Romans 8:1, 2,
1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
2 Corinthians 5:17,
17 Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
What exactly does it mean to be in Christ? Jesus Himself tells us in the gospel of John:
John 15:4-8,
4 “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.
5 “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.
6 “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch, and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you.
8 “By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.”
Now Scriptures like Hebrews 3:9 become more clear, “And having been made perfect, He [Jesus] became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation.” According to His own words in John 15:6 those who don’t obey Him, and abide in Him as He commanded, will be thrown away as a branch, and left to dry up, only to be cast into the fire, and burned.
We know we are abiding in Him because the Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, Romans 8:16, and because whatever we ask for is done for us, for by this the Father is glorified, that we bear much fruit and prove to be disciples of Jesus, John 15:7, 8.
Consider James’ description of one whose prayers are not answered; …the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. Let not that man expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded, unstable in all his ways, James 1:7, 8.
And who are the double-minded and unstable? Those who do not abide in Jesus, those who are not in Christ, but instead are shuffling back and forth, hanging around when things are going good, and running away when trials and tribulations come, refusing to stand and endure the trials of their faith, by which they would become stable and steadfast if they endure those trials.
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven,” Matthew 7:21.
Jon David Banks, God’s most unworthy servant
“Where morning dawns and evening fades, He calls forth songs of joy”
jondavidbanks.com 