Abiding in Christ

Abiding in Christ - John 15:1-17 June 18, 2023 Natalie and I bought our home in March 2019. Before then, we rented a house and when we were in California, we rented an apartment. When we were renters, we knew that that home we were in didn't belong to us. Rather, it belonged to someone else. So, you can imagine our excitement when we were blessed to be able to buy a home. It became ours. It is our "forever home" - at least here on earth. That's sort of the idea of abiding, which we'll touch on a lot more throughout the morning. To abide means to take up residence. To remain - in fact, some translations will use this word instead of "abide." So, Jesus, this morning in our text from John 15:1-17 is going to encourage His disciples to abide in Him. We will see this morning what it means to abide, and answer the question: how do we know we're abiding in Christ? Let's read John 15:1-17 to see what Jesus has to say to His disciples: 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 DOES BEAR FRUIT HE PRUNES, THAT IT MAY BEAR MORE FRUIT. 3 ALREADY YOU ARE CLEAN BECAUSE OF THE WORD THAT I HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU. 4 ABIDE IN ME, AND I IN YOU. AS THE BRANCH CANNOT BEAR FRUIT BY ITSELF, UNLESS IT ABIDES IN THE VINE, NEITHER CAN YOU, UNLESS YOU ABIDE IN ME. 5 I AM THE VINE; YOU ARE THE BRANCHES. WHOEVER ABIDES IN ME AND I IN HIM, HE IT IS THAT BEARS MUCH FRUIT, FOR APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING. 6 IF ANYONE DOES NOT ABIDE IN ME HE IS THROWN AWAY LIKE A BRANCH AND WITHERS; AND THE BRANCHES ARE GATHERED, THROWN INTO THE FIRE, AND 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 BY THIS MY FATHER IS GLORIFIED, THAT YOU BEAR MUCH FRUIT AND SO PROVE TO BE MY DISCIPLES. 9 AS THE FATHER HAS LOVED ME, SO HAVE I 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, THAT MY JOY MAY BE IN YOU, AND THAT YOUR JOY MAY BE FULL. 12 "THIS IS MY COMMANDMENT, THAT YOU LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU. 13 GREATER LOVE HAS NO ONE THAN THIS, THAT SOMEONE LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS. 14 YOU ARE MY FRIENDS IF YOU DO WHAT I COMMAND YOU. 15 NO LONGER DO I CALL YOU SERVANTS, FOR THE SERVANT DOES NOT KNOW WHAT HIS MASTER IS DOING; BUT I HAVE CALLED YOU FRIENDS, FOR ALL THAT I HAVE HEARD FROM MY FATHER I HAVE MADE KNOWN TO YOU. 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 ABIDE, SO THAT WHATEVER YOU ASK THE FATHER IN MY NAME, HE MAY GIVE IT TO YOU. 17 THESE THINGS I COMMAND YOU, SO THAT YOU WILL LOVE ONE ANOTHER. There is a lot here, so let's review the passage as a whole, then we'll jump into some specifics. First, note the example from the onset of the vine and vinedresser. What makes the Bible interesting is that when we read it, we have to understand that John and the other authors were writing to a specific audience at the time it was written. So, illustrations like Jesus using the vine and vinedresser is somewhat foreign to us, unless of course you have a green thumb, or have a career in that field. But, for the Jews, this metaphor would have been very understandable and clear. In the Old Testament, the vineyard was a picture of Israel. God's chosen people. What's interesting is that this picture was often a negative one (this is seen in passages like Isaiah 5:1-7 and Ezekiel 15:1-8). So, we see that Jesus proclaims in His final I AM statement that He is the true vine. He, in effect, has replaced Israel as the vine, as they could not live up to God's expectations. I like the way commentator and pastor David Guzik put it: "We must be rooted in Him (not in Israel) if we will bear fruit for God. In the New Covenant community, our first identification is in Jesus Christ Himself, not in Israel or even in the church as such." Finally, the role of the vinedresser is to care for the vines. The passage says that one of the ways this is done is through pruning. The word used here for prune in verse 2 is the same word used for clean in verse 3. He removes the worthless or less producing vines or branches in order to produce more fruit. There's also the principle here of complete and total dependance for the bearing of fruit due to the caring of the vinedresser. Also noteworthy is the fact that Jesus calls us the branches, His church. As a reminder, this is who Jesus is speaking to. He is not addressing non-believers at this time, He is speaking to Christians. This is evidenced in verse 3, when Jesus says that they have already been cleaned. This is evidenced again in verse 16, where Jesus tells them that they were chosen by Him. And of course, He addresses them as friends back in verse 15. We, as noted moments ago, are dependent on the vine. This is because the vine is where the sap is that allows the fruit to develop and grow. Without it, it will not produce, as Christ states in verse 5. This is why the passage reveals that branches that are not producing fruit are removed. Finally, we cannot ignore the usage of the word "abide" eleven times in this passage. We'll touch on this more shortly. So ... WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ABIDE? Let me remind you of a quote that Pastor Pat used to define "abide" in our opening sermon to this series: Abiding in Christ means allowing His Word to fill our minds, direct our wills, and transform our affections. (Sinclair Ferguson) To say it another way, abiding means...: To keep in fellowship with Christ so that His life can work in and through us to produce fruit. (Warren Wiersbe) So, we see that abiding in Christ leads to both transformation and action. * Our minds are transformed, * Out hearts are transformed, * We are transformed because the Bible teaches that we are new creations in Christ. That brings us to our main idea this morning: To abide in Christ means to remain in Jesus's love by obeying His commandments. HOW DO WE KNOW WE ARE ABIDING? * We are being obedient. o I know we touched on this last week, but Jesus spoke to this again, here in this passage. o Obedience is seen through the keeping of His commandments and by loving like He loved. o That's the key. When we stray from His commandments, and loving the way He loved, then we're not abiding. o This isn't new, either. Back in John 8:31-32 we read these words: 31 SO JESUS SAID TO THE JEWS WHO HAD BELIEVED HIM, "IF YOU ABIDE IN MY WORD, YOU ARE TRULY MY DISCIPLES, 32 AND YOU WILL KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE." o So, what does this passage mean for us today? o It means that we must seek the truth from the Bible itself. This is where we find the truth, this is where the truth is revealed. o In my former career as an HR professional, one of my specialties was disciplinary action. I trained countless supervisors and managers on how to write and deliver these regularly. One of the primary training topics was to present disciplinary action objectively, not subjectively. No opinions, just facts. Where did those facts come from? The policies, the handbook, and the Standard Operating Procedures. o We must go to the source of truth in order to know the truth. Remember what Jesus said in chapter 14, "I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE ..." o Many people are apprehensive about all of the "rules" that the Bible has ... but think about the reason rules and laws exist. Generally, it is for your protection or the protection of others. o So, we know that we are abiding when we're obedient to Christ's commandments, which is found in the Bible. o Next, we know we are abiding because ... * We are identified as His branches. o So, what does a branch do? The branch bears fruit. That is its function. o What does it mean to bear fruit? And what kind of fruit are we bearing? I think we can go to Galatians 5 to see what Paul says, beginning in verse 22: 22 BUT THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, 23 GENTLENESS, SELF-CONTROL; AGAINST SUCH THINGS THERE IS NO LAW. 24 AND THOSE WHO BELONG TO CHRIST JESUS HAVE CRUCIFIED THE FLESH WITH ITS PASSIONS AND DESIRES. o 25 IF WE LIVE BY THE SPIRIT, LET US ALSO KEEP IN STEP WITH THE SPIRIT. o It crucial to see that these are "and" not "or," meaning that these are the characteristics of those in Christ. We cannot pick one to bear, we must bear it all. o So, as we noted previously, something must happen to those who are not bearing fruit, they must be pruned. o Earlier, we talked about the word used for prune is the same word used for clean in verses 2-3. o Pruning may occur in many forms. God - remember, He is the vinedresser, the One doing the pruning - may test you, He may discipline you, He may even give you over to your desires. o This process is done with love. By the One who cares for you. We saw this when we looked at Hebrews 12 earlier this year. o The pruning process is critical for the general health of the vine and the other branches, so when God is pruning, He is strengthening the vine. o Romans 5 reminds us that sufferings produces endurance, which produces character, which produces hope. o James 1 reminds us that during these times of suffering, we are being tested, and that it produces steadfastness. o Pruning produces healthier fruit. o Another question remains, then. Why do we bear fruit? * To glorify God! * When we do something that brings the attention to us and away from God, we are no longer abiding in Jesus. * We must act with Christ in the forefront of our minds. * Are we doing something out of selfish ambition? * Are we doing something for recognition? * Ask yourself. What is my motivation? o Next, and lastly, we know we're abiding when: * We are declared friends of Jesus. o Think about your closest friendships. What are some of the characteristics that you have in these relationships? * Hopefully, they love the Lord. * Maybe they share some of the same interests as you do. * Perhaps, they share your sense of humor. * There are many things that are shared between friends. * Now think about this in the context of this passage. Jesus calls His disciples His friend. o He says that one of the major characteristics of this friendship is around love. More specifically, loving one another * Even more specifically, the word used here is agape, which is a sacrificial and willing love. The kind of love that caused Jesus to die for you and me. o Take a look again at verse 13: GREATER LOVE HAS NO ONE THAN THIS, THAT SOMEONE LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS. o Today is Father's Day, as you know. A good father will: * Love his children * Discipline his children * Teach and train his children * Make sacrifices for his children. o Last week, Gabrielle had an EEG scheduled. Unfortunately, she had to be sleep deprived, so they suggested that she went to bed two hours later than normal and wake up two hours earlier than normal. Unfortunately, her brain had other ideas, and she decided not to sleep at all, leaving Natalie and I to very little to no sleep either. We did it because we love her. This is a small example of what it means to lay down your life for your friend, or the people who you love. o Of course, the ultimate example of this type of love is found in Christ Himself. No doubt, He was foreshadowing His own death with this statement. He says that doing such is the ultimate sign of love. o This means we must put away selfish desires that take our attention away from our loved ones. o We must identify and search within all areas of our lives to understand where we fall short, then we must confess and repent to God. Earlier we said in our main idea that: To abide in Christ means to remain in Jesus's love by obeying His commandments. This morning, we spoke a lot about abiding and bearing fruit. We even talked about truth, being found in the Scriptures alone. We've addressed the topic of love, and that we are to love like Christ did, sacrificially and willingly. But we failed to talk about one more thing. Prayer. Let's be honest, maybe you came in this morning, and you were unsure on whether you were bearing fruit or even abiding in Christ. Over the last couple of weeks, we learned about the role of the Holy Spirit, and how obedience makes us closer to Christ. By now, three weeks into this series, you may be questioning yourself. This is where prayer comes in. Seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit in your life. In verse 16, Jesus said if you ask anything in His name, He will give it to you. Be careful here, though. Bookended is the revelation that we are chosen by Him, and that we are to follow the command of loving one another. So, these prayers that we bring to Him are to be seen in light of what we read in Psalm 37:4: DELIGHT YOURSELF IN THE LORD, AND HE WILL GIVE YOU THE DESIRES OF YOUR HEART. What do you delight in? Where is your love coming from? What is your motivation for producing good fruit? What steps are you willing to take today to remain in Jesus's love and lovingly and willingly obey His commandments? Let's pray. 2