It’s Monday and what a joy it is to reflect on the goodness of God. We at BBC started our week with a blessed gathering of the saints on the Lord’s Day. We were exhorted in the Word with an excellent exposition of Exodus 17:1-7, “Is the LORD Among Us” from Pastor Zad. You can watch that here. We also opened our Winter Revival, “Living on Mission” with the topic of “What is the Mission” with Pastor Donny Crass. An impactful thought of both messages is the centrality of Jesus Christ in our lives. We need to be reminded of who Christ is and what he accomplished on our behalf. Exodus 17 pointed us to 1 Cor 10:4 to see that the Rock stricken was Christ. It was not God’s chosen people (who were thirsty, rebellious and sinful) that God carried judgment out on, but it was the faithful Rock who stood in their place. Life flowed because He was stricken. This thought presses us forward to a question that all disciples must answer, “In whom have you believed?”
We Have Believed in The True Vine
As Pastor Donny Crass shared last night, “The Great Commission can only be carried out after the Great Connection.” This is a powerful thought in connection to Exodus 17. Jesus does not only tell us to, “come to me when you are thirsty then go live your life until you thirst again,” but he tells us to “Abide.”
“I am the vine; you are the branches, Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5
The first question that must be asked is, “Are you in The Vine?” Have you repented of your sin and believed on “the only name given under heaven to mankind by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) Truly being in the Vine is the only way we can abide in the Vine. We are very familiar with this concept today, aren’t we? For our cell phones to have power and the battery to be charged, they have to be plugged in. There ALWAYS has to be a power source, or the device dies.
“Faith that rests on feelings or circumstances is no faith at all. True faith rests on the truth about Christ.” – Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Our life in Christ is not just an attachment, but total dependence. We rely on Christ’s life and power to take root in us and sustain us by the Holy Spirit and God’s Word.
If we truly abide in the vine, there will be fruit on the branch. The branch will also be sustained through seasons of pruning, seasons that feel like delay, and when abiding feels costly. Where Exodus 17 shows us “Christ was struck for us,” John 15 shows “Christ sustaining us.”
The Object of Faith – Who We Believe In
This is where the question, “in whom have you believed” comes to an inflection point. Do we believe in a Christ who we ask just to fix our problems periodically, or do we believe in the Christ who governs our lives? Faith is only as true and real as the object of that faith. The Gospel of John does not leave room for an undefined Christ. We have the I AM statements given by Christ Himself to reveal to us who we have placed our faith in. Jesus does not just give us illustrations about who He is, but divine claims.
I AM the True Vine (John 15:1,5)
- Jesus declares He alone is the true source of life and fruitfulness. Apart from Him, we can do nothing.
Application:
- Your identity will be shaped by someone; the world, yourself, or Jesus. Trust God as the vinedresser who knows how to make you fruitful.
I AM the Bread of Life (John 6:35)
- Jesus shows us the fulfillment of Israel’s provision of manna in the wilderness. He is the living water and the bread that fully satisfies and sustains. He is not just a one time provision, He is the bread itself.
Application:
- Our circumstances, successes, comforts and controls will never satisfy us the way a life in Christ will. Daily dependence on him in not optional, it is essential for spiritual life.
I AM the Light of the World (John 8:12)
- Light represents purity, truth and the great revealer. Jesus tells us He is the light that exposes the darkness and shines to reveal God to man.
Application:
- Disciples do not hide in darkness, we walk in the light openly and honestly before our Lord Jesus.
I AM the Door (John 10:9)
- Jesus is the door, the exclusive way to salvation. Safety, life and security all come through the door.
Application:
- See Christ as the only way. Salvation does not come by good morals, our efforts or accomplishments, but by His finished work. He commands all to repent and believe in Him to enter the Kingdom.
I AM the Good Shepherd (John 10:11)
- Jesus is the shepherd who tends to and cares for His sheep personally. He sacrificed himself willingly as a substitute for His own.
Application:
- Trust the caring hand of the Shepherd when the path is not clear to you. Learn to recognize the voice of the Shepherd by communion with Him in the Word and through prayer.
I AM the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25-26)
- Jesus does not just give us a promise of resurrection, He embodied resurrection. Death has been defeated by our living Lord. Eternal life has come to us now through our unity with Christ.
Application:
- Believers live with a view an eternity. We grieve with hope because those who die in Him will rise with Him. We also have confidence in our salvation because His resurrection proves our justification was secured.
I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life
- Jesus gives us a clear claim of exclusive salvation in John 14. If we are in Christ, then we know the truth because of His Word and authority, leading us to walk with assurance.
Application:
- The way to the Father has been shown and secured in Jesus. It is not in our morality or even tradition, it is by saving faith alone in Christ.
Closing Thoughts
Faithfulness in whom we have believed will flow from union with Jesus, not our effort. If we do not abide in him, our efforts (even well meaning) will be empty. We must strived to abide first. Our spiritual health will come from dependence over activity. Each I AM statement we looked at answers “In Whom Have You Believed” from a different aspect. We trust Him for life, salvation, truth, growth, victory, and guidance.
“The true measure of faith is not how much we believe, but whom we believe.” – JC Ryle
Jesus answers the question, “In Whom Have You Believed?” with His own name. Trust Him, and abide in Him.