“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.”
John 15:4
In John 15:1-11, Jesus uses the imagery of a vineyard to illustrate the interconnection between the Father, Himself, and the believer. Jesus is the “True Vine,” and we (the branches) must unite with Him to have life and bear the fruit of God. The Father tends to the branches, cutting away those that are fruitless and pruning the others so that their capacity to yield more fruit may grow.
Through these eleven verses, the word “abide” (or “remain”) is used several times. Jesus intends to communicate that a believer is to persist in a faithful, living relationship with God. Simply put, successful abiding with God involves:
- Learning to WAIT on God.
- Learning to ENDURE with God without giving up or losing heart.
- Learning to BEAR patiently with God’s sanctification process.
- Learning to ACCEPT God’s word without objection, trusting entirely in Him.
- Learning to be SECURE in who God is and what He has promised.
Let us briefly examine a few questions that will help us explore these principles further:
What are the benefits of waiting on God in our lives?
We learn contentment and confident assurance of God’s will in all situations (Romans 8:28; Philippians 4:11-13; 1 Timothy 6:6-12). God renews and prepares us as we wait patiently within His will (Isaiah 40:31).
Why is it essential to endure trials in our walk with God?
God uses difficulties to cultivate godly character and faith in us, producing the fruit of holy living (James 1:2-4).
How do we bear patiently in this life with God?
One word: Hope. We look “forward” to His promises and His second coming (James 5:7). We should pray and meditate on this exhortation (Hebrews 11:1): “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
What does it mean to accept God’s word without objection?
We take God at His word. If God says it, we believe it (cf. Luke 5:4-8). Remember, belief does not require a full understanding of God and His ways, nor His holy scriptures. Trust is key. To start, a “mustard seed” size faith (Matthew 13:32) is all that is required to trust in the nature of God’s character, as clearly demonstrated in His word and creation. God matures us from there. We must be mindful that, in comparison to God, we are “finite” and mortal beings. In contrast, God is “infinite,” immortal, and the Creator of all things. Like many of the servants in the Bible, they had to learn to trust God at His word without fully understanding God’s plan for their future (i.e., Abraham, Moses, etc.).
What does it mean to be secure in who God is and what He promised?
Assurance in God first starts with salvation in Christ (i.e., eternal security). God has provided atonement for our sin and justification only through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). After salvation, God assures our salvation by the gift of the Spirit He sends to live in us (John 10:28; Romans 8:38-39; Ephesians 1:11-14). Jesus will return to receive us and give us the promised redemption (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
Conclusion
The reward of abiding is this: it enables us to grow in keeping the commandments of God and, thus, enjoy the fellowship of His love. True God-glorifying fruit is only possible in oneness with Christ.
(Other suggested scripture readings for further study and reflection: cf. Isaiah 4:2-6, 5:1-7)
Dr. Jason S. Price, Th.D
www.springoflivingwaters.com
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