Abiding in Christ

Jn. 15:4-5 – “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. 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.”

A. Character of Abiding:

1. Abide means to stay or remain, to always dwell in Jesus’ presence. When Jesus said that He and His Father are one and prayed that we would also be one as they are (Jn. 17:21), this was His meaning – that we would remain always in His presence wherever we are and whatever we are involved in doing.

2. Jn. 15:4-5, 8 – In His Presence we become fruitful, increase to more fruit, and much more fruit.

3. Gal. 5:22-23 – love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self- control – this is FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

4. Jn. 15:9, 12-13 – As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love...This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

a. growing in the Father’s love! – for God; for one another; towards yourself – Mt. 22:48-50 (Jesus said loving God and people are the two greatest commands that fulfill all of God’s laws.)

5. Jn. 15:7, 10 – If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you…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.

a. Thinking and living in God’s Words; keeping/doing His commandments

b. His commandments can be restated as His laws or even His ways of true life. Since God is good, His way of life is always good.

B. Two Choices – To Walk in His Light; or to walk in the darkness of the world around us.

Ps. 15:1 asks the question: Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill?

1. Walking in His Light defines the character/lifestyle of those who abide in Christ:

• The remaining verses give the description of that lifestyle and character. They make a habit of remaining in the presence of the Lord Jesus/the Godhead.

o He walks uprightly by doing that which is wholesome and in alignment with God’s truth – v. 2

o Works righteousness [being just and honest].

o Speaks the truth in his heart

o V. 3-5 – He who does not backbite with his tongue, nor does evil [injury] to his neighbor; nor does he take up a reproach against his friend; in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but he honors those who fear the Lord; he who swears [declares over himself] to his own hurt [to break to pieces; this could refer to traits that need God’s transforming power] and does not change [doesn’t barter, not hypocritical]; he who does not put out his money at usuary, nor does he take a bribe against the innocent, he who does these things shall never be moved [shaken, dislodged, overthrown].

• It’s been said that there’s approx. 40,000 words that flow through our subconscious per second which helps us navigate life. Without this internal dialog we’re rendered incapable of well-being.

o When those internal lightning-fast words are laced with the Word of God, our behavior and conversation become life-giving to ourselves and to those around us.

o Ps. 51:6 – “Behold, You desire (delight in) truth (reliably faithful to remain firmly in God’s word) in the inward parts (internal smearing over – as a construction worker smears over a wall to remodel), and in the hidden (shut up; stopped up) part you shall make me to know (recognize; perceive) wisdom (skill in war; wise in administration).

o hidden part – 2 aspects:

 seal up Word within you.

 re-dig wells – get the dirt/flesh out! (Gen. 26:15, 18)

• Ps. 94:19 – “In the multitude of my thoughts (disquiet anxieties) within me, Your comforts delight (stroke; smear over) my soul.

• Jn 6:56 – “He that eats my flesh (Word) and drinks My blood (salvation) dwells in Me, & I in him.”

• Jn. 8:31 – “…if you continue in My word, then are you my disciples indeed.”

o Jesus – our example – (Jn. 14:10 – “I am in the Father, and the Father in Me…”)

o Baptism – Spirit descends / remains; Father’s voice affirms – Jn. 1:32-33 – John bore witness, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’

o Tested in the wilderness – Satan was allowed to test Jesus’ heart (Lk. 4:1-13 / Deut. 8:2-5)

 Jesus overcame by speaking the word of truth (scripture.)

 Purpose of the wilderness – to show us what is hiding in our hearts that we’re unaware of and causes us to veer off course from God’s ways.

o Prayer times – to relieve distress of soul – before John the Baptist died (Mt. 11:1-4) - testimony from Jesus encouraged him.

 Jesus before the cross (Lk. 22:39-43) – angel came and strengthened him.

2. Darkness – Luke 11:33-36 – lamp of the body is the eye (focal point)

v. 35 – “Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness - (physical darkness; metaphorically: darkness from error, ignorance, disobedience, willful blindness, and rebellion.)

a) Abiding or remaining in or focusing on life’s negatives produces:

- darkness / unbelief

Jn. 12:46 – “I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.”

- death – I Jn. 3:14 – “…. he who does not love his brother abides in death.”

b) Jesus took his “anxieties” to the Father (Mt. 26:28 – “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”

c) Look at the opposites in Ps. 15

D. Abiding as Temples/Dwelling Places of God

1) overcomes the devil – I Jn. 2:14 – “…you are strong, and the word of God abides in you & you have overcome the wicked one.”

a) David & his 600 men – I Sam. 30

- families taken captive

- inquires of the Lord “shall I pursue?”

- hears God’s answer – “pursue & overtake without fail; recover all”

- 200 men remain behind in Besor (“cheerful”; from root: “good news”) because of weariness

- 400 & David pursue; overcome; return; share the spoil; give honor to refreshed ones, v.24-25

2) receives answers to prayer – Jn. 15:10 – “If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, you shall ask what you will & it will be done unto you.”

Agree with God’s perspective of what He can do when surrounding by facts and watch the impossible happen.

3) avoids stumbling into sin – I Jn. 2:10 – “He that loves his brother abides in the light & there is none occasion of stumbling in him.”

- I Jn. 3:9 – Whosoever is born of God…His seed remains in him, and he cannot sin…”

4) perfected in love – Jn. 17:23 – that they may be made perfect in one (I in them; You in Me…)

5) united w/Triune God – Jn. 14:20 – “I am in My Father, & you in Me, & I in you.”

Amos 3:3 – “how can two walk together unless they be agreed?”

6) peace in trials – Jn. 16:33 – “in Me you may have peace, in the world you will have tribulations”

7) old man/nature crucified – Gal. 2:20-21 – “no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me….”

8) receive hope of glory – Col. 1:27 – “God willed to make known…the riches of the glory…which is

Christ in us…” who has overcome the world and the powers of the wicked one.