and 14 He drives the message home by saying: “Greater love has no man than this, that He lay down His life for His friends. You are My friends, IF YOU DO WHATSOEVER I COMMAND YOU (TO DO).” Even though the disciples would eventually give their lives for Him, if they did not obey His Law they would not be His friends and His death would have no effect on their eternity.

In His letter to the Gentile church in Ephesus Paul calls the converts (now spiritual Israelites) “saints” who are “faithful IN CHRIST JESUS” who were being “blessed with spiritual blessings in heavenly places” (1:1,3). In 1:7 Paul reminds them that they had been redeemed through Christ’s blood, IN WHOM they had received forgiveness of their past sins (justification) through the grace of God. In 1:10 Paul tells them (and us) that in the future God would gather together all things that are IN CHRIST, IN WHOM His people have an inheritance because they trusted Him and took Him at His Word. That inheritance is eternal life in the Kingdom of God. Read about that kingdom using that word as the key.

From what has been presented it is obvious that being spiritually IN CHRIST during this physical life is of utmost importance. Equally obvious is the fact that there is only one way to remain IN HIM–by obeying His Ten Commandment Law, INCLUDING COMMANDMENT #4. Let us all be IN HIM as the time for His return to earth draws near. Let us all prove to be Christ’s friends so that His death and resurrection will have their designed effect on our lives. Let us not allow Satan’s false prophets to lead us off of God’s narrow path that leads to His kingdom and onto the devil’s broad path that leads to destruction (Mat. 7:13,14; 22:14. Read Bait and Switch. Key word–Bait.

The Egypt Syndrome/ The Art of Correcting God/ Murder Central/ The Last Great Awakening/ The Social Gospel/ The Silver Standard/ Revelation And The Mysteries/ The Love Decacle/ Moral Equivalency/ The Coming Anarchy/ The Ultimate Power/ Trembling/ The Upgrade/ Come And Dine/ The Way More Perfect/ Moral Equivalency Follow-up/ What Is A Christian?/ God’s Enemies/ Commonalities/ Conversion: Are You Really Saved?/ The Shell/ It’s All About Money/ If I Was Satan/ Who’s in Charge? / Hezekiah’s Answered Prayer/