The Abiding Life
Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 1 viewNotes
Transcript
Text: John 15:1-11
Intro: I have to be honest and tell you that I never expected or intended that our study of the Tabernacle on Sunday afternoons would lead here. Our study of the Tabernacle as a pattern for prayer, I never expected to lead us here, but God… Coming into the presence of God in prayer, has been and is a great privilege, but the fact that God calls us there to abide, is even a greater privilege. The abiding life in Christ, is not only something we read about, or look up to men, that in the past have figured it out. It is a place that God intends all of us to come to, and there abide!
To help us with the context here, our passage in John 15, takes place on the night of Judas Iscariot’s betrayal. In fact, at the time of John 15, Judas is not present, but he is off retrieving the men that will arrest Christ later that night in the garden. Earlier that same day, Jesus enters Jerusalem and there is much people present for the feast. There are even Greeks that come to worship at the feast, and they sought Jesus. When His disciples bring Him this news, here is what He says,
And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
After some teaching concerning the purpose of His death, and that which signified what death He should die, the Bible tells us that,
While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.
We then see the preparations made for the last supper, Christ washes the feet of His 12 disciples, He breaks bread, He sends away Judas Iscariot when He says to him “That thou doest, do quickly.” He tells Peter that He is going to deny Him thrice, He teaches them of a house of many mansions, He affirms that He is the way, the truth, and the life, that He is the only way! He is asked to see the Father, to which He replies,
Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
He tells them of the comforter, whom the Father will send and not leave them comfortless. He then says,
But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.
From here, we understand that they leave the upper room, and the only place we know that they go from there is the garden of Gethsemani. It is either on their way, or once they arrive, before the Lord’s prayer in John 17 that Christ teaches His disciples about the abiding life in Him.
We took time to go through the events, because it is important that we understand how we got here, but also who is present for this teaching, what we gather clearly from the Scriptures, is that Jesus is here with His 11 disciples. I believe it is likely, that there is a vine before them as they make way to His place where He intends to pray, and He uses the opportunity, to teach one of the greatest Bible truths.
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
This again reiterating the truths that Christ has already made concerning Himself and His relationship with His Father.
Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
Christ came in total submission to the Father and His will. Can we grasp that totally, no, but I believe it by faith! A truth that the Apostle Paul teaches in,
But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
In this, Christ is before us as the perfect example for us to follow. I love that when Thomas asks Him,
Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
Jesus’ response,
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
Before we get to hard on Thomas, let’s remember that this is entirely new. Christ, is setting forth the example and a path that has never before been trod.
The context of all of this is important, because we must understand that John 15 is not talking about position, the 11 disciples of Christ, are here because they stand in Him… If we see this from a positional standpoint, we will miss interpret the truth of what Christ is teaching here. Christ is talking to those, that are His, given to Him by the Father, in which nothing can take them out of His hand. John 15 is talking about the practical standing of the disciple of Christ. It is about our works, the fruit produced through the life that He has given us and the sad reality that some of what we do will be burned up at the judgment seat of Christ as nothing more than wood, hay, and stubble...
Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
We must understand that vs. 6 is not talking about a believer that loses his or her salvation. It is about the lack of fruit bearing works of that believer.
In these 11 verses the word fruit is used 6 times, and the word abide 9 times. If we expanded from these 11 verses we would see it even more.
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
The abiding life in Christ, is not that we work to keep our salvation. Christ said,
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
The abiding life in Christ is the abundant life in Christ, a fruit bearing life, but how do we do that?
(vs. 3-4) We allow the word of God to cleanse us, that we might abide and bear fruit.
(vs. 7) We live in His word, and we pray…
(vs. 10) We keep His commandments...
The life that fails to abide in Christ, is the life which becomes of little use for God. It is like the salt that has lost its savour, and becomes good for nothing.
Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Is it possible for us to bear fruit of our own? Of course… The Bible calls them the works of our flesh… We can have a life filled with them, but it will be a wasted life.
The fruit bearing life of John 15, is only possible through the abiding Biblical relationship with ones Saviour! It is through that relationship that we see the branch bear fruit, and it is through that abiding relationship that the fruit bearing branch is purged, that it might bear more fruit (vs. 2), and it is through the abiding relationship to which the ultimate goal is obtained, that we might glorify the Father, and bear much fruit (vs. 8).
I believe the word of God to be very practical for us… So, how do we know we have it? Let me first say that none of this is possible by accident...
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
This isn’t an easy thing, which is why the abiding life in Christ is not seen very often. Maybe that isn’t very encouraging to you, but it’s the truth. The abiding life in Christ is the hardest life to live, but it is also the most worthwhile life that one can live... We know we have it, when...
(7) We see our prayers answered...
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
(9) We continue in the love of Christ...
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
(10) We are obedient to His word...
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
(11) We remain fully satisfied in the joy of Christ!
And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
Me may not always see the fruit of our life, sometimes I think maybe it’s best that we don’t, as we would be less likely to become boastful. The fruit tree, never enjoys it’s own fruit, it is always for the benefit of another, in this case, it is the fruit of the husbandman and as the husbandman God determines, when and how He uses His fruit!
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.