Abiding in Christ

If you have your bibles this morning please open them up to John 15. And pray with me as the little one go back to the nursery.

I have titled the message this morning, Abiding in Christ. Today’s text is depending on much of the teaching of the last few weeks since Jesus started this farewell discourse, After the announced betrayal of Judas. Jesus goes and tells them about this glory to come, and how this glory on the cross helps the disciples, and even us see this love he has for us, and how we are to love each other when we fall short. As we progressed in the text we seen that the promises of Heaven comes from Jesus who is the way, the truth, and the life. And those promises help the believer overcome everything in this life. And last week we saw that Loving Jesus means you will obey his commandments, and because Jesus loves us he will give you many promises if you belong to him, and those many promises are rooted in obedience to Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit, and because of those things remember we can have peace with God.

Now today what I want you to see in the text is this idea. This main idea: Write this down or take note of it in your bulletins. “Those who Abide in Christ will bear and show fruit in their lives.”

What does it mean to abide in something? It means you are going to continue a certain state, condition, or activity. In this context it means, That you will remain, stay, and reside with Christ. And if you are abiding in Christ you are going to bear and show fruit in your life. With that be said let us get into God’s word this morning.

John 15:1–6 ESV

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.

Those who abide in Christ will bear fruit.

Jesus says the 7th and final I Am statement in the text I just read. And unlike the other 6 I am statements he includes God the Father in this one. Showing that there is a distinguished role here between the Father and the Son.

And the language in the text is important for us to understand, because God called the nation of Israel his vine In several old testament texts , and God expected Isreal to bear this good fruit to the world. But as you see in the text Jesus is doesn’t refer to them as the vine but himself whom all spiritual fruit comes from.

Jesus is the vine, and the Father is the Vine Dresser, why does this matter? Well because previously if you wanted to come to the one true God you would have to come through Israel. Gods chosen people, and if you were outside of Israel you would have to become a jew before you were accepted by God, but because of Israel disobedience as the vine, Jesus is the fulfillment of what was required of Israel, being the one who bears fruit, and making it where people would have to come to him in order to be saved, rather than Isreal itself, and as we have seen in our study of John this quite upset the Pharisees, and leaders in Isreal.

But the text like I said added the role of the Father, and Jesus says, Every branch in me, notice the in me part that does not bear fruit he (the Father takes it way, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes that it may bear more fruit.

So there is this idea that believers who abide in Christ will bear fruit, and the Father will help them in their walk with Christ, now the work of a vinedresser was an important one so the vine could function properly. Its most likely that Jesus is referring to grape vines in the text, because it would be something they would be familiar with.

One scholar shows us the role of one who would act as a vine dresser or also known as a husbandman. To make the vineyard rich in its productivity, the husbandman went along the rows of vines, and when he saw branches that were producing no fruit but were taking sap and strength away from the vine, he cut them off. Then the husbandman gathered those dead sticks and threw them in the fire to get rid of them. But the ones that were bearing fruit he cut back, clipped, and pruned so that their fruit would increase.

What a great illustration for how God works in our own lives. God works in us in such a way where he searches out what needs to be cut off from our life. Many of us who are not seeing this fruit in our lives it is because we are holding on to what God has cut away, and vines that are not connected cannot bear fruit. And many of us take energy off of things that God has already cut away from us, and that does not bear good fruit in our lives.

But what God does with the fruit in your lives is he prunes it, like the husbandman who sees the good in vine, but crafts it in such a way where not just one fruit can comes, but many more. Its a thing of beauty when in our lives there are glimpses of this fruit where we begin to look more like Christ, and it starts multiplying into a wonderful harvest by his workmanship.

and he can do that because Believers in Christ are already clean. This word clean could even say pruned here, But we are made clean by Jesus word and his life, and as Jesus is talking to his disciples and this work has taken hold in them, and if you are in Christ it has taken hold of you as well. So he can bear good fruit in you.

So because Jesus is the vine, and the father is the vinedresser and he is working in us purifying us by his word and by his power means we should abide in him, and continue to bearing good fruit, and there is a key to how this works, how we bear good fruit, and it is that we abide in Christ. Remember it means you are going to continue a certain state, condition, or activity. and That you will remain, stay, and reside with him.

And this is absolutely crucial one cannot bear good fruit outside of Christ, and the text makes it pretty clear.

We are in a constant need of Jesus in our lives, we cannot separate the fruit from its root, we must be connected to every word that the bible says so we can be at one with him. The only way we be close to him is by obeying him.

Jesus is clear no branch can produce fruit by itself, unless it is connected to the vine, and neither can anyone else unless we are connected with Jesus.

And Jesus explains why this is the case. Because like he said in verse 1 he is the vine. Not us, not someone else, not this church, Jesus is the vine, and we are just branches. So we must abide in him in order to have this fruit. because apart from him we can do nothing.

If you are wondering why nothing in your life seems to being bearing good fruit ask yourself am i abiding in Christ, am I connected to him by faith? Or am i holding on to things that God has cut off, and if so I need to draw close to him, and follow him in repentance and obedience.

I was reading something this week that really stuck out to me, and I believe will help you as well understand what it means to abide in christ and bear good fruit…

It says, I remember the story of a man who joined a church but never attended worship services. However, he came to the church picnic, and the minister spoke to him. He said, “I haven’t seen you in church lately.” The fellow said: “That’s true. I have learned that I don’t need to go to church to be a Christian. I can commune with God in my own way. I don’t need to be a part of the worshiping community on Sunday morning.” The pastor said, “I understand what you’re saying.” Then he casually walked over to a nearby charcoal grill, where hamburgers were sizzling. Using tongs, he moved one of the white-hot coals over to the side of the grill. He continued to chat with his wayward parishioner for a few minutes, then said: “Look at this coal. A few moments ago, this coal was radiant in its heat and warmth, and was useful for grilling these burgers. But what has happened since I removed it from the fire and set it apart by itself? It has grown cool and has become worthless for the task it was created to do.”

This is what happens to us when we move away from Christ. That’s why Jesus told His disciples: “Abide in Me. Stay close to Me. Take hold of Me and hold on tightly. Don’t think that you can make it on your own, because without Me you can do nothing.” This is an exhortation that we, Christ’s disciples in the twenty-first century, must take to heart.

We can not be as the world tries to tell us, people who have our strength in ourself, people who look down deep in us thinking that we and we alone can make it where we can bear one’s own fruit, even the apple, peach, or orange tree needs sunlight, soil, pollination, and water to grow, as well as the right climate, wind, rain, and most importantly God, if you truly want to live the Christian life that bears fruit run closer to Jesus, and you will bear the fruit he calls us to have, and in bearing fruit you will begin to see it in yourselves and others will see as well. And God will show do incredible things that show you are is.

Those who abide in Christ will bear fruit. Second thing this morning is this.

Those who abide in Christ will have answered prayer.

V7 and 8 says this.

John 15:7–8 ESV

7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

answered prayers, and hearing our prayers has been mentioned several times over the last few weeks. And for good reason, knowing God does this is a comforting felling, but prayer as we have discussed is not what we might expect it to be, especially what others outside of church think it to be. and today we see how God answerers prayer, and its rooted in this idea that if you are in him, and his words abide in you, we can ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you.

And I thought of it like this Prayer must be based on this connection with Christ. If we are truly close to God our prayer life is going to be shaped by it. We can’t pray for something to happen if we are not truly connected to him, but that connection to him is going to be how our prayer life will begin to form over time, and it will form based on the fact that we will know his word, and his word will instruct and command us how to pray. Our connection to God dictates our prayer lives, and if you want more answered prayers you will abide in him, a simple way for us to pray as Jesus asks us to pray is in Matthew 6:9-13, This text is know as the Lord’s prayer, and as I read it to you you will see how unselfish and connected to God it really is.

Matthew 6:9–13 ESV

9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Our prayer lives overtime become as we have already said not my will, but yours, draw close to God, and he will answer your prayers. And will be glorified in him. When we pray God’s will be done in our lives it shows we abide in him, God answers every prayer, but if we want to see how he clearly answers them draw close to him, and glorify him.

Remember we glorify God when we do everything he asks us to do, and when we come to him in prayer and he works through us that he is gloried which prove that we are his disciples.

Third thing this morning to write down is this…

Those who abide in Christ will show obedient love towards Christ.

v9-10 says this..

John 15:9–10 ESV

9 As the Father has loved me, so have I 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.

Last week when I preached i mentioned just how foundational love is when it comes to obedience, and the Lord must really think this is the case as well, because he repeated it again in this text today. And its all rooted in the idea that we abide in him, because he abided in the father. To be obedient to Christ we must be close to him, I hope you are seeing that major theme so far in the sermon. Draw close to God he will draw close to you, and it will manifest itself to bear and show fruit.

I have said this a few times now, but Jesus love for the father gives us an example of how we should love Christ. One pastor said this, “I’ll never forget my professor in graduate school in the Netherlands saying in one of his lectures, “Gentlemen, the essence of Christian theology is grace, and the essence of Christian ethics is gratitude.” We are not driven to obey Christ in order to get in good with Him; we are driven to obey Christ by a heart that is filled with gratitude for the way He plucked us out of this world and poured His love out on us.”

Jesus has loved us so much to the point of death how can we not help but follow him with all of our obedience, because of what he has done for us. ?If we follow him with our obedience we will abide in him, and if we abide in him we will have more than just answered prayers, and obedient love, but also joy, and that is the next thing i want you to write down this morning.

4th point this morning.

Those who abide in Christ will have joy that is full.

John 15:11 ESV

11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

The text is directing us to joy being linked to obedience. Its not a pain to follow Jesus but a true Joy. And he wanted to remind the disciples of that very thing.

I like what one man said, “Jesus’ joy has come through his reliance on God and his obedience to his Father’s will. We inherit not only his joy but the capacity given through the Spirit to enjoy God in the same manner.”

There must be a point in our lives where we are so close to God that we rely on him for everything, and in doing so it produces an ever lasting joy. And if you are a believer in Christ your joy will grow as you continue being obedient to him.

Now Paul in Galatians talks about how joy is a fruit of the spirit, and joy is different than happiness, happiness is not a promise in this text, but joy is, and joy does not waver like happiness does. Joy is much like Christ’s obedience it never fails, and joy is present in the believers always, especially when they abide in Christ, so when we are faithful even in the storms of life, we will remain in him, because he remains in us, and was faithful just like he called us to. Joy will never run dry but only fill up as time goes on if you abide in Christ.

and because we have this joy, we will do the next thing God calls us to do, and its the fifth and final point I want you to write down and its this…

Those who abide in Christ will have sacrificial love.

v12-17

John 15:12–17 ESV

12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

So we already seen in this text obedient love, but now it shifts to sacrificial love. A sacrificial love is another kind of love Christ has for us, because he sacrificed himself for us. Romans 5:7-8 says…

Romans 5:7–8 ESV

7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

He laid down his life for his, and he calls them his friends. He doesn’t say that he is no longer their lord. But he does call them friends, and he shows that friendship by extending the wonderful teaching of God to them, and serving them sacrificially, and he is telling the disciples and us the things a true friend would tell us, and Jesus tells them everything they need to know to truly follow him, and that includes having sacrificial love for one another.

And in our own strength we cannot do not, but by the power of the Holy Spirit and God’s word we can. And showing that sacrificial love shows that we love him. There is pretty much no better way to abide in Christ than following him in the kind of love he showed us.

And we can do that because God choose the disciples and us to do this work, and bear good fruit that lasts. God is the author and finisher of our faith, and the scriptures say that he is the one who gives the growth in our lives.

And all we have to do is continue to abide in him, God asks for our faithfulness because he was faithful. And if we continue to obey him, and draw close to him we can continue to ask him to keep us faithful, and that he works in us for his glory so that we can love one another.

One great tale of love is found in a war movie titled saving private Ryan its a true classic if you like war movies, not very kid friendly, but the story is a great one, and in the story there is this private whose brothers all died in the war, and they want to make sure this private can go home so he can carry on the family name, and there is this group that lays down their lives to rescue this paratrooper they do not know, to sacrifice themselves to make sure this private can go home, and throughout the movie they go through many battles, and hardships, and miller who was the captain would lose his life saving private Ryan, and in the end of the movie there was this powerful line, and Ryan says this in his old age, “"Every Day I Think About What You Said To Me That Day On The Bridge, And I've Tried To Live My Life The Best I Could. I Hope That Was Enough."

Ryan remembered the one who laid down his life for himself, and he made it his life’s mission to remember who laid down his life and lived out of motivation for that. In this country we have had many brave men and women who have served so we could be free. John 15:13 has long been associated with the military and rightfully so as we saw in the example of Saving Private Ryan. However, the lives that paid the price for our own freedom, could not provide the freedom Christ does, and that in no way diminishes their work, but shows how valuable the life of Christ is, because his death saves in a different way from our sins.

I love that we honor those who paid the price of their own lives, and we should keep doing that, but as Christians we need to honor the one who paid the price for our sins with our very own lives.

The last line from the movie says something we hear many people say.. I've Tried To Live My Life The Best I Could. I Hope That Was Enough."

Don’t leave here today expecting to meet God saying this is my life God, look what I have done, the good outweighs the bad, I have been charitable, nice, kind, giving to those in need, never committing those bad crimes you see on the news, or read online, I have just lived a good life, and I think you should let me in heaven to be with you, and let me tell you it does not work like that. John 15:13 as a reminder says.

John 15:13 ESV

13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

Jesus Christ laid down his life, so we could have life in him, but you have to for yourself believe in that, its not about to just believing in God, but about trusting in Christ, putting faith in him, knowing that you did not do enough, but he did.

Many of us wonder why we don’t have the fruit that the text says. A good test for you this morning is making your way over to Gal 5:16-25

Galatians 5:16–25 ESV

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

This things don’t save you, only faith in Christ does but it might be a good test for you today, as you seek to bear good fruit in your life.

But maybe today you have no fruit in your lives, because you have never met the one who lays down his life for his friends, and let me tell you this morning you can by repenting of your sins, ( which means recognizing you are a sinner, and need him and turning the other way and trusting in Christ as your Lord and Savior. ) And you can begin having this new life where you abide in him, and he in you, and he will change everything about your life.Those who Abide in Christ will bear and show fruit in their lives.

Let us pray…