Importance of Remaining in Christ in Christian Life
The concept of "remaining in Christ" is central to Christian life, emphasizing a continuous, active relationship with Jesus Christ. The Apostle John exhorts believers to "remain in Christ, so that when He appears, we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming" [1]. This instruction highlights the importance of an enduring connection to Christ for future assurance and spiritual steadfastness.
To "be in Christ" signifies a state of conversion and the reception of the remission of sins [7]. Adam Clarke, in his commentary on 1 John 2:6, explains that to "abide in Christ" means to continue in that state of salvation and to grow in grace [7]. This abiding involves living a life of devotion, obedience to God, and benevolence towards others, mirroring Christ's own walk [7]. The New Testament frequently uses the imagery of being "in Christ" to describe the believer's new identity and spiritual reality. For instance, John Gill notes that being "in Christ" can refer to an eternal, secret union from everlasting, as well as an open union at conversion when a person believes in Christ [14].
The importance of remaining in Christ is underscored by the benefits and responsibilities associated with it. Hebrews 3:14 states, "For if we keep the substance of the faith which we had at the start, even till the end, we have a part with Christ" [2]. Adam Clarke interprets this to mean that those who have believed in Christ and embraced the Christian system are partakers of its benefits in this life and are entitled to its promises for eternity, provided they persevere [8]. This perseverance is not passive but requires actively holding fast to the beginning of one's confidence until the end of life [8].
The call to remain in Christ also implies a commitment to His teachings and an ongoing reception of His divine life. In John 15:4, Jesus commands, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me." Adam Clarke elaborates that this requires believers to "hold fast faith and a good conscience" and not allow trials to turn them from the truth [10]. In return, Christ promises to abide in them, providing "every help and influence... that your souls can require, in order to preserve and save them to eternal life" [10]. This mutual indwelling is essential for spiritual fruitfulness, as a branch cannot bear fruit without remaining connected to the vine [10].
The concept of remaining in Christ is closely linked to the idea of perseverance. The "perseverance of the saints" is a doctrine asserting that once justified and regenerated, believers will certainly continue in a state of grace and attain everlasting life [5]. This doctrine is supported by passages such as John 10:28-29, Romans 11:29, Philippians 1:6, and 1 Peter 1:5 [5]. It is understood to follow from the immutability of divine decrees, the provisions of the covenant of grace, and the atoning work of Christ [5]. However, this divine assurance does not negate the human responsibility to remain faithful. The Tyndale House commentary on Philippians 2:16 emphasizes that believers "must maintain their faith in Christ’s life-giving Good News," even as God remains faithful [12, 13]. Paul frequently uses athletic metaphors, such as "running the race," to illustrate the active effort required in the Christian life [12, 13].
Remaining in Christ also involves a continuous engagement with the "word of life." The Philippians are exhorted to "Hold firmly to the word of life" [12, 13]. This suggests that ongoing spiritual nourishment and guidance come through adherence to Christ's teachings. Adam Clarke, commenting on 1 John 2:24, advises believers to "continue in the doctrines concerning the incarnation, passion, death, resurrection, ascension, and intercession of the Lord Jesus" as preached by the apostles [9]. By doing so, they will "continue in the Son, and in the Father," experiencing fellowship with both [9].
The hope that characterizes Christian life is also centered on Christ, who is the "actual object of the believer's hope" [3]. This hope is one of the three main elements of Christian character, alongside faith and love [3]. Unbelievers are described as being "without this hope" [3]. This hope is not merely wishful thinking but a confident expectation rooted in Christ, providing a future orientation for those who remain in Him.
Eternal life itself is found "in Christ" [6]. John 1:2 and 5:20 identify Christ as eternal life, and 1 John 5:11 states that this life is in Him [6]. To know God and Christ is eternal life (John 17:3), and it is given by God through Christ to those who believe [6]. This underscores that remaining in Christ is not just about present spiritual vitality but also about securing one's ultimate destiny.
The practical outworking of remaining in Christ involves keeping oneself "in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life" [4]. This implies a life lived in conscious awareness of God's love and a hopeful anticipation of Christ's mercy leading to eternal life. The continuous preservation of believers, even amidst dangers, is attributed to "the preserving power of Christ" [11]. This divine sustenance enables believers to carry their lives "in their hands" and remain steadfast [11].
Sources
- I John “I John 2:28 (BSB) — And now, little children, remain in Christ, so that when He appears, we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming.”
- Hebrews “Hebrews 3:14 (BBE) — For if we keep the substance of the faith which we had at the start, even till the end, we have a part with Christ;”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Hope — One of the three main elements of Christian character (1 Cor. 13:13). It is joined to faith and love, and is opposed to seeing or possessing (Rom. 8:24; 1 John 3:2). "Hope is an essential and fundamental element of Christian life, so essential indeed, that, like faith and love, it can itself designate the essence of Christianity (1 Pet. 3:15; Heb. 10:23). In it the whole glory of the Christian vocation is centred (Eph. 1:18; 4:4)." Unbelievers are without this hope (Eph. 2:12; 1 Thess. 4:13). Christ is the actual object of the believer's hope, because it is in”
- Jude “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. -- Jude 1:21”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Perseverance of the saints — Their certain continuance in a state of grace. Once justified and regenerated, the believer can neither totally nor finally fall away from grace, but will certainly persevere therein and attain everlasting life. This doctrine is clearly taught in these passages, John 10:28, 29; Rom. 11:29; Phil. 1:6; 1 Pet. 1:5. It, moreover, follows from a consideration of (1) the immutability of the divine decrees (Jer. 31:3; Matt. 24:22-24; Acts 13:48; Rom. 8:30); (2) the provisions of the covenant of grace (Jer. 32:40; John 10:29; 17:2-6); (3) the ato”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Life, Eternal — Christ is -- 1Jo 1:2; 5:20. Revealed by Christ -- Joh 6:68; 2Ti 1:10. To know God and Christ is -- Joh 17:3. Given By God. -- Ps 133:3; Ro 6:23. By Christ. -- Joh 6:27; 10:28. In Christ. -- 1Jo 5:11. Through Christ. -- Ro 5:21; 6:23. To all given to Christ. -- Joh 17:2. To those who believe in God. -- Joh 5:24. To those who believe in Christ. -- Joh 3:15,16; 6:40,47. To those who hate life for Christ. -- Joh 12:25. In answer to prayer. -- Ps 21:4. Revealed in the Scriptures -- Joh 5:39. Results from Drinking the water of life. -- Joh 4:14. Eating the ”
- 1 John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 John 2:6: Abideth in him - He who not only professes to have known Christ, but also that he has communion with him, and abides in his favor, should prove the truth of his profession by walking as Christ walked; living a life of devotion and obedience to God, and of benevolence and beneficence to his neighbor. Thus Christ walked; and he has left us an example that we should follow his steps. To be in Christ, Jo1 2:5, is to be converted to the Christian faith, and to have received the remission of sins. To abide in Christ, Jo1 2:6, is to continue in that state of salvation, grow”
- Hebrews (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Hebrews 3:14: For we are made partakers of Christ - Having believed in Christ as the promised Messiah, and embraced the whole Christian system, they were consequently made partakers of all its benefits in this life, and entitled to the fulfillment of all its exceeding great and precious promises relative to the glories of the eternal world. The former they actually possessed, the latter they could have only in case of their perseverance; therefore the apostle says, If we hold fast the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end, i.e. of our life. For our participation of ”
- 1 John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 John 2:24: Let that therefore abide in you - Continue in the doctrines concerning the incarnation, passion, death, resurrection, ascension, and intercession of the Lord Jesus, which you have heard preached from the beginning by us his apostles. Ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father - Ye who are preachers shall not only be acknowledged as ministers of the Church of Christ, but be genuine children of God, by faith in the Son of his love; and ye all, thus continuing, shall have fellowship with the Father and with the Son.”
- John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on John 15:4: Abide in me - Hold fast faith and a good conscience; and let no trials turn you aside from the truth. And I will abide in you - ye shall receive every help and influence from me that your souls can require, in order to preserve and save them to eternal life. These two things are absolutely necessary to our salvation: 1. That we continue closely united to Christ by faith and love, and live in and to him. 2. That we continually receive from him the power to do good; for as the branch, however good in itself, cannot bear fruit from itself, through its own juice, which it”
- 2 Corinthians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 2 Corinthians 4:11: For we which live - And yet, although we are preserved alive, we are in such continual dangers that we carry our life in our hands, and are constantly in the spirit of sacrifice. But the life - the preserving power, of Christ is manifest in our continual support.”
- Phil (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Phil 2:16: 2:16 Hold firmly to the word of life: Believers must maintain their faith in Christ’s life-giving Good News. God is faithful, but they, too, must remain faithful (1:6; 2:12-13). • run the race: Paul frequently uses athletic language as a metaphor for the Christian life (see 3:12-14; 1 Cor 9:24, 26; Gal 2:2; 5:7; 2 Tim 4:7).”
- Philippians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Philippians 2:16: 2:16 Hold firmly to the word of life: Believers must maintain their faith in Christ’s life-giving Good News. God is faithful, but they, too, must remain faithful (1:6; 2:12-13). • run the race: Paul frequently uses athletic language as a metaphor for the Christian life (see 3:12-14; 1 Cor 9:24, 26; Gal 2:2; 5:7; 2 Tim 4:7).”
- 2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 5:16: Therefore if any man be in Christ,.... There's a secret being in Christ from everlasting; so all that are loved by him, espoused unto him, chosen and preserved in him, to whom he was a covenant head, surety, and representative, are in him, united to him, and one with him; not in such sense as the Father is in him, and the human nature is in him, but as husband and wife, and head and members are one: and there is an open being in Christ at conversion, when a man believes in Christ, and gives up himself to him; faith does not put a man into Christ, but makes him ”