What does it mean to abide?
John 15:1-10
What does it mean for us to abide in Jesus as branches
in the vine? I believe three things are implied:
connection, dependence, and continuance.
1. Connection
Abiding in Jesus first of all means having a life-giving
connection to him. A branch is connected to the vine,
and a vine to the branch. This is what theologians
frequently describe as “union with Christ.” Notice that
this connection, this union, is mutual. We abide in him
and he abides in us (v. 4). If there is no connection,
there is no life, no fruit.
2. Dependence
But abiding also implies dependence. This aspect of
abiding, unlike connection, is not reciprocal. The branch
is dependent on the vine, but the vine is not dependent
on the branch. The branch derives its life and power
from the vine. Without the vine, the branch is useless,
lifeless, powerless. Sap flows from the vine to the
branch, supplying it with water, minerals, and nutrients
that make it grow. And believers receive the “sap” of
Christ’s grace through our life-giving connection to him.
We are completely dependent upon Jesus for everything
that counts as spiritual fruit (v. 4). Apart from him, we
can do nothing (v. 5).
3. Continuance
Abiding also involves continuance. In fact,
“abide” (Greek,meno) means to remain, or stay, or
continue. For example, inJohn 1:38-39, two of the
disciples who first encountered Jesus asked him “Where
are you staying?” They wanted to know where Jesus
made his residence. The word “staying” is the same
word translated “abide” in John 15. To abide is to reside.
To abide is to continue, to stay, to remain.
This shows us that another aspect of abiding in Jesus is
remaining in Jesus. This simply means that we go on
trusting, that we keep on depending, that we never stop
believing. To abide in Jesus is to persevere in Jesus and
his teaching. This is what Jesus is talking about in John
8:31-32, when he says, “If you abide in my word, you are
truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the
truth will set you free.”
In summary, to abide in the vine means to be united to
Jesus (connection), to rely on Jesus (dependence), and
to remain in Jesus (continuance).
If you believe in Jesus, you are in him. You are united to
him. You are connected to the life-giving branch. But no
matter where you are on your spiritual journey, you can
experience the reality of this connection to Jesus more
and more.
Who is this for?
You can become more fruitful. There are degrees of
fruitfulness. The passage not only speaks of bearing
fruit, but of bearing “more fruit” (v. 2) and “much
fruit” (v. 8).
How do you abide?
We abide in Jesus by letting his words abide in us (v. 7)
and by abiding in his love (v. 9-10).
John 15:1-10
What does it mean for us to abide in Jesus as branches
in the vine? I believe three things are implied:
connection, dependence, and continuance.
1. Connection
Abiding in Jesus first of all means having a life-giving
connection to him. A branch is connected to the vine,
and a vine to the branch. This is what theologians
frequently describe as “union with Christ.” Notice that
this connection, this union, is mutual. We abide in him
and he abides in us (v. 4). If there is no connection,
there is no life, no fruit.
2. Dependence
But abiding also implies dependence. This aspect of
abiding, unlike connection, is not reciprocal. The branch
is dependent on the vine, but the vine is not dependent
on the branch. The branch derives its life and power
from the vine. Without the vine, the branch is useless,
lifeless, powerless. Sap flows from the vine to the
branch, supplying it with water, minerals, and nutrients
that make it grow. And believers receive the “sap” of
Christ’s grace through our life-giving connection to him.
We are completely dependent upon Jesus for everything
that counts as spiritual fruit (v. 4). Apart from him, we
can do nothing (v. 5).
3. Continuance
Abiding also involves continuance. In fact,
“abide” (Greek,meno) means to remain, or stay, or
continue. For example, inJohn 1:38-39, two of the
disciples who first encountered Jesus asked him “Where
are you staying?” They wanted to know where Jesus
made his residence. The word “staying” is the same
word translated “abide” in John 15. To abide is to reside.
To abide is to continue, to stay, to remain.
This shows us that another aspect of abiding in Jesus is
remaining in Jesus. This simply means that we go on
trusting, that we keep on depending, that we never stop
believing. To abide in Jesus is to persevere in Jesus and
his teaching. This is what Jesus is talking about in John
8:31-32, when he says, “If you abide in my word, you are
truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the
truth will set you free.”
In summary, to abide in the vine means to be united to
Jesus (connection), to rely on Jesus (dependence), and
to remain in Jesus (continuance).
If you believe in Jesus, you are in him. You are united to
him. You are connected to the life-giving branch. But no
matter where you are on your spiritual journey, you can
experience the reality of this connection to Jesus more
and more.
Who is this for?
You can become more fruitful. There are degrees of
fruitfulness. The passage not only speaks of bearing
fruit, but of bearing “more fruit” (v. 2) and “much
fruit” (v. 8).
How do you abide?
We abide in Jesus by letting his words abide in us (v. 7)
and by abiding in his love (v. 9-10).
