Abide

John 15:1-11

This weekend, several of our ladies gathered for a time of fellowship and a time of worship digging into God’s Word. The focus was ABIDE. Their time in the word covered topics such as “remaining and dwelling,” being “held and kept,” and “being present.”

This morning, as kind of a “closing” session to their time, I want us to come together as a family and be reminded of what it is and means to abide in the Lord Jesus Christ--a lesson which is even more impactful b/c of what will gather together to remember next week (the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ)

(READ JOHN 15:1-10)

Jesus’ message to His disciples in John 15 has a profound emphasis, abide. As He starts His last lessons before His crucifixion, Jesus mentions “abide” 11 times in verses 1-10. Seven out of eleven times, Jesus indicates a positive effect, while four of eleven, a negative effect.

Why such an emphasis?

John 15 & 16 entail Jesus’ final instructions to His disciples before His arrest, trial, and crucifixion, a reality that was surely becoming more and more of a reality:

As verses 1-10 teach about abiding, the remaining verses in John 15 teach about the believer’s love and joy maturing, and persecution against believers

Chapter 16 teaches about the coming and purpose of the Holy Spirit (5-15), the true purpose of Christ’s death burial and resurrection (16-24), and how we ought, “to be of good cheer, for I (Christ) have overcome the world.”

Jesus’ disciples, and those who would become disciples, would need a strong message in order to be prepared and endure after He was gone, a truth Jesus constantly reminded His disciples of, the closer the crucifixion came

Jesus knew:

The way of the cross would be hard—for His disciples then and His disciples today:

Matthew 7:14 “Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

The way of sanctification would be hard—Why? Because believers still battle with a sinful nature/temptations/trials

Romans 7:15 “For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.”

Romans 7:19 “For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.”

There would be opposition, something He taught them in John 15 and was a matter of intercession in John 17

John 15:20–21“Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.”

John 17:15 “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.”)

Jesus knew His disciples needed something “in the now,” that would also sustain them moving foward, amidst a lost and fallen world

What He knew, what He taught them, was to abide

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These words will be intertwined as we talk today, so it’s important we know that they refer:

The vine—Jesus Christ

The vinedresser—God the Father

Branches—Man

I. (INTRO) What does abide mean?

Abide is taken from the Greek word “meno (may-no).” It means to endure/dwell/continue. What stands out the most (at least to me) about “abide” is as a primary verb, abide means:

“To stay in a given place, state, relation or expectancy”

It is active in nature. Jesus, then in saying, “If you abide in me...” is telling His disciples and teaching us, that genuine and true salvation, the sign and witness of a genuine relationship with Him

Staying/enduring/continuing in a given place—that of restoration

Staying/enduring/continuing in a given state--the state of being born again/of being a new creation

Staying/enduring/continuing in a given relationship—a relationship as a child of God

Staying/enduring/continuing in the given expectancy of faith’s reward—the reward of glorification and eternal life with Christ

II. (v.1) Abiding in the Right Source

John 15:1 ““I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.”

(CONTEXT):

“I am”

In identifing Himself this way, Jesus is saying,

“I am who I am,” the “GREAT I am”---in other Word I am God in the flesh

“…the True Vine...” (There are three (3) different vines found in Scripture)

The past vine—This was the nation of Israel

By the immeasurable amount of His grace, God “transplanted” Israel into the land of Canaan giving them everything they could ever need to be successful

Yet, this “vine” produces “wild grapes.” Israel, found itself practicing & producing unrighteousness/idolatry/and wickedness, who played the harlot, which God had to deal with, but even that didn’t produce lasting results

The future vine—this is “the vine of the earth” (see Rev 14:14-20)

This “vine” is the Gentile world system, which was ripening itself for God’s judgment, b/c through this vine is found

Condemnation

Bondage/slavery

This vine is referred to the “vine of the earth,” and represents the unsaved of the world

The present Vine—is our Lord Jesus Christ

Christ is the “true Vine,” or “the original of which all other vines are but a copy”

Christ is the “True Vine,” were all we need for life is found: He alone is our source of life

(BIBLICAL APPLICATION—YOU and ME)

Counterfeit Vines

Every one of us, though it might be difficult to admit, are people of attachment. Why? Written on the hearts of man, is the feeling that something’s missing, something’s lacking. In needing acceptance/approval/and belonging we go out and look for something to attach to in order to find it.

A person might attach ourselves to “vines” of family; abiding and depending on family history, heritage, or where they live for eternal life, saving, and sustaining…but all this does is keep them vailed to the truth they are still in bondage:

John 8:33 “They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?””

A person might attach themselves to the “vines” of the unbelieving world; vines of (1) health/wealth/prospety gospels, (2) immoral beliefs & behaviors, (3) self-reliance and self-righteousness, and (4) living to whatever image they want to create for ourselves…but this vine will not last and will come to death..and those attached to this vine will wither with it.

Any person, who “attaches” themselves to these two vines, is dependent upon the world and it’s systems for sustenance and satisfaction and are referred to the “vine of the earth,” who will be cut down when Christ returns

The True Vine-(Note how in Jesus’ 7th “I am” statement, its supplements and supports the others)

A person’s source of life, true & abundant life, is found only in the “True Vine,”—Jesus Christ. In the Lord Jesus Christ

The bread of life is found (John 6:35)

The well that will NEVER run dry is found (John 4:14)

The true light of salvation is found (John 8:12; 9:5)

The Good Shepherd we need is found (John 10:11, 14)

The resurrecton and the life is found (John 11:25)

The way, the truth, and the life is found (John 14:6)

A person, when they surrender their lives, are not attached to a substitute vine, or a counterfeit vine—they are attached to the original, true, and everlasting vine of Jesus Christ!

III. What does abiding prove and show? (FOR THIS PLEASE TURN to John 8:31–36 READ)

(FIRST) What abiding proves: (Let’s look at some identifiers)

The term“Christian” is what we tend to associate most with those who are believers. Measuring all things with God’s Word, however, we see the term “Christian” used predominantly in “negative” implications

Only 3x in the N/T is the word “Christian” used, and two of those are negative

It’s a term, I fear today, is becoming watered-down and superficial,

The term, “the Way,” used multiple times in the gospels an in Acts, gets us closer to an understanding of a “true believer”

The “way” is a traveled road (Matthew 2:12, Acts 8:26, Acts 26:13)

The “way” is a journey (Acts 8:39)

The “way” is a manner of thinking, feeling, or deciding

The term disciple. Scripturally speaking, the term disciple is the truest reflection of what “true believer” is:

The term disciple is used some 261 times in the Gospels and Acts and is used as an “identifier,” in that it identifies a person as a believer in Christ.

A disciple is someone who is a “follower” of Jesus Christ, a person who “emulates” or “aligns their life” with Christ, and

Is someone who studies, learns, and obeys God’s Word, in order the Holy Spirit would adjust their lives to be conformed, progressively, into the image of Jesus

A disciple is someone who’s life goes beyond the moment of salvation and sees it’s movements rooted in salvation

How does this connect with our discussion on abide?

Abiding in Christ is the demonstrative proof/the qualifier that marks our lives as disciples

Christian vs Disciple

Acts 11:26 “And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.”

Christians were indentified b/c they were “disciples,”—b/c they followed, abided, continued, endured

Christians were identified b/c their profession was met with progression

What abiding shows us

A truth that says our sins, which were as red as crimson, have been made white through Christ alone

A truth that says mercy won the battle, so that grace could come rushing in

A truth that says that the love of God sought us out and brought us back to Him

A truth that says His sacrifice was our healing and our freedom is in His name

A truth that says, at the foot of the cross, everything changes

What abiding reveals

Abiding in Christ, reveals our sonship

John 1:12 “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:”

IV. What abiding in Christ develops

John 15:2–4 “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.”

Spiritual fruit--As believers we are to bear spiritual fruit (see Gal 5:22-23); and bearing Spiritual fruit brings with it pruning: (the more we abide, the more we are pruned of bad spots)

God prunes believers (no matter how fruitful) of bad spots & useless spots, of Mmisdirected shots & discolored leaves; every believer has areas which need “cleaning,” or pruning:

Attitudes & thoughts

Behaviors & action

Commitments & passion

Motives & willingness

Areas of pride, self-sufficiency/self-reliance

Relationship prunings

God prunes believers for a purpose: A one-fold purpose:

The purpose is NOT to (1) punish, hurt, or damage the branch (the believer)

The purpose IS to prepare the branch to bear more fruit

Note: Fruit-bearing has degrees 60%, others only 30%—ALL believers are not 100%—that belongs to Christ; Fruit-bearing is directly proportionate to a believer’s commitment and dedication to the Christ

If there’s a lack of developing fruit in your life, hand the shears over to God and let Him get pruningI

God prunes (purges and cleanses) believers in three ways:

By the Word of God—the Word of God refines a believer, purges away the dross, pollution, and dirt which clings to the believer. In sincerity and genuinness of a believer’s coming to God’s Word, he/she is shown

What they are doing or not doing

Where they fail and how they fail

Sins of commission and ommission

By the mirror of the Word of God

The Word of God forces us to measure ourselves against Christ

By ABIDING in Christ

Note that Christ does not say in order to be pruned/cleansed/purged to abide in

Works/rules/religion—they produce only whitewashed tombs

Being a good & moral person

Wordly living

Note we are not to abide in a what, but a Who

v.4: “Abide in Me.”

v.4: “…abide Me...”

v.5: “…abides in Me...”

v.7: “…abide in Me…and My Word.”

v.9: “…abide in My love...”

v.10: “…abide in My love...”

The more a believer (branch) abides in Christ, the more they are cleansed/pruned/purged of those things which are not of God and grown to look more like the vine, like Christ, growing in those things of God.

Assurance

Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”

Philippians 1:19 “For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,”

Contentment

Philippians 4:12–13“I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Peace

Philippians 4:6–7 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Boldness/courage

Acts 7-8 (Stephen’s bold message)

Acts 16:25-34 (Paul and Silas)

Worship

Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

V. Blessings to those who abide

John 15:7–8 “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”

(NOTE: The word of Christ must abide-stay, remain, be constant and endure in the believer)

We shall receive nourishment—answered prayers

As branches attached to vine, as we abide in the vine and find our life in the vine, we NEVER face a moment when we are detached from the vine. Genuine believers walk in constant fellowship & prayer with the Lord—always sharing with the Lord, never shunning from the Lord

As the vine, Christ is always nourishing believers (branches)—always sending daily bread (food) and drink (water)

We shall bear much fruit: Fruits of

Righteousness

Romans 6:22 “But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.”

Godly character and the Holy Spirit

Galatians 5:22–23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”

Converts

Romans 1:13 “Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles.”

We shall bear witness of both the Vine and the Vinedresser—this is a blessing

Visible and developing spiritual fruit, when observed by others, is the means by which others might

Turn their mind to God

To admit/acknowledge that only God’s power could do such

To desire God to save them

Matthew 5:13–16 ““You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

We prove, as believers, we are disciples. There are telling signs to tell if a person is really attached

Do we (they) bear fruit?

Do we (they) live righteously or do shameful things?

Do we (they) near LPPKGFGS?

Do we (they) lead others to Christ?

V. How does one abide? We find the answer straight from the words of our Savior

We abide in Christ (15:4,5 &7)

In Christ means a person is surrendered; they have been restored/redeemed/born again through the blood of Jesus Christ

Ephesians 1:7 “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace”

In Christ means, in God’s eyes, a person is hidden in Christ, has the being and movements in Christ

Colossians 3:1–3 “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

We abide in His Word (15:7)

In abiding in God’s Word—restoration is found (note the account of Nehemiah 8)

Note what’s happening:

After 70+ years of captivity (b/c of sinful/wicked/idolatrous living), the nation of Israel was returning

Israel’s city of peace--Jerusalem—which was left smoldering/burning/in ruins, now saw it’s walls and temple rebuilt

Some 13 years of not hearing God’s Word had gone by, until Nehemiah called in Ezra here

Note the people’s response

(They we attentive) Nehemiah 8:3 “Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.”

(They were responisve) Nehemiah 8:5 “And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up.”

(They were discipled) Nehemiah 8:8 “So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading.”

Note what happened (this is a picture of God’s heart of restoration)

Nehemiah 8:9–10 “And Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn nor weep.” For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law. Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.””

“This day is holy to the Lord your God...” gives us a glimpse of God’s heart, b/c He set aside this day as holy b/c people were getting right with Him

Weeping, “…when they heard the words of the Law,” indicates tears of joy and remorse from the people and shows:

When people get right with Bible, they get right God

Abiding in His Word (enduring, staying, dwelling) is to

Delight in and meditate

Give ourselves to sacrificial devotion to the spending time in God’s Word

Give ourselves to making God’s Word the absolute central part of our discipleship

The more precious we hold God’s Word—the more precious God will become in our lives

We abide in His love

It’s His love that saved us

Romans 5:7–8 “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

It’s His love that sustains us

Romans 8:35–39 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

We abide as we obey

Obedience, in relationship to the vine (the Savior),

Draws us closer to our Savior

Knits us tighter with our Savior, and

Plants us more firmly with our Savior

Is the demonstrative love we hold for our Savior

John 14:21 “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.””

John 14:23–24 “Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.”

*NOTICE THAT ABIDING COMES DOWN TO TWO THINGS: TRUST AND OBEDIENCE

*THE OBEDIENCE OF ABIDING MUST NEVER BE ROOTED IN LEGALISM, FOR LEGALISM LEAVES LITTLE ROOM FOR GRACE

(CLOSING and WORSHIP through verses John 15: 9-10)

John 15:9–10 ““As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 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.”

The relationship Jesus has with believer is unique, b/c it’s a relationship that has delivered surrendered hearts from a barren, empty, lonely, unmeaningful, and existence

The love Christ has for believers is unique & special, for it’s the same love with which God has loved Him

Christ is God’s “only begotten Son”. God’s love for Christ is of a natural love. God naturally loves His Son just as most fathers naturally love their children

God loves Christ with an obedient love. God is perfect—which means His love is perfect; therefore God is bound to love His Son

This is beyond the ordinary though, b/c Christ Himself is Perfect; therefore the love of God towards Jesus is very special. Most parents love their children—but it’s in special moments of obedience and caring that love swells up in the hearts of parents—This is the love God has for Christ AT ALL TIMES

God loves Christ with a supreme love. Christ paid the supreme price of obedience, dying and sacrificing Himself in obedience

Note again, that Christ has said He has loved us in the same manner

With natural love—

He loves us b/c we are God’s children,

Galatians 4:6 “And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!””

He loves us b/c we are brothers of His

Romans 8:29 “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

With obedient love

Because we have believed in God

John 5:24 ““Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.”

Because we diligently seek God

Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

Because we obey His commandments

John 15:14 “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.”

With supreme love

Because we count the cost of obedience

Luke 9:23 “Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

1 John 3:16 “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”

The beauty of grace is realizing that in all the ways Christ, he gives us one charge, one great command:

John 15:9 ““As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.”

God’s love is present—God’s love is for you and has been given for you—God’s love is ALWAYS there and He ALWAYS loves; yet a person can never know and experience this love unless he walks in it—abides in it

(TRAVIS’ example)—Imagine sitting in a dark room, no way out. You look around and across the way you see a lamp that’s already been turned on and you think, “I bet it’s not so scary there.” “I bet it’s warmer over there,” “I bet I can see where I am going over there.”

But if you never get up and go towards it, you will never experience it. All you have to do is go, all you have to do is ABIDE!

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