”…If you hold to my teaching, you are really My disciples.” John 8:31
If we hold to Jesus’ words, it proves we follow Him. But If following Jesus was against the law, could I be convicted? For anyone to be convicted of a crime, there must be at least two witnesses, or enough circumstantial evidence that it is clear, they ‘did it’. So, would an investigator find any witnesses (friends / enemies) to testify against me? Could they examine my bank accounts and my daily routine to substantiate my faith? Would they hear my words and see my posts and be able to conclude that I follow Jesus? Would they have ‘the goods’ to prove:
I KNOW THE LORD…
”…I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.” Philippians 3:8
What defines our worth in this world - our achievements, awards, man’s approval or the accumulation of wealth? Or, is it knowing the Lord? We know Paul’s answer - knowing the Lord. Everything else, by comparison is garbage. Knowing God is the single most important ‘work’ of life.
…I GROW IN JESUS…
”And be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ - then righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.” Philippians 3:9
The point is to grow in Jesus, not in ourselves. But so many Christians still want to be in control of their faith. They want an easy formula to follow so they can feel good about themselves. What we need to do is to grow in His righteousness - then our faith is fulfilling and our fruit is good.
…I SOW SEEDS BY THE SPIRIT.
”I want to know Christ, yes, to know the power of His resurrection and participation in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.” Philippians 3:10-11
Romans 8:11, ‘He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies.’ A seed must die to itself to become an entirely new fruit bearing plant. This change (death to self) is our mission through our entire walk with Christ, as the Spirit leads us in good fruit.
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