What Did Jesus Mean By "ABIDE IN ME AND I IN YOU"?

An Important Concept in John’s Writings...

The greek word μενω meno = to abide , remain, stay is found most often in the New Testament in John’s writings. It is found 44 times in the book of John and 24 times in 1 John. In the Upper Room Discourse [John 13-17] it is found 18 times. Jesus used this word 29 times.

In the Upper Room Discourse, Jesus Christ says this...

John 15:4–11 (NKJV)

4 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.

5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have 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 remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

As you can see, Jesus uses μένω meno = abide 11 times in just 8 verses! This emphasis suggests that this is a very important and basic concept in the Christian life. As Jesus Himself said....

John 8:30–32 (NKJV)

30 As He spoke these words, many believed in Him.

31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

But what did Jesus mean by “Abide in Me and I in you” and what is its’significance?

A Dual Command...

It is clear from the beginning that this is a dual command. That is, I MUST ABIDE IN CHRIST and HE MUST ABIDE IN ME. He says..

John 15:4–5 (NKJV)

4 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.

5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

The fact that HE MUST ABIDE IN ME is referring to THE HOLY SPIRIT [Whom Jesus had just mentioned in this Discourse (John 14:16ff). This is also shown by....

1 John 3:24 (NKJV)

24 Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

Jesus is saying that I must consciously allow the HOLY SPIRIT to ABIDE IN ME. This is also shown by....

1 John 2:24–25

24 Therefore let Whom you heard from the beginning abide in you. If Whom you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.

[This translation is based on the fact that the Greek neuter relative pronoun ὃ ho is also used for the Holy Spirit in John 14:17, 26 and John 15:26.]

This also fits what the Apostle Paul says in Gal 5:16 and Rom 8:1, 13.

That is.....

I must consciously ABIDE IN CHRIST and consciously LET THE HOLY SPIRIT ABIDE IN ME.

When I do that....I am experiencing FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD and ETERNAL LIFE.

Notice,also, how Jesus Christ speaks of the HOLY SPIRIT....

John 6:63 (NKJV)

63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.

Experienced by FAITH.

Jesus Christ also speaks of this in John 6:56 when He says...

John 6:53–56 (NKJV)

53 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.”

Note that “eats My flesh and drinks My blood” is just a metaphor for FAITH in Jesus Christ [note verse 54 above]. That is,...

I must consciously live by faith in Jesus Christ and - by faith - allow the Holy Spirit to abide in me.

Paul speaks in a very similar way when he says...

Galatians 2:20 (NKJV)

20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.....

This kind of life will result in VICTORY in our experience.

Jesus says...

John 16:33 (NKJV)

33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have been victorious over the world.”

1 John 5:5–6

5 Who is he who is being victorious over the world, but he who is believing that Jesus is the Son of God?

6 This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth.

When I am living like this...

I will be KEEPING CHRIST’S COMMANDMENTS...

1 John 3:24 (NKJV)

24 Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

I will be LOVING MY BROTHER IN CHRIST and WITNESSING TO THE WORLD OF JESUS CHRIST....

1 John 4:12–14 (NKJV)

12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.

I will be CONFESSING THAT “JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD”....

1 John 4:15 (NKJV)

15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

I will be experiencing FREEDOM from SIN in my life.

1 John 3:5–6

5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. 6 Whoever abides in Him is not sinning. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.

This kind of life will also result in CONFIDENCE and REWARD at the Judgment-Seat of Christ.

Note...

1 John 2:28 (NKJV)

28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.

1 John 4:15–17

15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

17 Love has been perfected with us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.

I will gain the REWARD of RULING WITH JESUS CHRIST FOREVER....

Jesus said....

Revelation 3:21

21 To him who is victorious I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also was victorious and sat down with My Father on His throne.

Revelation 2:25–29

25 But hold fast what you have till I come. 26 And he who is a victor, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations—

27 ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron;

They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’—

as I also have received from My Father; 28 and I will give him the morning star.

29 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

Believer, are you - today - ABIDING IN CHRIST and ALLOWING THE HOLY SPIRIT to ABIDE IN YOU?

Will you REIGN WITH JESUS CHRIST FOREVER?