Abiding in Christ
In His farewell discourse to His disciples, at their departure from the upper room (Jn 14); Jesus explained what the future of their discipleship would look like after He left for His Father’s house in heaven. Jesus’ disciples were to abide in Him; and His promise was to abide in them. This is the doctrine of mutual indwelling, derived from the doctrine of union with Christ. We must also remember the union the Son has with God the Father.
To illustrate the relationship, our Lord identified Himself as the true Vine (Jn 15:1a). His disciples are branches connected to Him. Both Jesus and His disciples are in relationship to God the Father, who is identified as the Vinedresser (15:1b). The end goal objective of the Vinedresser is the production of fruit (Jn 15:5, 8). In the design and providence of God, Jesus’ union with the Father is the example from which we understand our union with Christ. The connection is living and necessary. Without a vital relationship with the living Vine, Christ Jesus, one has no part in the economy with the Father.
This is an economy of life and love. God gives life to whom He wishes (Jn 5:21); and it is the spoken Word of God that is spirit and life (Jn 6:63). Those attached to Christ, abiding in Him, have God’s Word abiding in them (Jn 15:7). God’s Word is life (Phil 2:16) — and it makes people new. Just as God spoke the physical universe into existence; He speaks life into the souls of dead sinners and makes them alive (Eph 2:1, 5; Col 2:13).
Being included in God’s economy of light, life, and love begins with God’s will and His gracious work to graft us into Christ (Rom 11:17–24). Receiving Christ by the will of God (Jn 1:12–13), according to the predetermined plan foreknowledge of God (Acts 2:23), redirects us on the narrow way that leads to abundant life (Mt 7:13–14; Jn 10:10). Jesus Christ is the way and the life ordained by God to resurrect us from the dead — soul, first, and then in the body at the second coming of King Jesus Messiah (Jn 5:28–29; 1 Cor 15).
To the casual reader of John 15, the ten uses of “abide” in verses 4–10, suggests great emphasis. The error is to imagine that abiding is a self-initiated, self-willed, self-powered work of the new believer in Jesus. No aspect of the Christian’s salvation belongs to the will or ability of those born again (grafted in) of God. Man-centered theology has one goal. That goal is to steal glory from God. This is the flesh of man desiring to take center-stage, even in a salvation that does not belong to him (Jon 2:9; Ps 3:8; Rev 19:1).
It is impossible for the natural man, who has entered Christ’s church to remain in his or her own power (Jn 15:5; 1 Cor 2:14). If he is an imposter, he will be taken away (Jn 15:2, 6). One must have the Spirit of God in him (Jn 14:17; Rom 8:9, 11); or he cannot produce spiritual fruit. It is the Spirit who is at work in the realm of the unseen. The Spirit employs the written Word to wash true believers (Eph 5:26), clean us (Jn 15:3), and refresh us (Jn 7:38). It is the Spirit who is sent from the Father and the Son to do the will of the Father and the Son (Jn 14:26; 15:26; 16:13).
It is the will of God that each Christian be sanctified (1 Thess 4:3). It is the sanctifying work of the Spirit that manifests holiness in the child of God (1 Pet 1:2, 15–16). The goal is conformity to Christ Jesus as the perfect God-man (Rom 8:29). As we learn of Christ, seeing Jesus more clearly, we begin to witness the Spirit’s work in us. In addition, we begin to bear witness of Christ, no longer ourselves (Acts 1:8).
Bearing witness of Christ includes our testimonies of the Spirit working; but as we learn the Bible, we see more and more of the truth of God’s Word (Jn 17:17; Eph 1:18). Testimonies play their part; but God’s Word becomes more and more precious to us. We know the good news has powerfully transformed our lives to be more and more conformed to the ways of the kingdom we have been transferred into (Rom 12:1–2; Col 1:13).
The kingdom of God has Christ Jesus as its King (Ps 110:1–3; 1 Tim 6:15). In bearing bold witness of Christ, our boast is exclusively in Him who purchased us by His precious blood and released us from our sins (Acts 20:28; 1 Cor 1:31; Gal 6:14; Rev 1:5). Jesus Christ is our all in all (Acts 10:36). There is nothing impure flowing from the life-giving Vine planted by God. He gives us every good thing for life and ministry (2 Cor 9:8, 11; Jas 1:17). His provision is perfectly suited for every believer connected to Him. God knows what we need before we ask for it.
It appears in John 15:10 that we must keep Jesus’ commandments, in order to stay in His love. Jesus did this perfectly in connection with God the Father (Jn 8:29). The child of God wants the love of the Father more than anything. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hands. The obligation to keep the commandments of God was too much for Old Testament Israel — the failed vine. The true Israel, Jesus Christ, did what the nation could not do. Hence, all the promises, blessings, and benefits are in Christ (2 Cor 1:20; Eph 1:3).
The fruit of the Spirit, meaning the work of the Spirit in the soul of the new creation in Christ, is…love…and faithfulness (Gal 5:22). God loves us (Rom 5:5, 8; Eph 1:4–5). Our faithful God also manifests faithfulness in His elect, redeemed, and regenerate people. Simply put, every aspect of the Christian life is produced by the Holy Spirit (Gal 2:20; Phil 2:13). The Apostle Paul wrote this mystery revealed to the church at Corinth in claiming that “It is no longer I who lives; but Christ lives in me (Gal 2:20).”
Knowing that God is willing our Christian walk and working our Christian works (Is 26:12; Eph 2:10), the believer is filled with joy (Jn 15:11; Gal 5:22) — the joy of the Lord. The more we enjoy God, the more He is glorified. So, whether we are talking about love. It is God. Whether it is faithful obedience. It is God. To these fruit, the Bible adds: peace; patience; kindness; goodness; gentleness; and self-control (Gal 5:22–23). It is God willing and doing His good pleasure through Christ…and into His chosen people occupied by the Spirit of Christ. We will abide to the end and on into eternity because of the promises of God and His wisdom and power to accomplish what concerns us (Ps 57:2; 138:8).
In conclusion, He who began His good work of spiritual fruit production in us has promised to complete His perfect work (Phil 1:6); and if you believe this good news — yes, that is His work, too (Gal 3:22; Eph 2:8–9; Phil 1:29; Heb 12:2).
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
June 30, 2024
John 15:1–11
