Living the Good Life

In John 15:8 we see that we can bring glory to God by bearing fruit and showing ourself to be a disciple of Jesus.  While there are many people who are working hard to bear fruit (living a good life) the efforts of the disciple aren't directed toward producing fruit...our efforts should be directed toward "abiding" in Jesus Christ.  When we are connected to Jesus the fruit comes effortlessly!

Unfortunately many people are very good and religious but they don't have a relationship with Jesus (in spite of their good works their sins remain unforgiven.)  They mistakenly think that good works will somehow erase their past sins or earn God's favor.  John chapter 15 reminds us that good works aren't for forgiveness they're from forgiveness...they come from the person who is already "abiding" in Jesus.

In other words after we receive His forgiveness of sins, then He will produce fruit through us.  So, stop trying to be a good person and start trying to "abide" in Jesus.  It goes against our instincts that we should stop trying to be good.  However, that is the teaching of John 15.  Abide in Jesus and the good will come as a by-product of our relationship with Him.  There are three parts to abiding in Him.

1. The life of abiding in Jesus begins with a decision to trust Him and believe that His death on the cross took care of all your sins (past, present and future sins.)  If you believe this and that He rose from the dead you now forgiven and "in Him" (Eph 2:8, 9). 
2. Throughout your day take time to meditate on God and His Word (Psalm 1) and to praise and thank Him continually (1 Thes 5:16.)
3. Inevitably you'll recognize times in your day when you mess up and fall short of God's perfect standard for living.  At the very moment you feel the guilt of your sin, admit to God that your behavior, attitude or thought was wrong (1 John 1:9).   

Interesting Context Note - This message on abiding was given by Jesus as he moved from the upper room demonstration of servanthood toward his time of prayer and anguish in the Garden of Gethsemene.  In other words he knew his hour had come and this was the last message He most wanted his disciples to hear.  He knew that there were going to be some very challenging times for them in the near future and if they were to survive, His disciples would need to practice the spiritual disciplines of "abiding."