Turn to John 15. It is not even a doctrinal statement. I liked that. In this chapter our Lord gave instructions concerning how His disciples could maintain fellowship and fruitfulness in the difficult days which lay before them. In these verses Jesus elaborates further on this confidence. Jesus had already commented on the confidence those who believe in Him can have in prayer back in John 14:13-14. However, the concept of abiding is found throughout the Bible. The necessity of abiding is further demonstrated in verses 6-8. The grapevine was a symbol of Jewish national life. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Those claiming to love Jesus yet refusing to obey Him only prove they are liars. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. Being drunk or drugged in public is obvious, but many people keep it a secret in the privacy of their own home. If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. The idea of abiding with Jesus is a wonderful concept. Positively, it occurs in this sense of belief in chapter six: He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him (John 6:56). In addition, the idea of remaining or enduring is implied by the word abide. Matthew 12:28. (1) Since these branches are said to be in me, does this mean that they represent unfruitful Christians? Such is not the case as we shall see as we go through the rest of the passage. 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). 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). He will not be present with them physically as He had before, but He will remain with them spiritually and in the presence of the Holy Spirit. What fruit does God want you to bear? The union of Jesus and his members shown under the parable of a vine. Those who do not abide in Christ are worthless to His cause and probably a hindrance. However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Salem Media Group. The Rev. The Tucson Democrat was caught in the act on April 10, the third time the Bibles disappeared. To summarize: Those who abide in Christ are His disciples. But this I do not think to be the emphasis which our Lord intends here. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. (1) The worlds hatred for us is the result of our abiding in Christ. That wont be necessary, she responded, unimpressed, just pick up that towel and help me with these dishes. Few of us will be required to pay the ultimate price of friendship. Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him. 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. (2) The Lord bursts the bubble of the disciples messianic expectations in these verses. You are actually only a steward of it and will give an account of it when you stand before God in judgment. (See: Comfort for Those Who Believe, Part 2). What will you do about it? The world is to see Him in uswe are His hands, His feet, His mouth. If we understand and apply this passage correctly, it will virtually turn our priorities upside-down. How many times does the bible use the word abide? And its the only way we can produce anything of lasting value. How does God prune His children? 148 The commentaries contain seemingly endless discussions of the interpretation of the expression in verse 2, Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; The questions are difficult. As Romans 14:17 puts it, "the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." Our prescribed rituals, baptism and Communion, are about our identification with Christ and proclamation of both His death on our behalf and our hope in His return. 4 And let endurance have [its] perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (James 1:2-4). (See: The Promise of Heaven). John 3:6-9 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. The Lord Jesus is the true vine. Indeed, the Lord will again delight in your prosperity, as He delight ed in that of your fathers, HCSB, AM. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. underscore expressing Christs love through us. What Does It Mean to Abide? - Bible Gateway Blog 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. The word translated "abide" is one of the Apostle John's favorite words. They know Jesus and seek to be like Him by following His commands and eschewing (shunning) evil. Similarly, we are to rely on God. Obedience does not earn either your salvation or Gods love. They would eventually go to the Father through Jesus. In the King James version the word - abide - appears 82 times the word - abideth - appears 30 times the word - abiding - appears 9. Abide Abides Able Bear Branch Continue Except Fruit Itself Times Unless Vine. Yet another dimension of abiding in Christ is introduced at verse 9, for we find another imperative. Those that do not abide in Christ will lack the fruit of righteousness because they do not draw from the source of righteousness to produce such fruit. In 1 Corinthians 16:6 some mss. I do not mean that marriage is a drag to be endured with gritted teeth, but that it is not one continual high, perpetually warm fuzzy feeling. Douay-Rheims Bible Abide in me, and I in you. 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. We dont use it in many other situations, so most simply dont know what it means or how it applies to their life. Explain your picture(s) to your parents at lunch. Do We See Any Gospel Connections in the Book of Numbers? Some try to make this passage about soul winning and having many converts to Christ, but that is not the context. Do you struggle with hidden unrighteousness? Dr Tom Constables Bible Notes On John 15, The Powerful Meaning Of Matthew 11:28-30 (my yoke is easy meaning), Understanding Specific Bible Stories (Biblical Interpretation), How To Know When To Leave A Church (and 5 things to do before changing churches), The REAL Philippians 4:13 Meaning (I can do all things through Christ), The Powerful Meaning Of 2 Corinthians 5:7 (for we live by faith not by sight). No one can accomplish anything apart from Jesus Christ. Too often we distill Christianity into a set of beliefs. They are gathered up and discarded, or as stated in our text, cast into the fire. But this passage of Scripture has some incredible truth for us today. Bible Answer: While Jesus' statement " abide in My love " was a command given directly to His twelve disciples, it also applies to every believer. The abiding of obedience results in an intimacy which cannot be experienced in any other way. That has been Jesus continuing claim throughout the gospel of John and has been pointed out in previous sermons. 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. His true followers were saved; they were clean. Only Judas was unclean, due to his unbelief. The context of the reference to doing nothing here is in reference to producing the fruit mentioned in verse 5. 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. Its only through abiding in Christ that a follow of Jesus can produce fruit and find what they are truly longing for. Proper prayer changes us, and then we see the hand of God working in marvelous ways. How many times is verily verily mentioned in the Bible? Those that abide in Christ with His word abiding in them can be confident in receiving positive answers to their prayers. This word true is also used of that which is the ultimate realization, or here, of that which is the heavenly reality which transcends any earthly counterpart. Do not be amazed that I said to you, You must be born again. The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.read more.Nicodemus said to Him, How can these things be?. Jesus emphasizes the point saying, apart from Me you can do nothing.. Abide in Me, and I in you. Abide: Christian Meditation - Apps on Google Play 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). Jesus makes this distinction in verse 3. It means to connect with God, rely on God, and stay by God. This is our Christian responsibilityto abide in Christ. That is the reason that Jesus was willing lay down His life as a sacrifice for our sins. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 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. of I think, then, that Jesus is saying that whereas the vine was a picture of Israel in the Old Testament, He is the fullest realization of Israels hope, of their expectations, of what God intended her to be as her Messiah. They demonstrated the reality of this faith in Jesus and love for Him by keeping His commandments. 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.. This word true is used primarily in two senses in the New Testament. This passage was intended to bring peace, assurance and comfort to troubled men (cf. Young Children draw a picture about something you hear during the sermon. All the other paths we think will deliver true joy ultimately rob us. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain. A Christian life should be a changed life. Though He will be crucified and no longer with them, they can still trust in Him and His many promises. Within hours, our Lord would be lifted upon a cross and His disciples scattered. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. April 21, 2023. And the result? The vine had become a symbol of the nation Israel. in 1971. May God enable us to abide in Him. It is as simple as our belief and behavior. To not abide is to face the inevitable consequence which is death and judgment. So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. It has the power to change our life and faith. (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. Jesus has also just used the fruit of the vine as a symbol for His blood which was about to be shed for them. But all those things are without value if you do not abide Christ. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Hebrews 12:11 states, All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. God wants us to bear fruit in our lives, so He prunes us that we might be more dependent on the vine and produce more fruit instead of extraneous leaves and branches. KIDS KORNER The first two verses graphically reveal the futility of self-effort. 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. Such a statement is not only true of starting a church, but of other areas of life as well. To make His teaching clear and concrete, He used the analogy of a vine, a figure familiar to the Jewish mind. 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. It results from merely abiding. Lets end by looking at how to abide in Jesus. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of ones youth. That is the result of living in Jesus Christ. God does that with us. All meditations are based off Biblical scriptures. I must repeat the story I heard of the man who was waxing eloquent to his wife of how much he loved her. But as life gets busy, things come up, other opportunities come, they disconnect and go their separate ways. Seriously, abide is found in the Bible over 100 times. 5:22-23 be developed, but they can also be developed into greater capacity. How many times is the word abide in the bible? - Answers Old English word signifying progressively to "await," "remain," "lodge," "sojourn," "dwell," "continue," "endure"; represented richly in Old Testament (King James Version) by 12 Hebrew and in New Testament by as many Greek words. This is why Jesus has said all these things to the disciples. Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. Pruning the vines is not only common practice, but necessary practice in order to have a decent grape crop. We would love to introduce you to Jesus Christ personally, or if you are already a believer, we count it a privilege to encourage you in your walk with Him. Surely our Lord is the one genuine vine in whom we should abide, and surely we understand that there are other false vines. That is an incredible statement if you will take the time to think about it. When a man and his wife have an intimacy of relationship, there is often from their union the gift of children. Our Lord Jesus Christ Who came as the True Vine would accomplish all Israel failed to do. He would not be heralded as Israels king, but hated (verse 18). The Cross And Unjust Suffering (1 Peter 2:19-25), Highlights in the Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend [it] on your pleasures.. The intimacy of physical contact and association with their Lord would be set aside for a deeper, more lasting, spiritual union with Him. That concept is illustrated with the vine analogy presented here. Matthew 3:16. He told her he would even die for her. In this passage Jesus gives an illustration of a vine and branches. Jesus and the disciples are in an upper room in Jerusalem where they have just celebrated the Passover meal. 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. Writer. The emphasis in verses 9-25 is on obedience. Genesis 22:5 In Isaiah 5 the nation Israel is likened to a vineyard that does not produce fruit. What a wonderful thought is living with Christ and have Him living in you. To abide in Jesus is to persevere in Jesus and his teaching. A large gold grapevine was used to decorate the gates of the temple constructed by Herod. As the true vine our Lord is the source of life and strength and fruit. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. It cannot refer to ones loss of salvation. When the words of John chapter fifteen were spoken, the disciples had spent a great deal of time with the Savior and the honeymoon period was about to come to a close. What did Jesus mean at the end of vs. 5 that apart from Me you can do nothing? 20 Bible verses that mention all Trinity members - OverviewBible Its the only way to find the abundant life that Jesus promised us in John 10:10. They were looking for glory and honor. How many times does the bible use the word abide? I first cut out all the branches that did not bear fruit. What was the result? Come in, press play, and feel renewed by God's spirit. Bob was born and raised in a Christian home i More. John the Baptist challenged the Pharisees and Sadducees to bring forth fruit in keeping with repentance (Matthew 3:8). But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. If not, talk with a church leader and get the spiritual help you need. 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. To be His disciple was in a literal way to be His follower. This connection is often referred to as a union with Christ. Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. This is another well known but often misunderstood section of Scripture largely due to interpretations that take the passage out of its context. There must be the transition from romance to routine. God never requires us to do that which is without good reason. Deut 30:9. Our Lord is not threatening us with the loss of salvation if we sometimes fail to abide. The one in whom the Word abides can be confident of receiving the answers to his prayers for he will pray according to the will of God. Abide gives specific help in trouble. 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. Parents, you are responsible to apply Gods Word to your childrens lives. It is not a list of approved and disapproved behaviors. Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. How instructive the physical union of man and woman is here. How to Abide in the Word of God for Blessing Whatever wealth you may gather to yourself by whatever means you use, does not really belong to you. Jesus explains the role of the caretaker of the vines in verse 2. What You Need To Know About Abide In The Bible (John 15:4 meaning) My personal opinion is that we have lost sight of the major thrust of these verses which stress our relationship to the Father and the Son. The Lord your God will make you prosper abundantly in all the work of your hands with children, the offspring of your livestock, and your land's produce. The temptation for many Christians is to connect with God for a time. Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. That is, children are a result, not a cause. The same is true in our relationship with God. The word abide in the Bible only appears a few times in the New Testament (John 15:4, 1 John 2:28). March 24, 2019. I see this all the time. You begin with a flurry of enthusiasm and excitement, but sooner or later it comes down to just plain endurance just sticking it out.. It is not a set of religious rituals that must be performed. Because the world hated Him without a cause (verse 25), they will also hate us (verse 18). THINK ABOUT IT! The principle behind the command of our Lord to abide is stated both negatively and positively in verses 4 and 5. In fact the Greek word for Abide, meno, means to remain. Negatively, it is impossible to bear fruit without abiding. Proud member Jeffery Curtis Poor | August 17, 2022August 17, 2022 | Understanding Specific Bible Stories (Biblical Interpretation). 1 Corinthians 3:14 chapter context similar meaning copy save If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. I pray that your joy may be full as you abide in Christ. Jesus tells us He is "the way and the truth and the life" and says no one comes to the Father except. "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". For the first few weeks or months, marriage is able to function on the fuel of romantic feelings. Furthermore, by abiding in Christ we are caused to bear fruit which brings glory to the Father and thereby demonstrates our discipleship (verse 8). It is noteworthy how John uses the word "abide" far more than any N.T. Have you had any experience in pruning a grapevine or fruit tree? Isaiah 5:7 describes the fruit God sought from Israel, For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, And the men of Judah His delightful plant. 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.. Jesus once again states obedience to His commandments demonstrates your relationship with Him. Its an action, its what we do. To help us better understand what it means to abide in the Bible we are going to look at the most famous passage that talks about this. General Editor. 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. But we often gloss over it because the word abide is a little bit old-fashioned. They had already been cleansed by faith in His words (verse 3). Abiding also allows us to pray with confidence and growing faith as we receive answers. Why? Greed is on display in robbery and theft, but it also exists in a hard heart without compassion to help the real needs of others. "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?" What Does It Mean to Abide in Christ? We think its our responsibility to produce something of value in our life. The soul of the true disciple and heaven are dwelling-places of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The hatred of . Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. They might be sports, sprouts or suckers that might have lots of leaves and look pretty, but they do not fulfill my purpose for the plant in producing fruit. Our burdens are light and we can find rest. . It is the only way to fruitfulness. Unless you are both clean because of being regenerated and washed by the Holy Spirit and abiding in Him, you will not experience His blessings or fruit in your lives. the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. Obedience demonstrates the _____________ of your relationship with the Lord do you love Him? As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 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. If they detach from him, the source of life, they will not produce fruit. It is not a moral code. He determined that we would bear fruit and that the results of our labors would be lasting. 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 . Jesus uses this as an analogy of the relationship of the Father and the Son. We often do not understand why things happen, but we can be sure that our heavenly Father loves us, for He already proved it in Jesus Christ on Calvary, and therefore even in the difficult things of life, we can be confident that He is doing something good in us and through us for His own glory and our good. What would be ungodly fruit? We pray in accordance with his will because we are abiding. have sumparameno), to express his confidence that he will "abide," and "continue to abide," with the saints. Abiding in Christ means that we stay connected with God. The Cross And Our Response to Trials (1 Peter 4:12-19), 8. The result? Why can a person who abides in Christ be confident in prayer? Lest we also fall into that same trap, let me quickly remind you of the context. In the Revised Version (British and American) displaced often by words meaning "to sojourn," "dwell," "encamp." It is not enough to know something about Jesus or even to view Him as a good teacher whose ethical principles you try to follow. 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. It is the spiritual fruit of character and holy living. 9. Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 It was found on Jewish coins in the Maccabean period, and in the days which our Lord walked upon the earth there was a huge filigree of a vine adorning the entrance of the temple of Herod, evaluated by some (who likely were exaggerating) at a value of more than $12,000,000.147. Apart from the vine the branch will not be able to produce fruit and will eventually die. Negatively this is seen in chapter five of Johns gospel: And you do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him whom He sent (John 5:38). 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. Grace Bible Church, NY Also check out: The Powerful Meaning Of Matthew 11:28-30 (my yoke is easy meaning). The allusion to the final judgement of sinners is obvious here. If the answer to this question is yes, then the crux of the matter falls upon the Greek word (airo), takes away (NASV). That is asking with wrong motives. Four Ways We Can Abide in Christ and His Word 1. The Abide Bible - Thomas Nelson Bibles | John 15:4 The idea of physical adjacency inherent in the word disciple also applied specifically to Jesus' associates. It is this type of prayer that brings glory to God by the much fruit that we bear as a result of it. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness. This shows us that another aspect of abiding in Jesus is remaining in Jesus. The summation of this chapter can be expressed in two statements: (1) Abide in meexperience that love (verses 1-8); and (2) Express that love (verses 9-17). It makes John 15 sound dynamic. I must do the same thing to the grape vines I have out in my garden and also my fruit trees. Delight in the Bible (265 instances) - Knowing Jesus There is no special formula or technique by which fruitfulness can be attained. However, the statement itself is actually a truth for all things. To abide is to continue, to stay, to remain. He wants them to be comforted in the days ahead. Remember the illustration of the John 15:4 meaning; a branch relies, or depends on, the vine. By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. There are more than 100 abide in the Word Scriptures. . We have become preoccupied with results. In verses 7 and 8 we learn the benefits of abiding. Dwight M. Pratt Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Actually, its the ONLY way. Abiding in Christ identifies us with Him before the world. I have had Abide for two years and I will always have it as long as it exists. The definition of abide is to remain, reside, or await for. Church Planter. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affliliate links, meaning I get a small commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links. One practical reason for the command to love one another is that if we do not love other Christians, no one will, for the world will hate us because of Christ (verses 18ff.). 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)..