They are useless and so are cut out and discarded. Fear of God and humility go a long way in making people more reasonable and nicer. They would help one another abide in Christ, and so we too help one another in walking with Jesus. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. In these verses Jesus elaborates further on this confidence. 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. 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. There are no special techniques or formulas. We seek His blessings rather than see Him as the Blessing. Jesus is the source of life that would bring forth fruit unto God, and God Himself was the caretaker of the vine. We shall not explore this final portion in great detail, but will make several observations. And what greater joy can there be than to know that not only does God love you, but He is using you for the very purpose for which He created you? But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. This should come as no shock, for Christs rejection had been prophesied centuries before (verse 25). Failing to abide is more than just a hindrance to fruitfulness; it is a severing from the source of life. 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. may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth. 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). It would be a ritual that would remind them of the sacrifice He was about to make to redeem them from their sin and remember His promise to return for them. The apostle John makes this issue of abiding in Jesus very clear in the epistle of 1st John. Lest the mention of removing unfruitful branches create any doubts or fears, Jesus assured the disciples that they had already demonstrated their genuineness and sincerity. Our doctrinal statement is our attestation of Gods revelation of Himself to us. underscore expressing Christs love through us. The Rev. The grapes themselves were costly jewels. Obedience brings joy into our Christian experience as it did for our Lord: 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 (Hebrews 12:2). An itinerant rabbi, Jesus was constantly on the move. They in turn will be able to bear much fruit in living godly lives that glorify the Father. This is how we abide in Christs love: If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Fathers commandments, and abide in His Love (John 15:10). We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. Not wishing to leave the imperative to abide in His love in abstract terms, Jesus gives a very specific and practical example of the commandments of which He speaks. In John 15 Jesus gives one of his most vivid and powerful illustrations about our relationship with him. If they detach from him, the source of life, they will not produce fruit. The Cross And Unjust Suffering (1 Peter 2:19-25), Highlights in the Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ. Salem Media Group. What is the context of John 15:1-11? Also check out: The Powerful Meaning Of Matthew 11:28-30 (my yoke is easy meaning). The Hebrew and Greek originals in most frequent use are yashabh, "to dwell"; meno, "to remain." Abiding, then, requires a belief in the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ on our behalf. Abiding stresses the source of our life and strength, but we frequently ignore the person of Christ to seek the product of our union with Him. Do not be amazed that I said to you, You must be born again. The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.read more.Nicodemus said to Him, How can these things be?. Being drunk or drugged in public is obvious, but many people keep it a secret in the privacy of their own home. Bob was born and raised in a Christian home i More. Our Lord is not threatening us with the loss of salvation if we sometimes fail to abide. The abiding of obedience results in an intimacy which cannot be experienced in any other way. I pray that your joy may be full as you abide in Christ. Thats what the John 15:4 meaning teaches us. Colossians 1:17 declares that Jesus Christ is Before all things, and in Him all things hold together. Hebrews 1:3 adds that Jesus, upholds all things by the word of His power. If Christ just let go for a moment, then all things would fall apart and be destroyed. The multitude therefore answered Him, We have heard out of the Law that the Christ is to remain (abide) forever, and how can you say, The Son of man must be lifted up? (John 12:34). My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand. What did Jesus mean at the end of vs. 5 that apart from Me you can do nothing? What then does fruit reveal? For example, Isaiah 5:7 states, For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, And the men of Judah His delightful plant. A grape vine was used as an emblem minted onto the coins of the Maccabean period. However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. This simply means that we go on trusting, that we keep on depending, that we never stop believing. 27-28. Believers are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you (John 15:7). The apostle James counseled, 2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. THINK ABOUT IT! "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. He is the true vine, believers are the branches, and the Father is the vine-keeper. Deut 30:9. The union of Jesus and his members shown under the parable of a vine. It was this idea that placed such radical demands on any one desiring to be His disciple. Genesis 22:5 The word clean in verse 3 is the same expression used earlier by our Lord of saving faith. Abide in Me, and I in you (John 15:4a). In the time between those events, Jesus would work on their behalf interceding with the Father, and the Holy Spirit would come to comfort them and enable them to fulfill the ministry Jesus calls them to do. Children come from resting, not striving, from intimacy, not fervency; they are the result of a union, not an intense effort. 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.. This is at no cost to you and helps keep Rethink up and running. People can appear pretty good by the standards of whatever society they are in and still be very ungodly. According to tradition, all of the disciples, save one, would die a martyrs death. 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. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abide in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in me. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. John 15:4. The Bible continually tells us that followers of Jesus are to remain in Christ, walk with him, and wait for him. Writer. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Parents, you are responsible to apply Gods Word to your childrens lives. Matthew 6:1 Verse Concepts "Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. Abiding is believing, depending, and persevering. It was out of His love. How Many Times is the Word Abide in the Bible? He uses it 34 times in the Gospel, and 19 times in his letters. Daily guided meditations are available in lengths of 2, 5, 10 and. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Jesus uses this as an analogy of the relationship of the Father and the Son. "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". 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. But the invitation that Jesus is extending is a relationship that requires action. There must be the transition from romance to routine. Abide gives specific help in trouble. Charles Stanley, an influential Baptist pastor who for more than 50 years preached a conservative message from his Atlanta megachurch, through an extensive network of . Nebuchadnezzar had both of these as the king of Babylon, but God struck him because of his pride and he became like an animal that lived in the fields. They drive us into a deeper relationship with Him and therefore into greater spiritual maturity. Features:Leader helps for group discussion7 weeks of personal study to be completed between . 3:26,28; 8:1; 1 Cor. "But if I [Jesus] cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.". Many translators believe the meaning of the word is 'place to abide' or a room. That is the lesson which we need to learn today. Their sin condemns them, and apart from being in Christ there can be no forgiveness for that sin. What significance did the vine have to the Jews of that time? No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Those who do not live in a relationship with Christ here have no basis for such a relationship in eternity and so it should be expected they would be cast away from Him. Behold, children are a gift of the Lord; the fruit of the womb is a reward. Abide in me, and I in you. Circumstances were to be drastically changed within a few hours. The Son desires to please the Father in all things and does the Fathers will. The soul of the true disciple and heaven are dwelling-places of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Children are given to men in their sleep, without striving. ( Galatians 2:20, Colossians 2:6, Romans 8:1, Hebrews 3:6 ) They also seek Him in prayer. It is not a moral code. Negatively this is seen in chapter five of Johns gospel: And you do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him whom He sent (John 5:38). Thus He looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed; For righteousness, but behold, a cry of distress. The fruit God was looking for was justice and righteousness. What a wonderful thought is living with Christ and have Him living in you. Pastor. 16 And we have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. Matthew 3:16. It is this type of prayer that brings glory to God by the much fruit that we bear as a result of it. 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 vine supplies life-giving nourishment to the branches. Unless you are both clean because of being regenerated and washed by the Holy Spirit and abiding in Him, you will not experience His blessings or fruit in your lives. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend [it] on your pleasures.. Remember the illustration of the John 15:4 meaning; a branch relies, or depends on, the vine. 5:19-21), The fruit of unrighteousness may be obvious, or hidden by privacy, or ____________by societal standards, Abiding in Jesus in 1 John 2:6, 24; 3:6-10, 24; 4:15-16, This is a _______________promise of answered prayer based in the relationship a person has with Jesus, 1 John 5:14-15; James 4:2-3. 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. The intimacy of physical contact and association with their Lord would be set aside for a deeper, more lasting, spiritual union with Him. The word translated "abide" is one of the Apostle John's favorite words. Paul states this directly in Ephesians 2:4-5, God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).. To be His disciple was in a literal way to be His follower. Jesus had already commented on the confidence those who believe in Him can have in prayer back in John 14:13-14. But this I do not think to be the emphasis which our Lord intends here. Our rituals, moral codes, practices and doctrine are simply the expressions of our personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. The hatred of . The intimacy of friendship includes us in the inner circle of God, and here our Lord makes known His secrets. You are actually only a steward of it and will give an account of it when you stand before God in judgment. 4 And let endurance have [its] perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (James 1:2-4). Dont leave this morning without getting the help you need. Abiding in Christ means we recognize that its only through God that we can produce fruit. 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. We have the cart before the horse. Do you struggle with hidden unrighteousness? The first two verses graphically reveal the futility of self-effort. In John chapter 15, our Lord brought before the eleven the realities of the future. Jesus explains the role of the caretaker of the vines in verse 2. If the answer to this question is yes, then the crux of the matter falls upon the Greek word (airo), takes away (NASV). I want to give you a few practical ways that you can apply this concept to your life. Husband. in 1971. If we understand and apply this passage correctly, it will virtually turn our priorities upside-down. 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. It was Jesus desire to glorify the Father (John 14:13), and the Father enabled Him to preach, teach and perform many miracles for that purpose (John 14:10). We have the Holy Spirit in us producing good fruit (Galatians 5:22-23). This word true is also used of that which is the ultimate realization, or here, of that which is the heavenly reality which transcends any earthly counterpart. Why or why not? This is not conjecture; I find it clearly taught in Psalm 127. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither [can] you, unless you abide in Me. They were looking for glory and honor. What motivation for service! We place the weight of life on our own shoulders. 2. Human effort without divine enablement is fruitless and frustrating. A branch cannot live & bear fruit except it draws its _______from the vine, so we draw our life from Christ, We are changed with ___________minds and conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29; 12:2), The presence or absence of spiritual fruit reveals the true ______________ with Christ, True Christianity is about a _________relationship with God and not religious rituals & codes (Rom. In this passage Jesus gives an illustration of a vine and branches. In Philippians 1:25, the Apostle uses both the simple verb meno and the compound parameno (some mss. John 15:9-10, Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. Jesus makes this distinction in verse 3. He wants them to be comforted in the days ahead. I do not believe that Jesus is here teaching that we can lose our salvation by failing to abide. What can a person do apart from Jesus? The True Vine is the Author, the Source and the Finisher of our faith. For a time it might seem alright, but eventually they will start to suffer the consequences for their decisions. It is noteworthy how John uses the word "abide" far more than any N.T. Similarly, Jesus tells his followers the same is true for them. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. 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. In Isaiah 5 the nation Israel is likened to a vineyard that does not produce fruit. All that you have and everything you accomplish in life is only by His goodness and mercy to you. Positively, if one abides in Christ he will bear much fruit. (1) Since these branches are said to be in me, does this mean that they represent unfruitful Christians? Obedience demonstrates the _____________ of your relationship with the Lord do you love Him? There is no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1) because they are washed, sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 6:11) by faith in Him (Romans 3:26, 28). Abide Abides Able Bear Branch Continue Except Fruit Itself Times Unless Vine. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Abide. How To Abide in Christ If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Fathers commandments and abide in His love. Rather its something we do daily. to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. 1 John 3:6-10, No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him. Jesus repeats the phrase twice. That is not what lay ahead. 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. How many times does the bible use the word abide? Father. Set time every day to pray. That has been Jesus continuing claim throughout the gospel of John and has been pointed out in previous sermons. He appointed us to represent Him to a lost world. We come to the first imperative (or command) of the chapter in verse 4. What do I do about calling a priest father at my Catholic University? Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God. The branches connect to the vine. Fame and power are also fleeting and granted to those whom God chooses. The qualification for being able to abide in Christ is being cleansed by Him first. 18. Lets end by looking at how to abide in Jesus. Its never good in the long run. Dutchess County 1 Corinthians 11:30). But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness. Abiding in Christ in its simplest terms is trusting our Lord and obeying His word. We have become preoccupied with results. His life was marked by a total submission and obedience to the will of the Father (John 8:28-29). Douay-Rheims Bible Abide in me, and I in you. What was the result? But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. The fruit of unrighteousness is not always outwardly obvious. We must stay by God, continue to depend on him. John is fond of this word abide. He uses the term (meno) over fifty times in his writings; eleven times in this chapter. They had hoped for a spectacular demonstration by our Lord which would convince the nation of Israel that He was their Messiah. Yet another dimension of abiding in Christ is introduced at verse 9, for we find another imperative. What would be ungodly fruit? Surely our Lord is the one genuine vine in whom we should abide, and surely we understand that there are other false vines. We dont use it in many other situations, so most simply dont know what it means or how it applies to their life. Though the word abide isn't always used, the concept of abiding is found throughout the Bible. John 14:1). Every feature in Abide is designed to teach and develop Scripture-engagement habits that help you know the power and spiritual nourishment of abiding in Christ. Indeed, the Lord will again delight in your prosperity, as He delight ed in that of your fathers, HCSB, AM. As Romans 14:17 puts it, "the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." Our prescribed rituals, baptism and Communion, are about our identification with Christ and proclamation of both His death on our behalf and our hope in His return. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.. This word true is used primarily in two senses in the New Testament. Israel, as a vine, was an utter failure; it never achieved its goal. But in John 15:5 Jesus gives a stark warning against doing so, apart from me you can do nothing.. They had already been cleansed by faith in His words (verse 3). Rosscup, pp. The definition of abide is to remain, reside, or await for. No one can accomplish anything apart from Jesus Christ. That concept is illustrated with the vine analogy presented here. (See: Comfort for Those Who Believe, Part 1), The time is now short before Jesus will be arrested that night and then tried and crucified the next day. To summarize: Those who abide in Christ are His disciples. I will NEVER pay for these again. Underlying the meaning of this term is the idea of belief. We can have fruit and then much fruit. That is the reason that Jesus was willing lay down His life as a sacrifice for our sins. On the positive side, abiding in Christ results in conformity to the Word of God. Four Ways We Can Abide in Christ and His Word 1. If not, talk with a church leader and get the spiritual help you need. When will you do it? And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night. The triumphal entry (John 12) seemed to elevate their expectations and excitement. Turn to John 15. . Active. Those who do not abide in Christ are worthless to His cause and probably a hindrance. There are more than 100 abide in the Word Scriptures. (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 Second, we must remember the words of Jesus 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, that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give you.. The love that exists between the members of the Godhead is extended to us! 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. The problem with too many people in positions of authority government, military, business, social organizations and even sports teams is they forget this truth and that they will give an account to God. What is this fruit? Their own deeds will condemn them for even their attempts at righteous deeds are as a filthy garment before our holy God (Isaiah 64:6). Our Lord Jesus Christ Who came as the True Vine would accomplish all Israel failed to do. 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. In Jeremiah 2:21 Israel is described as a vine that is sending out degenerate shoots. 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 topic of abide in the Bible carries with it this idea of continuance, staying with God. It makes John 15 sound dynamic. (See: Comfort for Those Who Believe, Part 2). The allusion to the final judgement of sinners is obvious here. 1. 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. In James 1:25, of steadfast continuance in the law of liberty. It was found on Jewish coins in the Maccabean period, and in the days which our Lord walked upon the earth there was a huge filigree of a vine adorning the entrance of the temple of Herod, evaluated by some (who likely were exaggerating) at a value of more than $12,000,000.147. 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. The intimacy of friendship includes us in the inner circle of God, and here our Lord makes known His secrets. 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). Maybe youve heard that term before. 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. In Psalm 80:8 the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt is described in terms of a vine being transplanted from the soil of Egypt to that of Canaan. He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you (John 13:10). He determined that we would bear fruit and that the results of our labors would be lasting. Ultimately, we did not choose God; He chose us. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 1915. Actually, its the ONLY way. The Father enables to Son to accomplish all things. (2) The Lord bursts the bubble of the disciples messianic expectations in these verses. The abiding of obedience results in an intimacy which cannot be experienced in any other way. Prayer is about seeking ________ will to be done, not your own will, The love that exists between the members of the Godhead is extended to________ Ephesians 2:4-5. First of all it denotes that which is true or genuine in contrast to that which is false or spurious. The idea of abiding with Jesus is a wonderful concept. The result? Questions to consider in discussing the sermon with others. What Jesus began to do and teach (Acts 1:1), His church now continues to do and say. John 15. General Editor. As the branches, we are the visible manifestation of the life of the vine. If the love of Christ is to be shown in His disciples, they must be willing to give themselves to and for others. Church Planter. of This is why Jesus has said all these things to the disciples. Because as they abide in Him, He will continue to abide in them. . All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Abiding is our obligation; fruitfulness is Gods concern. The definition of abide is to remain, reside, or await for. What Every Christian Should Know about the Protestant Reformation. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 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). The Tucson Democrat was caught in the act on April 10, the third time the Bibles disappeared. (1) The worlds hatred for us is the result of our abiding in Christ. "Abide in Me, and I in you. have sumparameno), to express his confidence that he will "abide," and "continue to abide," with the saints. We should be seeking His fellowship, and leaving the fruit to Him. Pruning the vines is not only common practice, but necessary practice in order to have a decent grape crop. and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. See CONTINUE. Abiding in Christ John 15:1-11, Jesus and His disciples have celebrated Passover and Jesus has established Communion as a ____________, Jesus is going away, but promises to __________and send the Holy Spirit in His place while He is away, Jesus is the source of ________that would bring forth fruit unto God, and God Himself was the caretaker, Pruning is a ____________ agricultural practice for vines and fruit trees, Pruning works because the energy of the vine can go into __________instead of more branches and leaves, God __________ His people Hebrews 12:11; James 1:2-4; Romans 5:3-5, Troubles & Trials force us to be more _________________ upon God, Judas is gone and the remaining disciples are _________ (cf.