LIFE ON THE VINE

John 15:1-11

 

Before I begin discussing the Parable of the Vine in John 15 I want to share some information about the events taking place in some previous chapters of John.

 

In John 13 we see the events taking place at the “Last Supper.” Jesus washes the feet of His disciples demonstrating how He wishes all Disciples of Christ to emulate Him in serving others in love. He communicates in this action that none of us should be above the ministry of serving others, even if the task is one of lowly service. Jesus also instructs His Disciples (and us as well) that we are to wash each other’s feet. The implication of this is that we are to serve each other as Christ’s disciples by loving each other and humbly ministering to each other in love. We are to be humble and demonstrate love in numerous ways. Imagine what would take place in all churches if Followers of Christ actually lived out their witness in this fashion! It is very likely disagreements, arguments and jealousy would be almost completely eradicated within all churches. It is also true that very likely non-believers would flock to churches because of the magnitude of love and examples of humble service that were being expressed toward those in the church.

 

We also see a dramatic event take place in John 13, Jesus reveals that one of the Disciples will betray Him. His Disciples are confused and concerned, each one possibly evaluating themselves as to whether they are the one of whom He is speaking. Jesus instructs Judas to do as he has planned (to betray Him) but the Disciples are clueless as to what Judas is about to do, assuming he is to do some task requiring money since Judas is in charge of the funds of Jesus ministry. Another revelation is revealed in this chapter as Peter is told that he will deny his commitment to Jesus not once, not twice, but actually three times. Peter denies that such a thing could happen, apparently disturbed that Jesus would say such a thing to Him.

 

In John 14, Jesus shares many important things concerning His future ministry of preparing a place for His followers in Heaven, important concepts about His relationship to His Father, instructing the Disciples to keep His commandments and that God the Father will give them a Helper to assist them in their future spiritual walk. Then Jesus asks them to go with Him. Many theologians have surmised that Jesus took His disciples on a walk to the Garden at Gethsemane where He would pray to the Father the night before He would be betrayed. We need to remember that it is about 24 hours before Jesus’ death to take place.

 

In John 15 we see Jesus leave the upper room and walk to the Garden of Gethsemane. On their journey from the upper room to the Garden of Gethsemane they very likely walked around the Temple Mount and taken a route across the Kidron Valley that followed the level areas of the steep slope of the hillsides. A logical route between the two sites would have followed the bottom of the valley or skirted around the outside walls of the city. If this was the path they took, Jesus and his disciples would have walked a little over a mile to get to Gethsemane. During their walk along the path to the Garden, it is very likely that they passed by areas where grapes were grown and they would have also seen where the Jewish vinedressers had purged the sucker branches of the grapevines and had thrown them in the street or along the path where eventually they would have been burned. 

 

The grape vine had been a symbol of the Jewish nation for a long time and they also associated various trees as symbols of privileges of the Jewish nation as you can see below.

Three plants were symbols of Israel. They all stood for the fruitfulness of the land.

 

 THE FIG-TREE is a symbol of Israel’s National privileges. (Matthew 21)

 

 THE OLIVE TREE is a symbol of Israel’s Religious privileges. (Romans 11)

 

 THE VINE is a symbol of Israel’s Spiritual privileges. (Isaiah 5)We find in Psalms 80 and Isaiah 5 mention of Israel being referenced as the God’s Vineyard or Vine as well.

 

Unfortunately for our purposes, the Gospels do not provide us with the exact location of the Upper Room. The current site claiming to be the location of the Last Supper was built in the twelfth century. However, it might be close to the original location. Indeed, archaeological excavations on the site have concluded that there was a structure here at the time of Jesus. The Garden of Gethsemane was located on the Mount of Olives across the Kidron Valley from Jerusalem. The exact location of Gethsemane is also not known. Several sites on the mount have been identified as the exact location of the garden as early as the fourth century. As the crow flies, these sites are just under a mile apart. Jesus would not likely have walked directly there, however. He would likely have had to walk around the Temple Mount and taken a route across the Kidron Valley that followed the counters of the steep slope. A logical route between the two sites would have followed the bottom of the valley or skirted around the outside walls of the city. Of course, it is uncertain if this was the route used. If so, Jesus and his disciples would have walked about 1.15 to 1.25 miles to get to Gethsemane.

 

 John 15 contains the parable that Jesus shares with the 11 disciples as they walk to the Garden of Gethsemane.

 

John 15:1-11 

1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. 3 “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 6 “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. 7 “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. 9 “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. 10 “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 11 “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.”

 

IDEAL SPIRITUAL PRODUCTIVITY OF THE BRANCH THAT ABIDES IN THE VINE

 

IT IS OF THE RIGHT STOCK

 

1a “I am the true vine…”  (Jesus is the Vine)

 

This statement in the first verse of John chapter 15 communicates that the “true vine” is of the right stock when it comes to spiritual life.

 

In God’s creation there are various species of animals, but within a certain breed of animal there are various stocks of low or higher value. The same applies to plants. Plants come in various species as well and within a species there are species which are of lower quality or value and others which are of high quality and therefore of higher value.

 

When Jesus speaks here of Him being the “true” vine He is implying that  when it comes to spiritual matters He is the one and only “TRUE” vine, the one of ultimate truth, value, meaning and worth.

 

False spiritual vines that do not reflect God’s Truth do exist and can be identified by how they twist or distort God’s Holy Word or ignore it altogether. This might be anything from a false philosophy, a man-made belief system or a religion which distorts Bible interpretation to suit a false way of life or belief in God.

 

In Jesus’ time the Gnostic religion would have been such an example as well as the numerous false gods, the Romans worshipped and served. Today we continue to have false ‘vines” that claim they are the true vine or ultimate truth such as, Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Christian Science, Scientology, the Health and Wealth Gospel to name a few.

 

God’s Word verifies in numerous references that Jesus Christ, God’s only Son is perfect, pure, loving as only God can be.

 

Hebrews 7:26

“For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens;”

 

2 Corinthians 5:21

“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

 

 Hebrews 4:15

“For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.”

 

1 Peter 1:19

“but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.”

 

1 Peter 2:22

“WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH;”

 

 IT IS TENDED BY AN EXPERT

 

“1b…and My Father is the vinedresser.”

 

The vine is tended by an expert; an experienced Vinedresser, this is God the Father.

 

Phillip Keller describes how God is the Expert Vinedresser in the lives of those who have accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior when he states in his book; “A Gardener Looks at the Fruits of the Spirit” the following;

 

“He is the Good Gardener who toils over us and tends us with constant care. Patiently He waits for the full fruitage. He finds joy in the planting He has done, and He waits eagerly for a crop. With great joy He gathers the harvest. There is deep delight in all He does. There is enthusiasm in everything He undertakes. There is sweet satisfaction in all His enterprises. His life, vitality, enthusiasm, and energy are transmitted directly to each one of us by His Spirit who resides within.”

 

“It is His knowledge of each of us, His careful husbanding of the ground of each of our being, His concern for our welfare, His cultivation of our characters, His constant presence in the garden of our little lives, that guarantees our joy. For little by little we come to discover that He is totally trustworthy, we learn that no matter how unpredictable people may prove, or how exasperating events may be, or how crushing circumstances may seem, He is still there (here), utterly reliable.”

 

“Because of His total integrity and absolute honesty and constant love expressed to us as His person we are charged with joy.”

 

Our Heavenly Father is the Creator of the Universe and the Holy Scriptures substantiate the essence of His nature. He is:

 

Omnipotent (He has all-encompassing-absolute power)

Omnipresent (He is present in every nook and cranny of the universe)

Omniscient (He has complete knowledge of everything that exists)

 

Psalm 139 is especially insightful and descriptive of the attributes of the Divine Vinedresser.

 

PSALMS 139

 

1 O Lord, You have searched me and known me.

 

2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar.

 

3 You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways.

 

4 Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O Lord, You know it all.

 

5 You have enclosed me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me.

 

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain to it.

 

7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?

 

8 If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.

 

9 If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,

 

10 Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me.

 

11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, And the light around me will be night,”

 

12 Even the darkness is not dark to You, And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You.

 

13 For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb.

 

14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.

 

15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;

 

16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them.

 

17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them!

 

18 If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with You.

 

19 O that You would slay the wicked, O God; Depart from me, therefore, men of bloodshed.

 

20 For they speak against You wickedly, And Your enemies take Your name in vain.

 

21 Do I not hate those who hate You, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?

 

22 I hate them with the utmost hatred; They have become my enemies.

 

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts;

 

24 And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.

 

PURGING and NURTURING

RESULTS IN BOUNTIFUL FRUIT PRODUCTION

 

2a “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away;”

 

The Greek word “airo” (ah’-ee-ro) is most often translated “takes away.”

 

Ever since Christ first ministered on the earth to the present age, there are those who are drawn to the message of Christ’s saving work. Some fully commit, accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and grow in grace, knowledge and spiritual understanding and commitment. They have chosen to abide with Christ in a personal relationship of commitment to live a holy life.

 

But there are also some who while attracted to the Gospel of Christ ultimately fail to fully commit their lives to living in a Christ-like manner and submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Their issues may be due to disbelief, meager commitment or the temptation to seek out sin. Those who are not fully committed and never really produce spiritual fruit are not truly connected to the Vine, Jesus Christ. They never wish to completely turn over every aspect of their lives to the Father, Son and Spirit. In essence, while they know of Christ, they fail to fully and consistently allow themselves to abide in the Vine which entails loving Christ, obeying scripture and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide them in their lives. They resist the influence and ministry of the Holy Spirit.

 

Examples of people who followed Christ’s teachings for a short time but ended up falling away are Simon Magnus (Acts 8:9-24) and Judas (Matthew 10:1-4, 26:47-50). These men were never fully committed to Jesus’ teachings and message. They both had an underlying desire to go their own way and did not give up their entire life to Christ.

 

Various New Testament scriptures speak of the necessity of persistence and obedience in how we walk in our relationship with the Father, Son and Spirit.

 

1 Corinthians 15:1-2

“Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.”

 

Colossians 1:21-23

“… you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach —  if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven…”

 

2 Peter 2:20-22

“For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them. It has happened to them according to the true proverb, “A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT…”

 

Matthew 7:19-23

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.  Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’”

 

The New Testament book of Hebrews also has several warning passages that discuss the state of people who seem to be interested in the Gospel, but do not fully commit their lives to Jesus Christ. The book of Hebrews is a letter written to an early Christian church, possibly near or in Rome, Italy. The makeup of the church was mostly Jews of the Hebrew faith who had been attracted to the Gospel of Christ shared with them by Christians in the first century. It is believed that a portion of people in this church were considering leaving and going back to the Jewish faith for possibly at least two reasons. There was an increase in persecution of the Christians by the Roman Empire and it is believed that the Jewish family members of these people were encouraging and putting pressure on these Hebrews to return to the Jewish faith. In other words there were some people in this church that were partially committed. They were tempted to return to the Jewish faith because they wanted to again experience the Jewish religious rituals of the Old Testament as well as fellowship with friends and family of their early years. Whoever wrote Hebrews (I believe it was Apollos) was warning those who were wishing to leave the church and the Christian faith that this would bring God’s judgment upon them.  In the book of Hebrews there are five warning passages to those who were considering leaving the church fellowship.

 

Here are the passages in Hebrews. As you read them carefully, you will see these are dire warnings communicated in love to those who are considering leaving the early Christian church and returning to the bondage of laws and regulations of the Jewish faith.

 

Hebrews 2:1-4

“For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.”

 

Hebrews 3:12-19

“Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end, while it is said” “TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS, AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME.” For who provoked Him when they had heard? Indeed, did not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.”

 

Hebrews 6:1-8

“Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. And this we will do, if God permits. For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.”

 

Hebrews 10:26-31

“For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES. Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.” And again, “THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.” It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

 

Hebrews 12:25-29

“See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven. And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “YET ONCE MORE I WILL SHAKE NOT ONLY THE EARTH, BUT ALSO THE HEAVEN.” This expression, “Yet once more,” denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire.”

 

It is important for every Disciple of Christ to seek to remain committed to Jesus Christ as their Savior, to honor God their Heavenly Father and to listen and obey to the influence of the Holy Spirit who lives within them if they have truly accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior.

 

The Vinedresser (God the Father) cultures and nurtures the branches (Disciples of Christ) who are intimately connected through abiding in the Vine (Christ).

 

This implies that God the Father will work in the life of the Christian who is abiding in Christ to seek to build their faith, develop their spiritual gifts and present opportunities for them to minister. It is very likely the Father will at times accomplish this through the agency of the Holy Spirit that is given to the Christian at the time of their acceptance of Christ as their Lord and Savior.

 

2b “and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.”

 

Again we see here that God the Father will work in the life of the Disciple of Christ allowing events and situations to take place that will both build and test their faith. Pruning can be painful at times for the Follower of Christ as God works out His pruning process. Such testing of faith increases the strength and depth of faith of the Christian in order to produce more spiritual fruit in their life. As the Christian’s faith deepens and grows stronger spiritual fruit will be produced and in greater quantities and quality as they mature and become more Christ-like.

 

Another aspect of this pruning process is that it refines us to become more like Christ while at the same time builds our spiritual maturity and facilitates the necessity of us growing spiritually.

 

The Fruit (Fruit of the Spirit) that the Vine (Christ) produces in the Branch (Christians) is manifested in NINE specific ways. We see this described in Galatians chapter 5.

 

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

 

The Fruit of the Vine is actually the fruit of the Spirit of God that is manifested as we cling to and abide in the Vine which is Christ Himself. This Fruit of the Spirit has nine basic characteristics which is listed in Galatians chapter 5.

 

Galatians 5:22-23

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

 

But Galatians 5 also lists the Fruit of the Flesh that is manifested in a person who is either not a Disciple of Christ or who is a carnal Christian, was never really fully committed to Christ and is falling away from their meager relationship with Christ, if you would even call it a relationship at all.

 

Listed in Galatians 5 are fifteen sinful types of fruit, but it also indicates that there may be additional ones. Anything that does not proceed from faith is sin; Romans 14:23.

 

THE FRUIT OF THE FLESH

 

Galatians 5:19-22

“Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

 

You can see from the list of Fruits of the Flesh that these are the exact opposites of what a Christian should be or express in their lives. While it is often true we might fall into any one of these sins at one time or another. A true Disciple of Christ would never consistently manifest such actions and attitudes without asking forgiveness from God and others. They would also seek to overcome such temptations and actions by confessing their sins to God, seeking wise counsel and remaining accountable to other Followers of Christ to assure their walk would improve. 

 

Jesus shares here that the disciples were clean because of the living word that He has shared with them. The Disciples had heard and believed the Truth of the Word, that Jesus was and is the Son of God. They remained committed to Him while Judas had already left to betray Jesus. The remaining eleven disciples were Jesus’ true disciples. Their continued commitment to Jesus at this time was validation that they believed the Gospel He had shared with them.

 

3 “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.”

 

Jesus shares here that the disciples were clean because of the living word that He has shared with them.

 

Several times in the New Testament we see Jesus sharing that hearing the words of the Gospel and believing in them is a form of cleansing of the soul because they were the message He came to proclaim. This message was that there was salvation only in Him.

 

Earlier in John 8:31-32 where Jesus was sharing the Gospel, “So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

 

Again in John 13:10-11 when Jesus had washed the Disciples feet Jesus shared the following regarding “being clean.” “Jesus said to him, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.”  For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, “Not all of you are clean.” This one who Jesus knew was betraying Him and was not clean was Judas.

 

John 14:23-24 also states, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.”

 

Jesus in these passages of scripture is communicating that it is drastically important to His words that He speaks for they come directly from His Father in Heaven and relate intimately to having fellowship with the Father and to salvation.

 

The Disciples had heard and believed the Truth of the Word, that Jesus was and is the Son of God. They remained committed to Him while Judas had already left to betray Jesus. The remaining eleven disciples were Jesus’ true disciples. Their continued commitment to Jesus at this time was validation that they believed the Gospel He had shared with them.

 

The word “ABIDE” is used 10 times in John 15:4-11

 

THE RIGHT RELATIONSHIP

 

 

4 “ABIDE(1)  in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it ABIDES(2) in the vine, so neither can you unless you ABIDE(3) in Me.”

 

To “Abide” is to “continue in a place; to dwell.”

 

Other definitions include to “obey, observe, follow, uphold, heed and accept.”

 

Jesus is telling His disciples and us as well that as branches we should abide in Him, the Vine.

 

We cannot bear any kind of spiritual fruit unless we “abide” in Him. We may do many kind things, serve others in magnificent ways and give many of our possessions to help those in need, but unless we are abiding in Christ we cannot call these acts of service that bring glory to God. If we do such things for the primary goal of feeding our ego or pride of how good we are, we have lost our focus that should be on the example of Christ. But it is only natural to feel pleased when God has used you to minister to others in His name.

 

Numerous other scriptures in the New Testament give us some instruction as to what constitutes true abiding in Christ.

 

1 John 2:21-24

“I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth. Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also. As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.”

 

1 John 2:28-29

“Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him.”

 

1 John 3:17-18

“But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.”

 

1 John 4:13

“By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.”

 

2 John 9

“Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.”

 

THE RESULT OF ABIDING: ABUNDANT FRUIT

 

5 “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who ABIDES(4) in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”

 

There is both an “active” and a “passive manner in which we “abide in Christ and we see it illustrated in verse 5. The active manner in verse 5 states, “he who abides in Me” which describes our responsibility in our relationship with Christ. We are to put effort into the relationship. We are to live like Christ according to what we read and study in Holy Scripture. We must seek to apply what we are taught by the Holy Spirit as He uses the Holy Scriptures to convict and instruct us in holy living. We are to communicate with God in our daily prayers and throughout the day as situations arise for us to make decision. The passive manner in which we live as Disciples of Christ is when we allow Him to live in us which is implied in the statement “and I in him.” 

 

This concept is also found in the following scripture passage;

 

Philippians 2:12-13

“So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”

 

You can see here in this Philippians passage that as Disciples of Christ we are “work out our salvation with fear and trembling” but at the same time we see that “it is God who is at work in us, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”

 

When we abide in Christ we then allow the Holy Spirit, who lives within us as Disciples of Christ, to manifest spiritual fruit in our lives for the glory of God the Father, Son and Spirit. Galatians lists nine manifestations of spiritual fruit that result when we seek to honor our Heavenly Father, to walk like Jesus Christ and to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

 

 THE RESULT OF FAILURE TO ABIDE IN CHRIST

 

6 “If anyone does not ABIDE(5) in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.”

 

This verse states that if ANYONE does not ABIDE in Christ he or she will be thrown away as a branch, a spiritually dead branch you might say, which is implied by the words “dries up.” This implies that there are some individuals who seek God, but withhold complete commitment or submission to the Father, Son and Spirit. To ABIDE in the Vine (JESUS), is to be immersed in a relationship with Christ.

 

Jesus is stating here that abiding in Him is absolutely necessary for having a spiritual relationship with Him. This does not mean you must be perfect in thought and behavior, abundantly knowledgeable in spiritual matters, able to express your spiritual gifts in magnificent proficiency nor an expert in how to witness to others.

 

It simply means you are committed to a spiritual intimacy with God where you rely upon the Father, Son and Spirit to guide your life.

 

It means you submit to respect and obey the Bible, pray regularly, seek to live like Christ by the enablement of the Holy Spirit.

 

It means when you stumble and fail in these areas you humbly seek forgiveness from God and seek to move forward in life seeking to be guided by the Holy Spirit, live by God’s Word and seek fellowship with other Christians so you can grow in faith and spiritual maturity.

 

God is the perfect “spiritual” parent. He knows every intimate detail of our lives. He knows absolutely if we are a member of His family.

 

Since He knows absolutely everything about everyone, there is no unfairness in this verse which states that those who do not ABIDE in Christ will be cast into the fire of judgment and burned up.

 

ABIDING IN CHRIST PRODUCES BLESSINGS

IN OUR PRAYER LIFE

 

7 “If you ABIDE(6) in Me, and My words ABIDE(7) in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

 

This verse would seem to imply that we can possibly ask God for whatever in the world we would want and we will be given it or it will be done for us. But notice the qualification in this verse. It is a 5-letter word; “ABIDE.”

 

IF we truly ABIDE in Christ we will, in godly wisdom and appropriate spiritual discernment, ask God only for what would bring Him the greatest glory. We would not be carnal or worldly in our requests of Him nor would we ask for something that would gratify our flesh. Since we would be abiding in Him intimately we would humbly ask for insight in what we should or should not ask for in any particular situation and wait for His response.

 

We see in Christ’s example the tenacity and endurance of His faith which was due to His totally perfect manner in which He abided in His Father. We see by Christ’s example that the following is true;

 

ABIDING TAKES FAITH!

ABIDING PRODUCES the FRUIT of the SPIRIT!

ABIDING TAKES PLACE in the CENTER of HIS LOVE!

ABIDING in CHRIST GLORIFIES GOD and VERIFIES OUR FAITH!

 

ABIDING IN CHRIST GLORIFIES GOD

AND VERIFIES OUR FAITH

 

8 “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.”

 

Jesus is stating in this verse that God the Father is glorified when we bear much fruit which is the holy calling we have as Disciples of Christ. It should be a natural response to God’s love for us and Jesus’ sacrifice for us that we seek to glorify God by manifesting spiritual fruit in our lives.

 

Bearing or producing spiritual fruit in our lives is a natural expression of our new life in Christ.

 

It demonstrates that the Holy Spirit truly dwells within us and is proof that our commitment to Christ is real.

 

OUR CALLING AS A CHRISTIAN IS TO GLORIFY GOD IN ALL THINGS!

  

WHEN WE LIVE LIKE CHRIST WE VERIFY OUR COMMITMENT TO OBEY CHRIST!

 

WHEN WE WALK IN THE SPIRIT WE VERIFY OUR INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SPIRIT!

 

WHEN WE OBEY THE WORD OF GOD IN ALL AREAS OF OUR LIFE WE GLORIFY GOD OUR FATHER!

 

 WE ARE TO ABIDE IN CHRIST’S LOVE

 

9 “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; ABIDE (8) in My love.

 

Once again, Jesus tells his disciples to abide in His love. Repetition of a command is communicating the great importance of obeying the command. It demonstrates the necessity of not just hearing, but doing what we are told by our Master. Do you remember what James 1:22-25 states?

 

James 1:22-25

“But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.”

 

WHEN WE KEEP CHRIST’S COMMANDMENTS WE ABIDE IN HIM

 

10 “If you keep My commandments, you will ABIDE(9) in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and ABIDE(10) in His love.”

 

In verse 10 Jesus gives an “If” “Then” statement. In other words He states that “If” you do such and such, “Then” this will take place. Specifically He states “IF you keep My commandments, “THEN” you will Abide in My love.

 

He also gives a perfect example of how this takes place by giving His own obedience as a model to live by in the second part of this verse.

 

The following are truthful sayings in regards to obeying God, living like Christ and being led by the Holy Spirit.

 

WE ABIDE IN CHRIST WHEN WE ARE OBEDIENT TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER!

 

WE ABIDE IN CHRIST WHEN WE LIVE LIKE CHRIST!

 

WE ABIDE IN CHRIST WHEN WE ARE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT AND DO NOT GRIEVE HIM!

 

1 John 2:3-6

“By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.”

 

WE ABIDE IN CHRIST TO GIVE CHRIST JOY

AS WELL AS OURSELVES

 

11 “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.”

 

Jesus shared about the necessity of abiding in Him so that we would experience the fullness of godly joy in our lives and that He also would experience joy in us. 

 

 ABIDING IS —  FOLLOWING GOD’S COMMANDS

                          RECEIVING CONTINUOUSLY FROM GOD

                          TRUSTING IN GOD’S PROMISES

 

ABIDING IS —  REALIZING HIS PRESENCE

                         RESPONDING TO HIS PRODDING AND PROBING

                         RESTING IN HIS PEACE

                         ABIDING IN CHRIST IS NOT “PASSIVE!”

 

We are to ACTIVELY and CONSISTENTLY SEEK to ABIDE IN CHRIST as we go about our daily lives remembering who we are IN CHRIST and the HOLY CALLING we have upon our lives as well as the COMMITMENT WE HAVE to other DISCIPLES OF CHRIST.

 

Hebrews 12:1-2

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

 

1 Peter 2:9-10

“But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.”

 

We should consider the numerous other scripture passages that instruct us to ABIDE IN CHRIST as God’s Love and Spirit abides in us as we walk like true Disciples of Christ.

 

1 John 2:26-29

 “These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you. As for you, the anointing which you received from Him ABIDES in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you ABIDE in Him. Now, little children, ABIDE in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him.”

 

1 John 3:17-18

“But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God ABIDE in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.”

 

1 John 4:9-14

“By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God ABIDES in us, and His love is perfected in us. By this we know that we ABIDE in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.”

 

2 John 8-9

“Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward. Anyone who goes too far and does not ABIDE in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who ABIDES in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. “

 

Saint Patrick’s definition of abiding in Christ is something to not only consider, but to grasp the all encompassing implications of how intimate and complete this abiding should be in our lives.

 

“Christ BESIDE me,

Christ BEFORE me,

Christ BEHIND me,

Christ WITHIN me,

Christ BENEATH me,

Christ ABOVE me.”

 

DAILY DISCIPLINES FOR ABIDING IN CHRIST!

 

Dedicate time each day to Prayer and Reading God’s Word!

 

Psalms 1:2-3

“But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.”

 

 

Ask Jesus to fill you with the Holy Spirit. (As a Christian you have Spirit within you, but your desire should be to be filled with Him!

 

Ephesians 5:18

“be filled with the Spirit.”

 

Invite Jesus into your life circumstances.

 

James 1:5-6

“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

 

Love God and others.

 

Mark 12:30-31

“AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’  “The second is this, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

 

Yield to the Spirit of God!

Romans 8:12-15

“So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh, for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”

 

WHAT IT MEANS TO ABIDE IN JESUS

 

ADORE HIS MAJESTY IN PRAYER (John 15:5)

 

BLESS HIM THROUGH SERVICE (John 15:10)

 

INCLINE YOUR HEART TOWARD HIS WORD (John 15:10)

 

DWELL DEEP IN HIS LOVE (JOHN 15:4-5)

 

EXALT HIM WITH JOY (John 15:11)

 

Romans 8:12-15

“So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh, for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”

 

Do you have the tenacity of commitment to ABIDE IN CHRIST this man did who desperately sought to read the Word of God? Here is his true story!

 

“A man in Kansas City was severely injured in an explosion. His face was badly disfigured, and he lost his eyesight as well as both hands. He had just become a Christian when the accident happened, and one of his greatest disappointments was that he could no longer read the Bible. Then he heard about a lady in England who read Braille with her lips. Hoping to do the same, he sent for some books of the Bible in Braille. But he discovered that the nerve endings in his lips had been too badly damaged to distinguish the characters. One day, as he brought one of the Braille pages to his lips, his tongue happened to touch a few of the raised characters and he could feel them. Like a flash he thought, ‘I can read the Bible using my tongue.’ The man has now read the Bible over four times using his tongue.”

The Wonder of the Word of God, Robert L. Sumner