Abide

Introduction

Yesterday, we looked at two of the three filters that we use to make sense of our lives.

Looking IN

We looked at the filter of looking IN. We saw that many times we look inside ourselves to find meaning in life. We look for all the things that can make us happy, that can give us purpose, that can determine our identity, and to determine what is right and wrong for us.

Looking AROUND

The second filter that we looked at was the filter of AROUND. There are times that we look at everyone around us to see what they think, what they believe, what gives them purpose or meaning, and what they understand is right or wrong.

The PROBLEM

The problem is that these two filters are often corrupted by the noise that is all around us!

So that brings us to the third filter which we can use to make sense of our lives.

Looking UP

Yesterday we talked about the word “Abide.” Let’s review and think about it for a minute. Turn in your Bibles to John chapter 15, and we’ll begin with verse 4.

John 15:4 NIV

Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

The word here, remain is translated by other versions as abide. The Greek word here has several meanings:

—abide,

—remain,

—stay,

—to continue

—to continue to exist

—live

—reside

So Jesus says “If you reside in me. . .” Jesus will “resides in me. The reason that we remain is because we cannot do bear fruit by ourselves.

Think about this for a minute. If you and I are going to bear fruit—you must be living in Christ. Unless we are continually connected to Jesus we will not be able to bear fruit! God wants us to bear spiritual fruit!

So to bear spiritual fruit can only be done when we are connected to Jesus! But what happens when we don’t remain connected to the vine? [present dried up limb]

Now there is something that we need to understand, because there is a problem with branches of a grapevine. Anyone know what the problem might be?

What can a branch of a grapevine be used for? Does any one have any ideas?

Well, let me tell you what you can’t do with a branch of a grapevine.

—You cannot build a house our of grapevine branches.

—You cannot build furniture out of grapevine branches.

—You cannot really make anything out of grapevine branches. As a wood builder, I’ve never gone to the store where you purchase some wonderful woods, and ask for grapevine wood.

Here’s the truth about grapevine wood. It is only good for two things. It is good for producing grapes—its intended purpose, right? The only other thing that it is good for is to be burned.

That’s why verse 6 is there.

John 15:6 NIV

If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.

Now this verse has been interpreted in at least three ways.

The “burned” branches represent Christians who will lost their salvation. As Russ said last night this idea contradicts many other passages (i.e. 3:16, 26; 5:25; 10:28-29; Rom. 8:1).

The “burned” branches represents Christians who will lose their rewards (in heaven) but not their salvation (1 Corinthians 3:15 “If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.”

The “burned” branches refer to professing Christians who, like Judas (for example), are not genuinely saved and therefore are judged—they are spiritual dead because they were never really saved in the first place (cf. Matt 25:46).

Apart from the first one—losing your salvation, I’m not going to fight with you about the other two.

What we see in this is that there is that not being connected to the vine makes us unproductive for the Savior.

Now look at verse 7, because here is the contrast.

John 15:7–8 NIV

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

You and I need to remain in Jesus.

His words need to remain in you.

You can ask whatever you will, and it will be done for you. Now follow the logic. If you and I are residing in Jesus, and if Jesus’ words are in us, then our hearts desire will be in tune with Jesus’ heart’s desire.

And we will bring glory to God by bearing a lot of spiritual fruit.

The last thing for today is this—no matter what Jesus loves us. Look at verse 9.

John 15:9 NIV

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.