What was the result? They are useless and so are cut out and discarded. To abide is to continue, to stay, to remain. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. How does God prune His children? John 3:6-9 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. In 1 Corinthians 16:6 some mss. First of all it denotes that which is true or genuine in contrast to that which is false or spurious. The teaching of abide in the Bible is one that we shouldnt ignore. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 1. John 15:9-10, Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. Abide in Me, and I in you. Jesus statement that apart from Me you can do nothing is a true statement in all respects, but the context here is in not being able to bear fruit apart from Christ. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Remember the illustration of the John 15:4 meaning; a branch relies, or depends on, the vine. abide by. Three Ways to "Abide in Me" The first key to abiding in Christ is receiving and believing Him. Jesus tells us He is "the way and the truth and the life" and says no one comes to the Father except. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Our moral code and conduct are based in our love for God and prodded by the Holy Spirit who indwells us. The intimacy of physical contact and association with their Lord would be set aside for a deeper, more lasting, spiritual union with Him. writer: out of the 118 times the word is used, John uses it 40 times in his gospel, 24 times in 1 John, 3 times in 2 John, and 1 in Revelation, for 68 times total, or more than 60% of the total usage. Jesus makes this distinction in verse 3. Its only through abiding in Christ that a follow of Jesus can produce fruit and find what they are truly longing for. The Abide Bible is designed to help you experience the peace, hope, and growth that comes from encountering the voice and presence of God in Scripture. What does 1 John say about the importance of abiding in Christ? The grapes themselves were costly jewels. In James 1:25, of steadfast continuance in the law of liberty. He is simply showing that abiding is not an option, but an essential requirement for life. In the context of this passage He is talking to His eleven remaining disciples. What motivation for service! 1 Corinthians 3:14 chapter context similar meaning copy save If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. Isaiah 40:17 declares Gods view of mankinds power, All the nations are as nothing before Him, They are regarded by Him as less than nothing and meaningless. If you have some position of power or fame, it is only because God has let you have it. The soul of the true disciple and heaven are dwelling-places of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Just like relationships with friends and family, speaking with the Lord regularly and honestly is key to growing in His love. In Isaiah 5 the nation Israel is likened to a vineyard that does not produce fruit. Read the Bible. may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth. According to tradition, all of the disciples, save one, would die a martyrs death. Our Lord Jesus Christ Who came as the True Vine would accomplish all Israel failed to do. 2 : to accept without objection . May God enable us to abide in Him. "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. The word abide in the Bible only appears a few times in the New Testament (John 15:4, 1 John 2:28). When the words of John chapter fifteen were spoken, the disciples had spent a great deal of time with the Savior and the honeymoon period was about to come to a close. There is a relationship of complete dependence between the branch and the vine. Also check out: The Powerful Meaning Of Matthew 11:28-30 (my yoke is easy meaning). But this passage of Scripture has some incredible truth for us today. What is necessary in order for you to bear fruit? Maybe youve heard that term before. The Father is intimately involved in this relationship between the vine and the branches. 14:17), Religious rituals, moral codes, practices and doctrine are ______________if you do not abide in Christ, Those without a redeemed relationship with God in the here and now have no basis for one in ___________, Those not abiding in Christ will lack the _____of righteousness and may show the fruit of sin (Gal. Gods pruning of us through trials and tribulations is not pleasant at the time, but such things force us to be more dependent upon Him. Its the only way to find the abundant life that Jesus promised us in John 10:10. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; 8 the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. Apart from God we can do nothing. (See The Final Passover, Part 2), Jesus statements that He was about to go away left them sad, so He has also comforted them with assurance that though He was going away, He was going to His Fathers house and would be preparing a place for them there, and He would return for them and bring them to that place. "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". 4 And let endurance have [its] perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (James 1:2-4). Active. They had already been cleansed by faith in His words (verse 3). Christians are forgiven no matter how many times they sin, but at the same time Christians should live a progressively more holy life as they grow closer to Christ. This fruit in turn proves that we are disciples or followers of Jesus. Abiding in Christ implies dependence on him. (If you would like to receive Pastor Harris weekly sermons via e-mail, Click Here), (If you would like to download the PowerPoint presentation for this sermon, Click here 200 Abiding in Christ ), Pastor Scott L. Harris 148 The commentaries contain seemingly endless discussions of the interpretation of the expression in verse 2, Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; The questions are difficult. Think back to the illustration of John 15 of the branches and the vine. The topic of abide in the Bible carries with it this idea of continuance, staying with God. 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.read more.If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. A large gold grapevine was used to decorate the gates of the temple constructed by Herod. KJV, ASV Num 32:6 Tools But as life gets busy, things come up, other opportunities come, they disconnect and go their separate ways. This passage was intended to bring peace, assurance and comfort to troubled men (cf. (See: The Final Passover, Part 1). Stahl Hamilton called it 'playful commentary' 3TV's David Caltabiano snagged a copy of the doorbell . Abode, as a noun (Greek mone) twice in New Testament: "make our abide with him" (John 14:23); "mansions," the Revised Version, margin "abiding-places" (John 14:2). Bibliography Information Orr, James, M.A., D.D. 158 Myers Corners Road Abide in Me, and I in you. Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love (John 15:9). in 1971. Some try to make this passage about soul winning and having many converts to Christ, but that is not the context. The world is to see Him in uswe are His hands, His feet, His mouth. Some have thought that Jesus reference in verse 2 about these branches being in Him means that these are saved people. Its through this dependance that we are sustained. of Thats what the John 15:4 meaning teaches us. An itinerant rabbi, Jesus was constantly on the move. 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. My personal opinion is that we have lost sight of the major thrust of these verses which stress our relationship to the Father and the Son. This is clearly the force of the term in verse 16: You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain (John 15:16). Jesus has used some of the elements of Passover to establish a new memorial meal which we commonly refer to as the Lords Supper or Communion. The vine had become a symbol of the nation Israel. Jesus had already commented on the confidence those who believe in Him can have in prayer back in John 14:13-14. What condition must be met first in order to abide in Jesus? What significance did the vine have to the Jews of that time? "But if I [Jesus] cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.". Those who do not abide in Christ are worthless to His cause and probably a hindrance. We come to the first imperative (or command) of the chapter in verse 4. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night. To help us better understand what it means to abide in the Bible we are going to look at the most famous passage that talks about this. He would not be heralded as Israels king, but hated (verse 18). Its never good in the long run. The hatred of . All of us should be willing to do so and to show it in simple acts of sacrificial kindness. Jesus and the disciples are in an upper room in Jerusalem where they have just celebrated the Passover meal. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Similarly, we are to rely on God. Abiding in Christ in its simplest terms is trusting our Lord and obeying His word. We have the cart before the horse. How can you have Jesus joy? The Lord Jesus is the true vine. ( Galatians 2:20, Colossians 2:6, Romans 8:1, Hebrews 3:6 ) Here are some examples: Immorality is flagrant in fornication, adultery and prostitution, but it is just as real in the secret peeks at pornography on the internet. 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. Old English word signifying progressively to "await," "remain," "lodge," "sojourn," "dwell," "continue," "endure"; represented richly in Old Testament (King James Version) by 12 Hebrew and in New Testament by as many Greek words. 1. Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. What a comfort! Notice that this connection is mutual, meaning both sides have to agree to it. Just as a branch cannot live and bear fruit except it draws its life from the vine, so we cannot, live and bear fruit for God unless we draw our life from Jesus. In Matthew 11 theres a similar teaching that Jesus gives where he invites us to be yoked with him. All the other paths we think will deliver true joy ultimately rob us. Deut 30:9. Though He will be crucified and no longer with them, they can still trust in Him and His many promises. What fruit do you see in your own life? Describe what you did, why and the results. Douay-Rheims Bible Abide in me, and I in you. "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. 5:22-23 be developed, but they can also be developed into greater capacity. It cannot refer to ones loss of salvation. The Apostle John uses the word over 30 times alone which seems appropriate as he was one of the inner circle during Jesus' earthly life. True Christianity has all those things, but all of them are in keeping with a relationship with God. Nebuchadnezzar did not get his reason back until he was humbled and recognized that the Most High God is ruler over the realm of mankind, and bestows it on whomever He wishes (Daniel 4). Abiding in Christ by obeying His commands changes our relationship from that of slaves to that of friends (verse 14-15). have this word. Why? The context of the reference to doing nothing here is in reference to producing the fruit mentioned in verse 5. They are no different from those in the world who seek their purpose in life from things such as wealth, fame, power, comfort, or pleasure. They are meeting the conditions of 1 John 5:14-15, And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But this I do not think to be the emphasis which our Lord intends here. The nature of the relationship between Christ and His followers was to change from a physical one to that which was spiritual, and the means of sustaining this kind of relationship are described for us. That has been Jesus continuing claim throughout the gospel of John and has been pointed out in previous sermons. It is this type of prayer that brings glory to God by the much fruit that we bear as a result of it. The 8-week Bible study From Beginning to Forever reveals the entirety of Scripture as God's big story and His work to redeem and restore the entire world. When will you do it? I liked that. What is the context of John 15:1-11? KIDS KORNER Seriously, abide is found in the Bible over 100 times. The Lord your God will make you prosper abundantly in all the work of your hands with children, the offspring of your livestock, and your land's produce. If you never spend any time with him that connection will fall apart. Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him. When a man and his wife have an intimacy of relationship, there is often from their union the gift of children. (2) The second major question is whether or not verse 2 must be understood as parallel to verse 6. That is the result of living in Jesus Christ. Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. Grace Bible Church, NY The Rev. Abiding also allows us to pray with confidence and growing faith as we receive answers. 15 And if we know that He hears us [in] whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. They are heeding the warning of James 4:2-3, You do not have because you do not ask. You begin with a flurry of enthusiasm and excitement, but sooner or later it comes down to just plain endurance just sticking it out.. God chose us as the objects of His grace. There are no special techniques or formulas. The finest illustration of this kind of abiding is found in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ. Daily guided meditations are available in lengths of 2, 5, 10 and. The reality is this is how Christians grow in their faith. Whatever you think you own will only be under your control for the few short years of your life after which you have no control over it. Prejudice and racism are often obvious in their display, but both also conceal themselves in the political correctness of what is euphemistically called social justice but which is Biblically unjust as it gives excuses for jealousy, envy, malice, bitterness and unforgiveness. The Warning to Those Who Do Not Abide John 15:6, 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.. (845)-298-8481, The Necessity of Humility 1 Peter 5:5-7.
