How to Abide in Christ

These passages in John are a part of what’s called the “farewell” discourses. When you have a loved one that’s about to leave, you may listen to everything they’re saying and cherish it. When a leader leaves you’ve become close to, the dynamic is different.

To Abide - μένω

LEMMA

μένω menō remain; stay; reside; abide

BDAG remain, stay; remain, last, persist, continue to live; wait for, await

LSJ stay, wait

other considerable translation: endurance

1. To abide in Christ is to love like Christ

If we retain the fruits of the Spirit by having the Spirit of Christ in us, we well become like Him.

He loves us not just as ones to serve Him, but as his friends.

John 17:23 ESV

I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.

Amos 3:7 ESV

“For the Lord God does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.

2. To abide in Christ is to keep his commandments.

When we look at the requirements of military service, we presume that one should have a level of fitness, ability to take orders. It’s easy to see that someone in the service should also look like the others who are in the service.

Fitting in the ranks does not just make one a part of the military, but also abiding by the rules, regulations, and the spirit of the corps itself.

3. To abide in Christ is to bear fruit and experience His joy.

examples - serving at the BRMM program

- SFC serving others during NTC rotation

Matthew 21:22 ESV

And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”

Mark 11:24 ESV

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

1 John 1:4 ESV

And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.