What motivation for service! It is not a moral code. This is another well known but often misunderstood section of Scripture largely due to interpretations that take the passage out of its context. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. In the King James version the word - abide - appears 82 times the word - abideth - appears 30 times the word - abiding - appears 9. Furthermore, by abiding in Christ we are caused to bear fruit which brings glory to the Father and thereby demonstrates our discipleship (verse 8). 2. What condition must be met first in order to abide in Jesus? Bob was born and raised in a Christian home i More. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. Take marriage, for example. Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain. In fact the Greek word for Abide, meno, means to remain. Jesus and the disciples are in an upper room in Jerusalem where they have just celebrated the Passover meal. They know Jesus and seek to be like Him by following His commands and eschewing (shunning) evil. Do you struggle with hidden unrighteousness? 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. That is the fruit talked about throughout the scriptures. Isaiah 5:7 describes the fruit God sought from Israel, For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, And the men of Judah His delightful plant. Have you had any experience in pruning a grapevine or fruit tree? No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Jesus has washed the disciples feet and in doing so given them a practical example of the humble service we are to give to one another. Its the only way to find the abundant life that Jesus promised us in John 10:10. It actually belongs to God who created it all. He is simply showing that abiding is not an option, but an essential requirement for life. General Editor. Our burdens are light and we can find rest. abide by. Jesus continues His discourse in John 15:1 saying, I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Before I continue any further, I need to explain something about the cultural context of this statement so that you will understand its significance. That is the result of living in Jesus Christ. 3:26,28; 8:1; 1 Cor. That concept is illustrated with the vine analogy presented here. (See: The Final Passover, Part 1). Jesus is the source of life that would bring forth fruit unto God, and God Himself was the caretaker of the vine. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. How comforting, then, to hear these words of assurance: 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, that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give you (John 17:16). We must stay by God, continue to depend on him. As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. There are more than 100 abide in the Word Scriptures. Jesus has also just used the fruit of the vine as a symbol for His blood which was about to be shed for them. We have the Holy Spirit in us producing good fruit (Galatians 5:22-23). The one in whom the Word abides can be confident of receiving the answers to his prayers for he will pray according to the will of God. Paul wrote in Philippians 1:11 that believers are to filled with the fruit of righteousness which [comes] through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God, and in Colossians 1:10 that we are to be bearing fruit in every good work.. 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. God never requires us to do that which is without good reason. So, what does it mean to abide in Christ? The summation of this chapter can be expressed in two statements: (1) Abide in meexperience that love (verses 1-8); and (2) Express that love (verses 9-17). Apart from God we can do nothing. The union of Jesus and his members shown under the parable of a vine. Abide in Me, and I in you. Paul said nearly the same thing in Romans 5:3-5, 3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. The word meno means to dwell at ones' own house, to stay as a guest in someone's home, to abide or to sustain unbroken fellowship with someone. 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. (1) The worlds hatred for us is the result of our abiding in Christ. Daily guided meditations are available in lengths of 2, 5, 10 and. 3. Think back to the illustration of John 15 of the branches and the vine. in 1971. Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. The branches connect to the vine. Bob is a pastor/teacher and elder at Community Bible Chapel in Richardson, Texas, and has contributed many of his Bible study series for use by the Foundation. What does it mean to abide? Our doctrinal statement is our attestation of Gods revelation of Himself to us. That wont be necessary, she responded, unimpressed, just pick up that towel and help me with these dishes. Few of us will be required to pay the ultimate price of friendship. Jesus emphasizes the point saying, apart from Me you can do nothing.. Abiding in Christ identifies us with Him before the world. Negatively, it is impossible to bear fruit without abiding. The abiding of obedience results in an intimacy which cannot be experienced in any other way. What Jesus began to do and teach (Acts 1:1), His church now continues to do and say. (See: The Promise of Heaven). Why Does God Compare Our Relationship with Him to That of a Bride and Groom? We must stay connected to him. Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. However, the concept of abiding is found throughout the Bible. Matthew 4:6), or the removing of physical death (cf. All of us should be willing to do so and to show it in simple acts of sacrificial kindness. 9. And its the only way we can produce anything of lasting value. See CONTINUE. Obedience does not earn either your salvation or Gods love. Also check out: The Powerful Meaning Of Matthew 11:28-30 (my yoke is easy meaning). How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; they shall not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.. You begin with a flurry of enthusiasm and excitement, but sooner or later it comes down to just plain endurance just sticking it out.. They will therefore be treated like the cut off branches from a pruning. We come to the first imperative (or command) of the chapter in verse 4. It is as simple as our belief and behavior. Followers of Jesus are the branches and God is the vine. The first two verses graphically reveal the futility of self-effort. The teaching of abide in the Bible is one that we shouldnt ignore. Stahl Hamilton called it 'playful commentary' 3TV's David Caltabiano snagged a copy of the doorbell . 27-28. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. Abiding isnt a feeling or even a belief. 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. Verses 1-3 pertain to our position, while verses 4-8 speak of our practice. It cannot refer to ones loss of salvation. Sadly, there are many people that claim to be Christians that try to live apart from dwelling in Christ. Abide in me, and I in you. However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Jesus said in Matthew 7:17-19 that true and false teachers could be distinguished from each other by their fruit. This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. If abiding in Christ is understood as experiencing Gods love in Christ, verses 12ff. A flagrantly obnoxious person displays their evil heart outwardly, but just as evil is sweet flattery used to conceal the snare being set to harm you. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. The result? But this I do not think to be the emphasis which our Lord intends here. I pray that your joy may be full as you abide in Christ. The abiding of obedience results in an intimacy which cannot be experienced in any other way. What surprises most people is also cutting back the branches that did bear fruit, yet that is necessary if I want more and better fruit. The hatred of . True Christianity has all those things, but all of them are in keeping with a relationship with God. The idea of physical adjacency inherent in the word disciple also applied specifically to Jesus' associates. Men do not acquire offspring by hard labor. He was a branch that was in Christ, but who bore no fruit. Our moral code and conduct are based in our love for God and prodded by the Holy Spirit who indwells us. Our Lord described the new relationship between Himself and His followers in terms of a vine and its branches in the first three verses. What then does fruit reveal? We may still misfire from time to time but we see growing success in our prayer. 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. 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. A Christian life should be a changed life. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 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. Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 We can have fruit and then much fruit. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affliliate links, meaning I get a small commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links. Those who do not abide in Christ are worthless to His cause and probably a hindrance. Abide gives specific help in trouble. In the Revised Version (British and American) displaced often by words meaning "to sojourn," "dwell," "encamp." The apostle John makes this issue of abiding in Jesus very clear in the epistle of 1st John. They are useless and so are cut out and discarded. Jesus repeats the phrase twice. We want to appropriate His power, but fail to appreciate His person. (Malachi 3:2); "Afflictions abide (await) me" (Acts 20:23). To abide is to reside. The Cross And Our Response to Trials (1 Peter 4:12-19), 8. gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. You exist because He created you, and you continue to live only because He graciously allows you to do so.

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