98: Dead to the Law, Alive in Christ: Why Abiding Isn’t About Striving

How do you “abide in Jesus” when everything in you wants to earn your way to Him? In this episode of Naughty vs Nice, Todd, Laura, and Kelly tackle one of the most misunderstood ideas in modern Christianity—abiding—and why so many believers are still living like they’re married to the law instead of joined to Christ. They unpack Paul’s teaching in Romans 7 and Galatians 3, exploring what it means to die to the law, be united with Christ, and stop dragging around the corpse of your “old covenant” husband. The law served its purpose—but it was never meant to make you holy. Only Jesus does that. You’ll hear about: Why the American church’s obsession with checklists and “holy productivity” mirrors occult thinking. How “if you love Me, you’ll keep My commandments” doesn’t mean returning to legalism. The difference between believing in God and abiding in Christ. Why resting in Him will produce more fruit than striving ever could. If you’ve ever wondered why your Christian walk feels exhausting, this episode is your invitation to stop performing and start abiding. References Scripture: Romans 7; Galatians 3; John 15; John 14; Matthew 4; Daniel 3; Genesis 39 Themes: grace vs. law, abiding, antinomian misunderstanding, performance-based faith, freedom in Christ