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I have been crucified with Christ. Nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

For many, being in the Faith has come to mean anything and everything but what Jesus said it is. It should be the aim of every believer to testify of Christ’s righteousness, not merely by word of mouth, but also in deeds. Unless His righteousness is at the center of our lives, our confession of faith in Him is vain; it’s a statement without substance.

We won’t discover what it means to abide in Christ without keeping God’s commandments. If you’re not striving to walk even as Jesus walked, then you’re moving in the wrong direction. Being crucified with Christ has to do with living in complete submission to the Father’s will. Those who object to keeping God’s commandments do so because they don’t know Him.

He who says, ‘I know Him,’ but does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, the love of God is truly perfected in him. And this is how we know that we are in Him: He who says he abides in Him ought to walk even as He walked. (1 John 2:4-6)

© Chris S. Esty