Sermons

Abide in Christ

January 1, 2017 Speaker: Josh DeGroote Series: New Year

Topic: Sanctification Passage: John 15:1–17

Abide

If 2017 could be a year of incredibly fruitfulness, answered prayer being the norm, God was massively glorified through you, and you experienced explosive joy, would you look forward with anticipation? It can be. It comes from abiding in Christ.

May this be the banner over 2017 for you: JESUS IS THE VINE. I AM A BRANCH ABIDING IN HIM.

But does it ever seem like the Christian life is more about our effort than God’s power? Or more about what we do than what God has done and is doing? The Christian life is one of abiding. Ray Ortlund, Pastor in Nashville, said, “The Christian life is abiding. Doing life on your own and calling to God when it falls apart is Bible-belt religion.”

The New Testament teaches us that we are not just near Jesus or merely supposed to follow him, but are “in Him.” In fact, this may be the most common designation the Apostle Paul gives to Christians. They are men and women “in Christ.” This truth of our union with Christ has massive theological and doctrinal implications. But it is also a truth that is meant to be experiential in nature.

So here in John 15, Jesus unpacks this truth for us. The last of the “I am” statements. And here is what Jesus is saying: “I am the true vine. My disciples are branches. If they know what is best for them, they will abide in me.”

So what this text does is shows us: 1) the possibilities of abiding, 2) the marks of abiding, and 3) how to abide in Christ

The Possibilities of Abiding in Christ

It is possible to abide in Christ. You may not do it well. You may stumble through it a bit. But it is possible to abide. And not primarily because of your effort or willpower. Because it depends on grace and God’s commitment. And God is committed to your abiding in Christ. All three members of the Godhead are involved and are excited about it. It is all of grace.

First, look at Christ. The first words of our text, “I am the true vine…” As the vine, Jesus doesn’t offer us a better self-help program, he offers himself with his life and richness flowing into us. As the vine, Jesus supports us – we do not support him. As the vine, he is not a rule that we live by, but our very life. He gives us life and breath and everything. So much so that He says, “apart from me you can do nothing.” All of this life and richness of Jesus come to us by virtue of his laying down his life for us.

Next, notice the Father’s work. Our text tells us the Father does two things in relation to the vine/branch/abiding dynamic. He is the vinedresser; in other words, he is the gardener. He loves his vineyard and tends to it very carefully. And as the vinedresser, he has grafted us – wild branches – into the vine. And he cuts off branches which do not belong. Next, the Father prunes the branches which do bear fruit – so they may bear more fruit. When the Father is pruning, it can be painful, but it is for a wonderful purpose. Hebrews 12 tells us the Father disciplines his children for their good so they may bear the “peaceful fruit of righteousness.”

And the Holy Spirit is involved too. He is not explicitly mentioned, but he is for sure involved. It is by the Holy Spirit’s presence that we’ve entered into this vital union with Jesus the vine. Look at verses 4-5 (Abide in me and I in you. Whoever abides in my and I in him…) How is Jesus in the believer? Is it not by his Spirit. In just the previous chapter, same context, Jesus says,

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. 18 "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. ~ John 14:16-18

Furthermore, John, no doubt remembering these words of Jesus says in his first letter,

Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. ~ 1 John 3:24

Is it possible to abide in Christ? To know and experience this life “in Christ” in fullness and richness? Yes! A thousand times yes! Because God (Father, Son, and Spirit) is unswerving in his commitment to it!

Marks of Abiding in Christ

Really, it is what all Christians long for most deeply. Abiding in Christ leads to vital life, fruit, answered prayer, glory to God, and joy. Can you think of anything else in terms of what you most deeply long for?

Life – I get this from the negative way in which Jesus speaks of the branches which do not abide in the vine (John 15:2, 6). Vitality of life in Christ leading to eternal life versus drying up, withering and being thrown into hell.

Fruit (much fruit) – The entire passage seems to be pressing this point. Let me just point out three verses though (John 15:5, 8, 16). We were chosen in order to bear fruit. Much fruit. Fruit that abides. Fruit could mean personal transformation, witness…

Answered prayer – Abiding is marked by answered prayer (John 15:7).

Glory to God – Abiding is marked by God being glorified because of the much fruit (John 15:8).

Joy – Abiding is marked by joy. But not just moderate happiness (John 15:11).

Given these marks of abiding in Christ, does it not give you a great desire to do pursue this with single-hearted passion?

How Do We Abide in Christ?

Dive deep in the gospel of Christ. To abide in Christ, we must become more and more acquainted with the gospel that points us to him! Verse 7 says, “If you abide in me and my words abide in you…” My words. The words of Christ. The message of Jesus. John picked up on this in his first letter and said the following in 1 John 2:24. Go deep into the person and work of Jesus. What was accomplished through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Paul writing to a group threatened by false teaching said, “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you…”

Obey the commands of Christ.  Abiding in Christ requires obedience to Christ. Hearing and responding obediently to his words. But notice Jesus puts himself alongside us by saying, “Just as I have kept the Father’s commandments and abide in his love. The primary command being to love (John 15:12).

Rest in the love of Christ. Abiding in Christ comes from restful, happy assurance of his love for you. The love which nothing can separate you from, but causes you to conquer through all of life’s difficulties and trials. Verse 9 is unspeakably amazing: “As the Father loves me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.” To give us a better grasp on the depth, height, width, and breadth of his love, what does he do? He compares it to the love the Father has eternally had for the Son. Then in verse 13 Jesus shows how his love was manifested. It was shown in the laying down of his life for his friends.

Fellowship with the Spirit of Christ. We are branches so we are incapable of producing anything on our own. The Spirit reveals the deep things of God, leads us into the truth of the gospel. It is the Spirit who strengthens us, enabling us to obey the commands of Christ. It is the Spirit through whom the love of God has been poured into our hearts. And he is in us. This Person is in us.

But sadly, for many, the typical relationship between them and the Holy Spirit is like that “between the husband and wife in a bad marriage. They live under the same roof, and the husband makes constant use of the wife’s services, but he fails to communicate with her, recognize her presence and celebrate their relationship."

Could it be that this is at the heart of why many evangelicals fail to live in consistent, intimate communion with the living Christ? Because they fail to appreciate and cherish the “other Helper” he has given us.

Richard Lovelace helps us when he says,

We should make a deliberate effort at the outset of every day to recognize the person of the Spirit, to move into the light concerning his presence in our consciousness and to open our minds and share all our thoughts and plans as we gaze by faith into the face of God.” He goes on to say we should acknowledge him as the illuminator of truth and of the glory of Christ. We should look to him as teacher, guide, sanctifier, giver of assurance concerning our adoption and standing with God, helper in prayer, and as one who directs and empowers our witness.

The Holy Spirit is vital to abiding. He takes us by the hand and leads us continually to Christ – who is our life and joy.

So, this life in Christ – abiding – is possible. Christ living in you. You living through him. All you most deeply long for is there for you, because it is found in Christ. May 2017 be a year of dynamic life in Jesus, much fruit, answered prayer, glory to God, and explosive joy!

More in New Year

January 6, 2019

Let the Word of Christ Dwell In You Richly

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