FRIDAY
Yesterday I attempted to show the New Testament teaching that our given identity in Christ, our new creation, the gift of the Holy Spirit at work within us is the basis for our transformation in Christ. This is indeed an aspect of the irresistible nature of the gospel. But many of us in the Christian faith resist it. I think the main reason we resist this glorious truth of the gospel is simply our desire for control. We want to control outcomes, especially the outcomes of our own personal growth. We experience the fruit of this in other areas of life like exercise, diet, work, sports, hobbies, etc. Hard work usually pays off. Why not apply this same logic to our spiritual life? The reason this same logic doesn’t work is found in the term spiritual life. Our transformation is not merely physical but spiritual. In the spiritual realm we feel out of control…because we are. This is scary if we’re honest with ourselves. We don’t really have any power in the spiritual realm, but we know someone who does. So the answer is not to grasp at more control in the spiritual realm but to surrender to the one in whom is all dominion and power.
Colossians 1:15–17 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
The armor of God in Ephesians 6 are all things God has given us: salvation, truth, the word of God, faith, the gospel of peace, and righteousness. Paul ends this section with, “praying at all times in the Spirit…”. (Eph. 6:18 ) This is deeply spiritual stuff.
Paul tells us in Romans 8 that we put to death the deeds of the flesh only by the Spirit.
Romans 8:13 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
This is why Jesus tells his disciples in his last conversation with them before going to the cross that they must abide in him.
John 15:4–5 4 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. 5 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.
I remember growing up in the church hearing about the fruit of the Spirit. Every time I would hear about the fruit I would think something like, “I need to work harder to develop these.” That’s not the point at all. These are the fruit of the Spirit—that which the Spirit of God produces in the believer. Paul is not saying, “Do these things more.” Instead he is calling us to “be led by the Spirit” (v. 18), “walk by the Spirit” (v. 16), “live by the Spirit” (v. 25) and “keep in step with the Spirit” (v. 25).
I recently listened to a sermon by Francis Chan in which he preached on John 15. He brought out a branch and reminded the audience that no matter how hard they try, they cannot make that branch produce fruit. We could maybe tape an apple on it but that’s not real fruit production. In the same way, only by abiding in Christ and living in the realm of the Spirit can we produce fruit.
So what do we do? The discipline in the Christian life comes not in forming structures to keep us from sin (laws) but disciplining ourselves to abide in Christ and live in the Spirit of God. We can’t make a tree produce fruit but we can cultivate the soil. In the same way we discipline ourselves to meet with God. We commit to a life of prayer, private and corporate worship, communing with God in silence, awareness of his presence, eliminating the things that distract us from him, surrendering more and more of ourselves to him.
For many of us, in our pursuit of transformation (spiritual formation, growth), I think we are simply aiming at the wrong target. We’ve been trying to avoid sin and grow in our faith with more and more laws and rules instead of abiding in Christ and living in the Spirit. We get frustrated with the endless cycle of doing well, making some progress, only to fail and fall back to the baseline. Again, who cares if you’re a little off if you’re aiming at the wrong target entirely. Aim at Christ, knowing him, abiding in him, glorifying him. Aim at the Holy Spirit, walking in step with him, experiencing his presence, trusting in his power. Aim at the Father, worshipping him, loving him, surrendering more and more to him. This I have personally found to be the most effective path to spiritual growth and formation. It’s totally counterintuitive in my natural mind but it’s taught everywhere in Scripture.
Reflection
Have you been aiming at the wrong target attempting to produce fruit apart from Jesus? Have you been trying to progress in the Christian faith in your own effort or hoping others can progress you?
How can you discipline yourself to cultivate a life of abiding in Christ and living in the Spirit? How can you refocus your aim on the Godhead?