The Lord Jesus is the true vine. Sadly, there are many people that claim to be Christians that try to live apart from dwelling in Christ. Those that abide in Christ with His word abiding in them can be confident in receiving positive answers to their prayers. Do you struggle with hidden unrighteousness? Active. May God enable us to abide in Him. Its never good in the long run. What is necessary in order for you to bear fruit? They had placed their faith in Jesus resulting in justification from their sins. Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 If they detach from him, the source of life, they will not produce fruit. The idea that God can work in us and through us to do stuff excites me. John 15:9-10, Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. What is this fruit? A branch cannot live & bear fruit except it draws its _______from the vine, so we draw our life from Christ, We are changed with ___________minds and conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29; 12:2), The presence or absence of spiritual fruit reveals the true ______________ with Christ, True Christianity is about a _________relationship with God and not religious rituals & codes (Rom. Tools. They stand clean before the Lord because their sins are forgiven (1 John 1:9) and the Holy Spirit has washed and regenerated them into new creatures (Titus 3:5; 2 Corinthians 5:18). There is a relationship of complete dependence between the branch and the vine. You begin with a flurry of enthusiasm and excitement, but sooner or later it comes down to just plain endurance just sticking it out.. In 1 Corinthians 16:6 some mss. If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. Its an action, its what we do. How many times does the bible use the word abide? I opened his Be Transformed and read this: "To 'abide' means to keep in fellowship with Christ so that His life can work in us and through us to produce fruit.". Not wishing to leave the imperative to abide in His love in abstract terms, Jesus gives a very specific and practical example of the commandments of which He speaks. Abiding is our obligation; fruitfulness is Gods concern. Remember, that Judas had been a respected member of the disciples, but he has just left to do his evil deed. But the invitation that Jesus is extending is a relationship that requires action. Every feature in Abide is designed to teach and develop Scripture-engagement habits that help you know the power and spiritual nourishment of abiding in Christ. John 15:4 Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as - Bible Hub We want to have guidance, but we ignore the Guide. "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. Matthew 12:28. It would be a ritual that would remind them of the sacrifice He was about to make to redeem them from their sin and remember His promise to return for them. The Father enables to Son to accomplish all things. Those who do not live in a relationship with Christ here have no basis for such a relationship in eternity and so it should be expected they would be cast away from Him. Jesus did not mean for you to walk with Him alone. It was out of His love. We have the Holy Spirit in us producing good fruit (Galatians 5:22-23). And its the only way we can produce anything of lasting value. What is the evidence that a person is abiding in Jesus love? Underlying the meaning of this term is the idea of belief. (1) Since these branches are said to be in me, does this mean that they represent unfruitful Christians? Our doctrinal statement is our attestation of Gods revelation of Himself to us. Abide in The Bible That is an incredible statement if you will take the time to think about it. Abode, as a noun (Greek mone) twice in New Testament: "make our abide with him" (John 14:23); "mansions," the Revised Version, margin "abiding-places" (John 14:2). God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.. March 24, 2019. "Abide (sit or tarry) ye here" (Genesis 22:5); "The earth abide (continueth) forever" (Ecclesiastes 1:4); "Who can abide (bear or endure) the day?" Abiding in Christ - John 15:1-11 | Grace Bible Church In John chapter 15, our Lord brought before the eleven the realities of the future. In this passage Jesus gives an illustration of a vine and branches. We must stay by God, continue to depend on him. This is a conditional promise based in the relationship a person has with Jesus. The ultimate demonstration of love is about to be witnessed by the disciples. Do not be amazed that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' But Jesus makes clear that it a You are actually only a steward of it and will give an account of it when you stand before God in judgment. When Community Bible Chapel began several years ago, I was given a bit of wise counsel from one of the elders of Believers Chapel. A large gold grapevine was used to decorate the gates of the temple constructed by Herod. Charles Stanley, an influential Baptist pastor who for more than 50 years preached a conservative message from his Atlanta megachurch, through an extensive network of . Obedience does not earn either your salvation or Gods love. We are the instruments of fruit-bearing. But we often gloss over it because the word abide is a little bit old-fashioned. Those claiming to love Jesus yet refusing to obey Him only prove they are liars. Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. It cannot refer to ones loss of salvation. In this chapter our Lord gave instructions concerning how His disciples could maintain fellowship and fruitfulness in the difficult days which lay before them. Bob is a pastor/teacher and elder at Community Bible Chapel in Richardson, Texas, and has contributed many of his Bible study series for use by the Foundation. However, the concept of abiding is found throughout the Bible. The past tense abode, in frequent use, has the same meaning. Verse Concepts. One result of our obedience to our Lords command is joy. Negatively, it is impossible to bear fruit without abiding. Paul said nearly the same thing in Romans 5:3-5, 3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Abiding in Christ means we recognize that its only through God that we can produce fruit. This simply means that we go on trusting, that we keep on depending, that we never stop believing. Dont leave this morning without getting the help you need. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. That concept is illustrated with the vine analogy presented here. They were looking for glory and honor. That is the result of living in Jesus Christ. If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. How have you experienced that in your life? He determined that we would bear fruit and that the results of our labors would be lasting. It is the Fathers task alone to deal with believers (fruitful branches) and unbelievers (unfruitful branches, those who only profess to be in the vine). Such a statement is not only true of starting a church, but of other areas of life as well. It is this type of prayer that brings glory to God by the much fruit that we bear as a result of it. Abiding also allows us to pray with confidence and growing faith as we receive answers. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. Jesus states His reason for this teaching in verse 11, These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and [that] your joy may be made full.. For example, Isaiah 5:7 states, For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, And the men of Judah His delightful plant. A grape vine was used as an emblem minted onto the coins of the Maccabean period. Those who do not abide in Christ are worthless to His cause and probably a hindrance. Abide in Me, and I in you. Those that do love Jesus demonstrate that love by keeping His commandments, and obeying Jesus demonstrates abiding in Him and His love. They can have a peace the world does not know or understand (John 14:27), and they can have joy in the midst of their sorrow. In the Old Testament, the nation of Israel was often likened to a vine. The Father is intimately involved in this relationship between the vine and the branches. The nature of the relationship between Christ and His followers was to change from a physical one to that which was spiritual, and the means of sustaining this kind of relationship are described for us. They will have ungodly fruit such as listed in Romans 1:29-31 and Galatians 5:19-21. And we know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. 1 John 4:15-16, Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. The soul of the true disciple and heaven are dwelling-places of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. But as life gets busy, things come up, other opportunities come, they disconnect and go their separate ways. The definition of abide is to remain, reside, or await for. It is the only way to fruitfulness. Lest we also fall into that same trap, let me quickly remind you of the context. They had already been cleansed by faith in His words (verse 3). 3. It is not a list of approved and disapproved behaviors. He appointed us to represent Him to a lost world. To be His disciple was in a literal way to be His follower. It could be just leaves that look pretty but have no value in harvest, or they may have the fruit produced by the diseases of sin that ravish them. As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. The world is to see Him in uswe are His hands, His feet, His mouth. Jesus warns those who are not in verse 6. 16 And we have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. Jesus has also just used the fruit of the vine as a symbol for His blood which was about to be shed for them. As the branches, we are the visible manifestation of the life of the vine. John 3:6-9 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. If a branch becomes detached it will wither and die. However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. The triumphal entry (John 12) seemed to elevate their expectations and excitement. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you (John 15:7). Many fine scholars do not think so, cf. Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Come in, press play, and feel renewed by God's spirit. Contrast ungodliness that is obvious and that which is hidden? Proclamations of self-righteousness is self deception for there are none who are righteous or do good (Romans 3:10-18). 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. That is the fruit talked about throughout the scriptures. April 21, 2023. THINK ABOUT IT! The Tucson Democrat was caught in the act on April 10, the third time the Bibles disappeared. The Cross And Separation From The World (1 Peter 4:1-6), 7. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. What condition must be met first in order to abide in Jesus? Three Ways to "Abide in Me" The first key to abiding in Christ is receiving and believing Him. Children are a gift of the Lord. Is a backsliding Christian still saved? | GotQuestions.org that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. Children are given to men in their sleep, without striving. How many times is verily verily mentioned in the Bible? People can appear pretty good by the standards of whatever society they are in and still be very ungodly. Christians are forgiven no matter how many times they sin, but at the same time Christians should live a progressively more holy life as they grow closer to Christ. Prejudice and racism are often obvious in their display, but both also conceal themselves in the political correctness of what is euphemistically called social justice but which is Biblically unjust as it gives excuses for jealousy, envy, malice, bitterness and unforgiveness. In verses 7 and 8 we learn the benefits of abiding. 10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother. 1 John 3:24, And the one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. Paul wrote in Philippians 1:11 that believers are to filled with the fruit of righteousness which [comes] through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God, and in Colossians 1:10 that we are to be bearing fruit in every good work.. What fruit does God want you to bear? It is not a set of religious rituals that must be performed. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of ones youth. ; 14:5,8,22; 16:17ff.). The context of the reference to doing nothing here is in reference to producing the fruit mentioned in verse 5. John 15:4. The reason for this is not all that complex, simply put, when I cut back a fruiting branch, the energy of the vine can go into producing fruit instead of more branches and leaves. What Did Jesus Christ Mean When He Said 'Abide in Me'? Jesus and the disciples are in an upper room in Jerusalem where they have just celebrated the Passover meal. He wants them to be comforted in the days ahead. (See: Comfort for Those Who Believe, Part 1), The time is now short before Jesus will be arrested that night and then tried and crucified the next day. We can have fruit and then much fruit. True Christianity has all those things, but all of them are in keeping with a relationship with God. That is not what lay ahead. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. We pray in accordance with his will because we are abiding. The Abide Bible is designed to help you experience the peace, hope, and growth that comes from encountering the voice and presence of God in Scripture. Israel, as a vine, was an utter failure; it never achieved its goal. But all those things are without value if you do not abide Christ. Because the world hated Him without a cause (verse 25), they will also hate us (verse 18). For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Its the only way to find the abundant life that Jesus promised us in John 10:10. Genesis 22:5 Our Lord Jesus Christ Who came as the True Vine would accomplish all Israel failed to do. It is not a moral code. It means to connect with God, rely on God, and stay by God. of No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. This is our Christian responsibilityto abide in Christ. Believers are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). The disciples would have understood all this and so would have also understood that Jesus declaration of being the true vine was a claim to be the fulfillment of all these symbols. Apart from the vine the branch will not be able to produce fruit and will eventually die. Actually, its the ONLY way. How comforting, then, to hear these words of assurance: You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give you (John 17:16). This would be the fruit of the Spirit listed out in Galatians 5:22-24 which states, 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. Features:Leader helps for group discussion7 weeks of personal study to be completed between . (Malachi 3:2); "Afflictions abide (await) me" (Acts 20:23). In Philippians 1:25, the Apostle uses both the simple verb meno and the compound parameno (some mss. Second, we must remember the words of Jesus in verse 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 remain, that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give you.. Remember the illustration of the John 15:4 meaning; a branch relies, or depends on, the vine. "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. Behold, children are a gift of the Lord; the fruit of the womb is a reward. The love that exists between the members of the Godhead is extended to us! Within hours, our Lord would be lifted upon a cross and His disciples scattered. The 8-week Bible study From Beginning to Forever reveals the entirety of Scripture as God's big story and His work to redeem and restore the entire world. If anyone does not abide in Me he is thrown away as a branch, and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned (John 15:6). But this I do not think to be the emphasis which our Lord intends here. Parents, you are responsible to apply Gods Word to your childrens lives. Abiding isnt a feeling or even a belief. The exhortation to "abide" has been frequently misunderstood, as though it were a special, mystical, and indefinable experience. It is a dependence upon His provision of life and strength that is emphasized in John 15:4. It is the spiritual fruit of character and holy living. There are no special techniques or formulas. Yet another dimension of abiding in Christ is introduced at verse 9, for we find another imperative. Jesus said in Matthew 7:17-19 that true and false teachers could be distinguished from each other by their fruit. That is, children are a result, not a cause. 9 No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. In verse 6 we are given a negative illustration of the results if we do not abide. In the King James version the word - abide - appears 82 times the word - abideth - appears 30 times the word - abiding - appears 9. To not abide is to face the inevitable consequence which is death and judgment. How many times is the word abide in the bible? - Answers so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. The idea of abiding with Jesus is a wonderful concept. 6:11; 1 John 1:9; Titus 3:5. Why Does God Compare Our Relationship with Him to That of a Bride and Groom? What will you do about it? Having consistent time to go to God with thanksgiving and requests is an important element to abiding with the Lord. 14:17), Religious rituals, moral codes, practices and doctrine are ______________if you do not abide in Christ, Those without a redeemed relationship with God in the here and now have no basis for one in ___________, Those not abiding in Christ will lack the _____of righteousness and may show the fruit of sin (Gal. The vine supplies life-giving nourishment to the branches. We can become more loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle and self-controlled than we are currently. Describe what you did, why and the results. Why can a person who abides in Christ be confident in prayer? Some try to make this passage about soul winning and having many converts to Christ, but that is not the context. Abiding, then, requires a belief in the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ on our behalf. The intimacy of friendship includes us in the inner circle of God, and here our Lord makes known His secrets. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil. All of us should be willing to do so and to show it in simple acts of sacrificial kindness. The temptation for many Christians is to connect with God for a time. Pruning the vines is not only common practice, but necessary practice in order to have a decent grape crop. Over and over again Israel was referred to as a vine. Nebuchadnezzar had both of these as the king of Babylon, but God struck him because of his pride and he became like an animal that lived in the fields. What fruit do you see in your own life? The necessity of abiding is further demonstrated in verses 6-8. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Fathers commandments, and abide in His love., The nature of Jesus love for us is the same as the Fathers love for the Son. . Apart from it, the branches have neither life nor fruit. Matthew 6:1 Verse Concepts "Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. How can you have Jesus joy? Read the Bible. Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love (John 15:9). They are preparing to leave the Upper Room and proceed to the Garden of Gethsemane, but before they leave, Jesus gives His disciples some final encouragement and instructions. It is not even a doctrinal statement. The idea of physical adjacency inherent in the word disciple also applied specifically to Jesus' associates. Indeed, the Lord will again delight in your prosperity, as He delight ed in that of your fathers, HCSB, AM. It means that we fully attached ourselves to him and we rely on him to give us what we need. He told her he would even die for her. It only demonstrates the reality of your relationship with Him that you have responded to His love so that you love Him and abide in Christs love. Salem Media Group. Abiding in Christ implies dependence on him. If the love of Christ is to be shown in His disciples, they must be willing to give themselves to and for others. The branches connect to the vine. Just as a branch cannot live and bear fruit except it draws its life from the vine, so we cannot, live and bear fruit for God unless we draw our life from Jesus. Bibliography Information Orr, James, M.A., D.D. Which do you think is more dangerous? Verses 3-5 are in contrast to the first two verses. What Does Abide Mean? Bible Definition and References When will you do it? Judas has ignored Jesus many warnings to him, and having his heart filled with Satan, he has left to do his evil deed of betrayal. Verses 1-3 pertain to our position, while verses 4-8 speak of our practice. Rosscup, pp. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every [branch] that bears fruit, He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit. They would have been very familiar with this concept since they lived in an agrarian society in which grapes were a common crop. They will therefore be treated like the cut off branches from a pruning. But sooner or later we come to the realization that marriage is not only enjoying, but enduring. 5:19-21), The fruit of unrighteousness may be obvious, or hidden by privacy, or ____________by societal standards, Abiding in Jesus in 1 John 2:6, 24; 3:6-10, 24; 4:15-16, This is a _______________promise of answered prayer based in the relationship a person has with Jesus, 1 John 5:14-15; James 4:2-3. Bob was born and raised in a Christian home i More. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. Those who think they can accomplish something apart from God are actually very foolish. Why? 1. John 14:1). They in turn will be able to bear much fruit in living godly lives that glorify the Father. The abiding of obedience results in an intimacy which cannot be experienced in any other way. Abide - Barabbas Road Church in San Diego, CA Dead and diseased branches are obvious ones to remove in this process, but there are also branches, that for whatever reason, simply do not bear fruit. Connecting with God isnt a one time event, its something we must do regularly. But in John 15:5 Jesus gives a stark warning against doing so, apart from me you can do nothing.. In this blog post we are going to look at the incredible truth of the John 15:4 meaning and how to abide in Christ. The problem with too many people in positions of authority government, military, business, social organizations and even sports teams is they forget this truth and that they will give an account to God. To learn more about the John 15:4 meaning check out this incredible resource: Dr Tom Constables Bible Notes On John 15, The temptation for most of us is to go at life solo. Followers of Jesus are the branches and God is the vine. Four Ways We Can Abide in Christ and His Word 1. As the true vine our Lord is the source of life and strength and fruit. What then does fruit reveal? A person that does not abide in Christ may also have religious rituals, a moral code, practices and doctrine that may even appear to be Biblical in some sense. "Abide in Me, and I in you. 2. . A Christian life should be a changed life. Notice that this connection is mutual, meaning both sides have to agree to it. Abode, as a noun (Greek mone) twice in New Testament: "make our abide with him" ( John 14:23 ); "mansions," the Revised Version, margin "abiding-places" ( John 14:2 ). Gods pruning of us through trials and tribulations is not pleasant at the time, but such things force us to be more dependent upon Him. Abide in Me, and I in you. The Abide Bible - Thomas Nelson Bibles | John 15:4 He is the true vine, believers are the branches, and the Father is the vine-keeper. Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Obedience brings joy into our Christian experience as it did for our Lord: Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2). That may seem severe, but understand that true Christianity is about a relationship with the Creator. Abiding in Christ identifies us with Him before the world. Positively, if one abides in Christ he will bear much fruit. The grapes themselves were costly jewels. Abiding is essential for fruit bearing. Thats what the John 15:4 meaning teaches us. Paul states this directly in Ephesians 2:4-5, God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).. Verse 16 makes it crystal clear that our abiding in Christ is not the determining factor behind our eternal security as believers. To abide is to reside. Just a like a vine that decides to disconnect from its source of life, a follower of Jesus who disconnects from God will stop producing fruit in their life. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affliliate links, meaning I get a small commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links.