Abiding in Him

In John 15 Jesus says something that has been preached, referenced, and written about as much as any other verse/s in the bible – I wonder how many a Christian have grasped the sincerity and seriousness behind His words:

5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides (remains, stays around) 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.  – John 15.5-7 ESV

Jesus is telling us that the Christian’s ability to bear fruit is entirely contingent upon whether they abide in Him; that apart from Him the Christian can do nothing. In commenting on Jesus’ words John McArthur asserted that the only legitimate believer is the abiding believer, meaning the believer who is actively committed to the service and teachings of Jesus. If we take Jesus at His word than it behooves me to say that ours too must be the position held by John McArthur.

It might help us to know why the abiding life is important; though the reasons are more numerous than we’ll cover in the next handful of sentences. I’d like to offer two reasons for its importance:

·        Firstly—the abiding life activates us because its practice requires meaningful fellowship with Christ and it is through such fellowship that He is able to work in and through us – that’s how and when fruit is produced.

·        Secondly—there’s a reality to be aware of – you see as branches, you and I cannot produce our own life for the life of a branch is drawn from the vine (Jesus). An awareness of this places us in a necessary posture of dependance for we know that it is from Him that we garner strength to sustain and to thrive.

As branches connected to the Vine, we have the wonderful privilege of abiding and the responsibility of bearing – as we do God is faithful to prune that we may continually bear fruit.

 - Pastor Ariel