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Study 02 of 10

Abiding in Christ and Walking in Christ

True abiding in Christ, the living Vine, results necessarily in walking as He walked—not by imitation but as the fruit of a living connection.

Hands-free narration of this study — good for the car.

Synopsis

Preaching from 1 John 2:6, Prescott shows that Christ Himself is called both the true Vine and, elsewhere, the Branch that grows out of the root of God, so that God is manifested to the world through Him. As branches, we abide in Christ only through an unbroken, living connection, continually receiving life we do not possess in ourselves. Abiding is the cause; walking as Christ walked is the necessary fruit, not an independent obligation attempted by will-power. Prescott insists our standard for 'how Christ walked' must come from Scripture itself, not from human tradition or a 'false Christ' fashioned by our own ideas. Using Peter's walk on the water, Christ's conflicts with the Pharisees over eating with sinners, the Sabbath, and true worship, Prescott shows Christ's walk was always tested by 'what saith the Scripture.' He closes with the series of 'I am' statements—door, way, light, bread, shepherd, life, resurrection—showing that Christ supplies, in Himself, every element required for the walk He calls us to. Walking as He walked is possible only by faith in His name, the same power that made the lame to walk.

Key points

  • Christ is both the Vine in which we abide and, in relation to the Father, the Branch through whom God is revealed.
  • Abiding is a living, continuous connection; walking as Christ walked is its fruit, not a separate work of self-effort.
  • Our standard for how Christ walked must be Scripture itself, not human tradition or a 'false Christ.'
  • The 'I am' sayings show Christ supplies every need for the walk: door, way, light, bread, shepherd, life, and resurrection.

Key texts

  • 1 John 2:6
  • John 15:4-5
  • John 15:10

From the book

Sermon 1 · Growing in Christ · Read this chapter

  • “He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk even as He walked.” (sermon 1)
  • “We do not get into Christ by trying to walk as He walked; we do not abide in Christ by trying to walk as He walked; but we first get into Christ, and then as a consequence... the Christian, who really abides in Christ, [will] bring forth the same fruit that He bore, walking as He walked.” (sermon 1)
  • “I am the door, I am the way, I am the light, I am the bread, I am the Good Shepherd, I am the life, I am the resurrection.” (sermon 1)

Put it into practice

  • Examine whether my 'walk' flows from a living connection to Christ or from mere self-effort at imitation.
  • Test every idea I have of 'how Christ walked' against Scripture rather than tradition or popular opinion.
  • Claim by faith one of Christ's 'I am' provisions—door, way, light, bread, shepherd, life, resurrection—for a specific need today.
  1. Comprehension

    1. According to 1 John 2:6, what is the necessary result of abiding in Christ?

  2. Scripture

    2. How does Prescott say we come to walk as Christ walked?

  3. Doctrinal Clarity

    3. Why is it dangerous to accept a human idea of 'how Christ walked' rather than Scripture's own record?

  4. Comprehension

    4. What incident does Prescott use to show 'the walk of faith'?

  5. Doctrinal Clarity

    5. Why did the Pharisees criticize Christ's walk, and how did He answer them?

  6. Contrast

    6. What did Christ mean when He said, 'I have kept My Father's commandments'?

  7. Scripture

    7. How does Prescott use the 'I am' statements of John's Gospel?

  8. Application

    8. Which of the 'I am' provisions do you most need to claim today, and why?