What Is the Simplest Explanation of What a Christian Should Do?

It's a beautiful thing to see people figure out that Jesus welcomes them and forgives them. It's horrific to watch some of those people take on the burden of becoming worthy of Jesus.

But it happens all the time, and I’m not sure why.

It might be because we live in a culture of achievement. Everywhere we look, the successful get rewarded, and to be considered a success, we have to do a lot.

It might be because we need value and a mind that believes value is earned.

It might be because our parents rewarded our good deeds and punished our bad ones.

It might be because we have such a strong self-image that we believe we can do anything.

Whatever the reason, people often come to the end of themselves and search for and find Jesus, his grace, his forgiveness, and his hospitality.

Then, unfortunately, once they are healed and helped through his salvation, they feel obligated to earn his favor. In that moment, their freedom becomes a burden, an impossible burden.

They start to chase after better character, stronger morals, and consistent religious duties, pulling themselves up by their bootstraps.

It seems noble. It sounds possible. It’s not.

We come to Christ because we can’t do life ourselves. We must continue in Christ because we can’t do life ourselves. He doesn’t expect us to. The life we're talking about is the deep, eternal, meaningful life we were created to live (see Matthew 5-7 for a taste of it).

Let’s simplify the Christian life and free each other with the truth.

Our GOAL is to glorify God.

That means we exist to make much of God, to reflect his greatness (1 Corinthians 10:31). To point to his goodness.

Our METHOD is to live on his agenda daily.

He intends for us to continually get to know better him and his ways, grow in Christlikeness and community with other believers, and go wherever he leads us to share the gospel and serve the church and the world.

Our BEST STRATEGY is to walk closely with Christ so that we overflow with his life and love.

It’s that simple.

It’s that different from running out on our own, trying hard to please Christ.

Instead, we connect with Christ and walk with him, living the life he would live if he were us and depending primarily on the Holy Spirit’s power instead of our own–following his lead, going on the adventure he navigates. Just being with him.

Jesus simplified our Christian lives to these points in John 15. Try reading the chapter once a day for a few days.

Jesus used vineyard imagery because he was probably walking through a vineyard, and his followers knew the imagery from the Old Testament. In that metaphor, Jesus said that his followers (“branches”) should “abide” or “remain” in him (the “True Vine”), and we would bear “much fruit.”

“Fruit” is anything good we do in life that glorifies God (John 15:8). It involves our character becoming Christlike, our witness producing new believers, our love meeting needs and healing hurts, using our gifts to create, build, and serve, and all sorts of goodness.

Jesus knew our need to depend on him for fruit to come. He clearly stated that living on our willpower alone would produce nothing of value. Here are Jesus’ words:

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

We can answer this question right now to evaluate how well we live this rugged Christian life that Jesus wants for us:

“Do I see a lot of fruit flowing from my life?”

It isn’t a question of our ability. It demonstrates our dependence or lack of it. It’s based on Jesus’ promise that he'll produce the fruit if we remain.

So, what's the answer?

I hope we each see “much fruit.”

The next logical question is, “What does ‘remain’ mean?”

Many people take the older translation, “abide,” and attempt a soft, devotional, spiritual connection with Christ, believing that is what Jesus meant. But he explains what he meant, and it's more solid than that, more practical and free.

In verse 7, he says remaining with him involves listening to him by reading the Bible and praying to him.

In verse 10, he says remaining with him includes obeying his teaching.

In verse 12, he says remaining with him means loving other people, and we know that “love” means wanting and working for the good of the one loved.

What's the best explanation for what a Christian should do?

We should “remain” in Christ. And that means we should be so connected to Jesus that we know him, we do whatever he wants us to do, and he works through us to do whatever he wants, producing fruit of all kinds and bringing glory to himself.

Is that simple enough? Better yet, it’s entirely possible.

What can we do today to “remain” in Christ?

Jesus wants to produce a lot of eternally valuable fruit through us. Our job is to be and go with Jesus.