Contrasting Approaches to Abiding in Christ: The Grace-Oriented Path vs. Spiritual Exercises
Abiding in Christ is not about striving—it is about resting in His indwelling life.
Many believers desire to deepen their relationship with Christ, but the way they pursue this goal varies widely. Two contrasting approaches are evident in Christian teaching today: one that rests in the sufficiency of Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit, and another that relies on structured spiritual exercises to cultivate intimacy with God. Bob Hoekstra, in Day by Day by Grace, presents a biblical model in which abiding in Christ is the work of the Holy Spirit, not an effort-driven series of disciplines. In contrast, our Discipleship Pastor is using Skye Jethani’s With as a premise for his 45-day program of spiritual exercises designed to help believers feel closer to Christ. While Jethani’s intent may be to encourage a life with God rather than one of transactional or fear-driven religion, the approach taken shifts the focus toward human effort rather than the Spirit’s work.
The Biblical Model: Abiding in Christ Through the Holy Spirit
Bob Hoekstra articulates a grace-based approach to spiritual growth, one that is rooted in the believer’s dependence on the Holy Spirit. He highlights the apostle Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:16-19, where Paul asks that believers would be "strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith."Hoekstra makes it clear that the process of abiding in Christ is not something we accomplish through structured effort, but rather something that the Holy Spirit accomplishes in us as we yield to Him.
In his devotional, Hoekstra writes: "Allowing Jesus to rule our hearts requires the empowering work of the Holy Spirit to break past spiritual obstacles such as apathy, fear, self-focus, and temptations. To allow Jesus to lead us in His way, we need the Holy Spirit enabling us to stay in God's word, to pray without ceasing, to worship daily, and to fellowship regularly."
Notice the focus: Jesus rules our hearts not because we discipline ourselves into closeness with Him, but because the Holy Spirit empowers us to trust, yield, and experience the reality of Christ’s indwelling presence. The key distinction is that spiritual vitality is not produced by our practices but by the Spirit’s work within us.
Paul reinforces this truth in Philippians 2:13: "For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." The believer’s role is to trust, rest, and yield—not to build intimacy through structured practices.
The Alternative Approach: Spiritual Exercises as a Means to Closeness
Our Discipleship Pastor presents a structured, 45-day journey of spiritual exercises aimed at helping believers feel closer to Christ. The premise of Skye Jethani’s book on which this journey is based is that many Christians relate to God in unhealthy ways (such as life over God, life under God, life for God), and that the best way forward is to live with God. While his critique of transactional Christianity is valid, the proposed solution introduces a subtle but significant shift: rather than resting in the Spirit’s indwelling work, believers are encouraged to engage in a regimen of spiritual practices to cultivate a sense of nearness to God.
The problem with this approach is not that spiritual disciplines are unbiblical, but that they are often framed as a pathway to intimacy rather than the fruit of abiding. The danger lies in making closeness with Christ something we achieve rather than something we experience through trust and dependence.
Paul, in Galatians 3:3, warns against such a mindset: "Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?" Programs that emphasize structured exercises can subtly communicate that spiritual vitality is something we must work toward rather than something already available in Christ.
Scaffolding vs. True Spiritual Growth
A helpful analogy is that of scaffolding in construction. When building a structure, scaffolding is useful to support development. However, once the actual building is complete, the scaffolding must be removed. Programs and structured exercises can serve as temporary supports, but they must never replace the organic, Spirit-led process of abiding in Christ.
Similarly, a trellis supports a growing vine, but the trellis itself is not the source of life—the vine is. If too much attention is given to the trellis (programs, structures), the focus shifts away from the actual organic growth of the vine (John 15:1-5). Programs must be oriented toward supporting the life of Christ in believers rather than replacing it with external routines.
This contrast is stark when compared to thriving house churches in persecuted nations like China. Under extreme persecution, believers have no scaffolding, no trellises—only Christ. And yet, they grow exponentially, abiding in Him, discipling others, and multiplying dynamically. Watchman Nee’s legacy in China’s underground church movement illustrates the power of true, Spirit-led discipleship rather than dependence on rigid programs.
Multiplication vs. Maintenance: The Organic Nature of Spirit-Led Growth
Another critical distinction is the difference between multiplication and maintenance:
Programs often focus on maintaining an institution—managing numbers, ensuring participation, and keeping a structured approach to discipleship.
Spirit-led discipleship results in multiplication, where believers grow naturally in Christ and disciple others without reliance on external structures (2 Timothy 2:2).
In persecuted environments, where structured programs are impossible, the Spirit moves powerfully. The underground church in China thrives not because of organized efforts but because believers are utterly dependent on Christ Himself.
Why Hoekstra’s Approach is Biblically Grounded
Hoekstra’s model aligns with the biblical doctrine of grace-based sanctification. Jesus Himself declared, "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me." (John 15:4). A branch does not strive to produce fruit—it simply remains connected to the vine, drawing all nourishment from it.
Similarly, Paul prays that believers would "be filled with all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:19). This is not an achievement through effort but a reality received through faith. The Holy Spirit accomplishes this work as we yield moment by moment, trusting in what Christ has already done.
Conclusion: The Call to Rest in Christ, Not Strive for Intimacy
While Jethani’s emphasis on rejecting transactional Christianity is commendable, the structured exercises developed by our Discipleship Pastor shifts the burden of intimacy onto the believer rather than onto the indwelling Spirit. The biblical model, as seen in Hoekstra’s teaching, is one of yielding, not striving; receiving, not achieving; resting, not reaching.
To pursue intimacy with Christ, we do not need 45 days of exercises—we need a lifetime of trusting in what is already true: "Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:27). The Spirit is already at work, strengthening us with might in the inner man. Our role is to believe it, rest in it, and let Him live through us.
Final Thought: If spiritual disciplines become a ladder to intimacy with Christ, we have missed the point. The Spirit is not an external coach guiding us toward God—He is God, already dwelling within us, making Christ’s presence a moment-by-moment reality.
Intent of Photo: A single branch connected to a thriving vine, emphasizing the effortless flow of life that comes from abiding in Christ.