But whoever keeps His word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in Him: whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.                     -1 John 2:5-6 ESV

Have you ever spoken with someone who referred to him or herself as a “Follower of Christ” rather than a Christian? For some, it’s simply a popular buzz-word used to appear spiritual. But for others, it denotes a profound truth in accordance with today’s text, that “whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” Biblically, it is an unavoidable truth that a faithful believer will exhibit both faith and works. James 2:14-26   So if we profess Jesus as Lord and Savior we must also follow him as such!

However, without Jesus’ gift of His righteousness and the Holy Spirit empowering us we could never live like Christ. Jesus illustrated this perfectly in John 15:4-5

"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. 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."

If we are genuinely in Christ, we will bear the fruit of righteousness. We will literally grow the fruit of Jesus’ life and ministry. We will increase in “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness” and “self-control.” (Galatians 5:22) Just like an apple tree cannot help but produce apples, so the Christian abiding in Christ cannot help but produce His life. His spiritual DNA is infused in us, so to speak, and we will live in a manner in which “truly the love of God is perfected” both in and toward us.

Remember the words of Paul, “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”  - Galantians 5:25