December 1, 2016
ARE YOU ABIDING OR JUST VISITING?
John 15:1–17
Susan Williams
Central Truth
We are called to abide with Christ by meditating on His Word. As God’s Word resides in our hearts, we bear fruit reflective of Jesus. Christ empowers us to die to ourselves and extend His love, in deed and truth, to others.
Key Verse | John 15:11
"These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." (John 15:11)
John 15:1–17
I Am the True Vine
1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 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. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 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. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
12 This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, 1 15:15 Or bondservants, or slaves (for the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface); likewise for servant later in this verse and in verse 20 for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 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 abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
Footnotes
[1] 15:15 Or bondservants, or slaves (for the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface); likewise for servant later in this verse and in verse 20Dive Deeper | John 15:1–17
Imagine you only had a few more hours to live. What would you want to say to those you love most? This passage records what Jesus said to His most beloved friends, His disciples, in His final moments on earth. He imparts to them the importance of abiding with Him using the analogy of a vine and its branches.
This analogy illustrates that just as the branches exist to bear fruit representative of the vine, we live to bear fruit representative of Christ. When we accepted Christ as our Savior, He planted His seed in our hearts through the Holy Spirit (1 John 3:9). God does not expect that seed to lay dormant, but to bear much fruit.
The Word clearly states in John 15 that to bear fruit we must “abide” in Christ, meaning we must not leave or depart from Him. Christ (the Vine) has the nutrients necessary for our lives to bear fruit. Without Him, we (the branches) will die and be useless.
John’s epistles expound on abiding in Christ to include KEEPING, DOING, and PRACTICING His Word. Sin’s crookedness needs the straight line of Scripture to bring us back into conformity with God's design. As we meditate on His Word carefully and continually, we will be transformed to look more like Christ, speaking truth and showing love to a broken world.
For more than 30 years I have used Scripture memory cards as a tool for meditating on God's Word. Through this tool, God has continually transformed my thoughts and behavior, but there are still areas of my life that don't reflect Christ. As I study Scripture, I rest on the promises of Psalm 19:7-10, trusting that God's Word will revive my soul, make me wise, produce joy in my life, and endure forever.
We have to continually strive to be obedient and abide with Christ. The result? A fruitful life that glorifies God and the ability to experience complete joy in Christ, no matter the circumstance. (Check out 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 and Galatians 5:22-24.)
Discussion Questions
1. Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. Based on this passage, what areas of your life are most lacking fruit?
2. What are you currently doing to meditate on God's Word to allow its power to transform your life? What new discipline could you start doing?
3. Where are you lacking joy in your life? Spend time in prayer to ask the Lord if there are areas in your life that are not bearing fruit.
4. Read Galatians 5:22-24. What areas of your life need to be crucified so you can bear fruit that glorifies God?