The Importance of Abiding
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Jesus told his disciples this in John 15
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Lately little Elliot has been coming up to me and asking me to pick him up, and then he wants me to lift him high in the air and touch his head to the ceiling. And he would like nothing better than for me to do this over and over and over again. Or he delights in me throwing him up into the air and catching him- and you can be sure that my arms wear out long before he does. Now imagine, if one day Elliot decided that he wanted to touch the ceiling or he wanted to be launched into the air, but he wanted to do it on his own. How successful would he be? It would be a complete failure. And to that end how much fun would it be for his uncle to try experience the delight of child being thrown into the air without the child? There is a reciprocal relationship. Both sides of the relationship are needed or the activity is pointless.
There is a reciprocal relationship that exists in the life of every believer, the relationship of abiding. It is both the believer abiding in Christ and Christ abiding in the believer. This abiding relationship is one of exchange and it is essential to fruitful or successful Christian life. Without it we can do nothing, without it any hope for success in our Christian life is impossible. And this is not only true in our individual lives, but it is also true for our corporate lives as well. That means that this assembled body of believers, this church, will never be successful without the reciprocal relationship that is abiding.
I really have a passion for shaping the way we think about the way we function as a church. I want us to function the way God intended his church to function. Last week we looked at functioning as an assembled group of priests. So, functioning as a priest is essential to being the church that God intends for us to be. You all, every one of you, must use your priestly role to stir each other up to love and good works. You assemble regularly and you exhort each other, and you use your privilege of entering the holiest to minister to one another. And we must shaping our thinking about how we minister as the church, the body, if we are to function the way God wants us to.
Just as important as functioning as priests, is the idea of each one of us participating in the reciprocal relationship that is abiding.
What does it mean to abide in Christ? And what does it mean for Christ to abide in you? And what does this abiding relationship accomplish in our lives? These are the questions we will aim to answer today.
I. What does it mean for Christ to abide in the believer? (John 14:7ff)
I. What does it mean for Christ to abide in the believer? (John 14:7ff)
The night before the crucifixion, Jesus spent an extended period of time teaching His disciples. Apparently, Jesus began this instruction while they were in the upper room during the last supper, then he continued to teach as they left the room and walked toward Gethsemane.
Part of that teaching centered on an illustration of the vine and the branches. And that is where we are headed this morning. If we are going to understand what it means to abide we must understand the illustration of the vine and the branches. But before we are ready to understand the vine and the branches illustration, we must follow Jesus’ teaching in Ch 14 about the nature of abiding.
And if we are going to understand what it means for Christ to abide in the believer, we must first understand the abiding relationship that exists between the Father and the Son.
A. An abiding relationship is perfectly pictured in the oneness of the trinity (vv. 7-11)
A. An abiding relationship is perfectly pictured in the oneness of the trinity (vv. 7-11)
Let’s back up to v. 1 for context sake. Jesus has just told the disciples of his imminent death.
33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.
36 Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
V. 7- from know on you know Him (the Father), and you have seen Him- you have seen the Father!
V. 8- Philip- “Lord, show us the Father ,and it is enough!” If all you do is show us the Father (Yahweh), that will be more than enough, all I need, all I want.
9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
Show us the Father, and it is enough!
He who has seen Me has seen the Father!
How can you say, “Show us the Father?”
What is Jesus talking about?
19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
Inside of the love relationship of the Father and the Son there is complete transparency. The Father shows the Son all things that He does. The Son can do nothing of himself, but what He sees the Father do. Whatever the Father does, these things also the Son does. There is no other relationship in existence in all of eternity that is as intimate as this one.
Whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. Therefore, whoever has seen the works of the Son has seen the works of the Father. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And the Son loves the Father and does exactly as the Father commanded Him (i.e. revealed to Him). This is not so much a strict commandment (I say jump- you say how high), but a loving revelation and a loving response in doing the works that the Father revealed. Fully revealing, fully responding- all of it part of the dance of love.
And Jesus directs our attention to the relationship He enjoys with the Father in v. 10
10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
Jesus says, I am in the Father and the Father is in Me. The words that the Son speaks are not of His own initiative, but they are from the Father that dwells (abides) in the Son, He (the Father) does the works.
So abiding is tied into the idea of the Father fully revealing Himself to the Son, so that what the Son does, is the exact same thing that the Father does. What the Son speaks, because of the reciprocal abiding relationship, whatever the Son speaks is the very words of the Father. The Father reveals to the Son all things, and the Son speaks and does only that which the Father shows- this is at the heart of what it means to abide.
That is why Jesus says in v. 11
11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.
Either believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me because I am telling you so, or just look at my works. My works show the Father, because I only do the works that my Father reveals to me, thus they are the very works of the Father- and all of this is possible because the Father abides with, dwells with the Son. The Son is in the Father and the Father is in the Son.
Thus an abiding relationship is perfectly pictured in the oneness of the trinity.
B. An abiding relationship between Christ and the believer is tied to the same idea of oneness (vv. 12-26)
B. An abiding relationship between Christ and the believer is tied to the same idea of oneness (vv. 12-26)
12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
What works did Christ do? The works of the Father? How was that possible? Because the Father shows the Son all things.
19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
So if we are to do the works that Jesus Christ does- “the works that I do shall he do also”- what must take place? Christ needs to reveal Himself to us. How does He do that? The answer is through abiding in us.
13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
V. 13-14, asking in Jesus’ name (get back to this), this is not some magic formula we tack on to the end of our prayers- what does it really mean to pray in Jesus’ name- again this too is tied to the idea of abiding. More on that later.
V. 15- Keeping the commandments of Jesus begins to get to the heart of our abiding relationship. It gets to the heart of the Son revealing himself to us, just as the Father shows all things to the Son. But, ours is not the perfect fellowship enjoyed by the trinity. We need something else in this abiding relationship if we are to do the works of the Son.
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
The one who has the commandments of Christ and keeps them, that one is the one that loves me. And the one who loves me shall be loved of the Father, and the Son will love Him, and the Son will manifest (disclose) Himself to that one.
What is at the heart of the abiding relationship of the Father and the Son?
20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
What is at the heart of the abiding relationship of the Son with the believer?
The Son will manifest, will disclose Himself to the believer. In other words, abiding is how we experience the kind of oneness with the Son, that God enjoys with Himself in the trinity.
Listen to v. 22
22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
Do you understand what Judas (not Iscariot) is asking? Jesus just said I will manifest myself unto the one who love me. And Judas asks, How will you manifest yourself to us? How are you going to do that?
What is Jesus’ response?
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
How will Jesus manifest Himself? Answer through an abiding relationship. Jesus says we will make our abode, our dwelling with him. We are going to live in that one. And it is through this abiding, this dwelling together that Jesus manifests himself, makes Himself known.
Illustration: living with my wife- likes and dislikes, learning that she delights in a well decorated clean home, learning that she likes her clothes organized by color and neatly arranged, knowing that she hates when you leave the cupboard door slightly ajar. Abiding with my wife means that I learn her likes and dislikes as she reveals them to me.
Jesus abiding in us is similar. For the ones who are saved, he comes and makes his abode in them- and by means of the Holy Spirit, and the Word of God, Jesus manifests Himself to us- He shows us what delights Him, His likes and dislikes. He fully reveals to us everything we need for life and godliness. And this manifestation is a form of Jesus’ love for us.
20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
So also, the Son loves the believer and manifests himself in an abiding relationship. And the Holy Spirit takes the manifestation of Christ’s love and teaches our hearts what we must know.
24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.
25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Summary:
What does it mean that Christ is abiding in us?
First and foremost it means that one is a believer. Christ must first come and make his abode in us, and that only happens to one who is fully placing their faith in Christ.
Second, the idea of Christ abiding in us is the idea of Jesus manifesting or revealing Himself to us. He does this primarily through His Word and through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Third, this revealing is primarily an act of love. Christ is the initiator of the love. He discloses Himself to us because He loves us, and the Holy Spirit teaches us all things so that we can understand that which the Son discloses. Jesus is the initiator of the love, and the Holy Spirit carries the love to our hearts so that we can begin to learn what it means for Christ to abide in us- what He likes and what He dislikes. In other words we begin to see who Jesus really is and what really delights Him. In this sense when we are dwelling richly in the Word of Christ and He manifests Himself to us through the Spirit Christ is abiding in us.
Is this your experience? Does Christ abide in you? It is possible to be saved and yet not have an abiding relationship. It is possible to ignore and care little about that which Jesus wants to teach you about himself. It is possible to dwell little on the Word of God, and to see little of that which delights the Savior. It is possible to miss out on the love that Christ so freely initiates by fully manifesting Himself to you. But folks, if you are to be the kind of Christ that God desires you to be, if you are to be the kind of church that God wants you to be, the Christ must abide in you!
II. What does it mean for the believer to abide in Christ? (14:27-5:11)
II. What does it mean for the believer to abide in Christ? (14:27-5:11)
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
This abiding relationship is a reciprocal relationship. There is an exchange that must take place. Christ, in abiding in us reveals Himself to us in love and the Spirit teaches us all that we need for life and godliness. How doe we respond?
A. An abiding relationship is perfectly pictured in the obedience of the Son to the Father (14:27-31)
A. An abiding relationship is perfectly pictured in the obedience of the Son to the Father (14:27-31)
27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.
30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.
V. 30- I am almost done talking with you- why? Because the prince of this world is coming (Satan), but he has nothing in me- In other words the cross is drawing near, but Satan cannot make me do anything. He has nothing in me.
31 But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.
Satan cannot make me do anything- But that the world may know that I love the Father- I do exactly as the Father commanded me. He we see the Son revving the abiding love of the Father- what is that again?
20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
The Son receives the full disclosure of the Father, and so that the world may know that the Son loves the Father what does the Son do? He does exactly as the Father commanded Him. This is the response of the Son to the abiding relationship of love with the Father. This is at the heart of what it means for the believer receive the abiding love of the Son and respond with an abiding love of his own.
B. An abiding relationship between the believer and Christ is tied to the same idea of obedience (5:1-11)
B. An abiding relationship between the believer and Christ is tied to the same idea of obedience (5:1-11)
1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
How has the Father loved the Son? The Son loves us the same way (manifesting, abiding)- continue (abide!) in my love. Jesus abides in us in the same loving way the Father does the Son- and we must in response abide in the love of the Son, how do we do that?
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
Answer- keeping the commandments of Christ in the same way that the Son keeps the commandments of the Father, and abides in His love.
So Christ abides in us- He fully discloses Himself, fully reveals Himself to us in His Word (v. 7 if you abide in me and my words abide in you), Christ initiates the love. And the Holy Spirit carries the love to our hearts by teaching us all things- So Christ abides in our hearts when we richly know Him through the word of God and we richly understand the love of Christ and the works of Christ- we understand His likes and dislikes, we understand how to keep our abode with Christ how to live with Christ. How then do we respond to this love? We keep the commandments of Christ. We do exactly as the Son commands us.
So when people look at us and see our works they see the works of the Son.
9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
This is what abiding in Christ looks like. It looks like responding to the love of Christ, by doing the works that the Son has revealed to us. We do nothing of ourselves, but what we see the Son do (in the revelation of the Word of God), these things we do likewise.
And this then becomes a fruitful loving relationship with Christ. Christ initiating the love by revealing exactly what He is like to us in His Word and by means of the Spirit, and we receiving the love and responding by doing exactly what the Son shows us. And this goes on and on. Loving, revealing, receiving, obeying, loving. And it is like the branch abiding richly in the vine and the vine abiding richly in the branch continually growing and bearing fruit. So we must abide in Christ and He in us.
And it is a beautiful wonderful relationship that is more that we can even begin to imagine.
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
When I learn to abide with my wife, and I learn her likes and dislikes, what delights her. Nothing is more joyful than to do exactly what my wife delights in. Even if that means going to Marshalls and buying picture frames. Even if that means learning to close the cupboard doors completely. Even if that means squeezing the toothpaste from the bottom of the tube. This things are not grievous to the one who leans to abide well with his wife. Her delight becomes my delight because of the love we share with each other.
Are you abiding in Christ? Are you abiding in His love? Are you keeping His commandments? Are you doing only those works that you have seen the Son doing? Are you receiving fully the love of Christ found richly in His Word? Are you responding to that love by doing exactly what the Son requires?
Examples: Prayer, Family Devotions, Finances
III. What does this abiding relationship accomplish in our lives?
III. What does this abiding relationship accomplish in our lives?
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.