Abide in Christ

​John 15:5 ~ “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.”
 
As we hang on the edge of the end of the year, let us take a moment and remember the very necessity of our abiding in Christ. As we look back upon the year behind us, we can identify those places where we attempted to work in our own strength. We floundered and fumbled our way through those times, and by God’s grace learned that we are in desperate need of Christ. Now, as we look ahead, considering the time that waits before us, let us even now commit ourselves to remaining in Jesus for the coming year.
 
It may seem like a simple thing, but the first place we must venture is to understand our true position. Our text opens with the statement from our LORD, “I am the vine; you are the branches.” The vine is the rootstock—the strength, support and supply for the branches. Through the vine the nutrients would flow into the branches and provide the sustaining nourishment. The vine and branches are not in a collaborative relationship of equal partners. The branches are completely dependent on the vine—and Jesus is that Vine.
 
The problem with mankind is the overwhelming hubris of our hearts. We believe that Jesus is connected to us, and we are the ones living out our lives. When, in fact, it is we who are connected to Christ and He is living His life through us. We read in Colossians 1:18, “And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.” All manner of donated and artificial organs are provided to sustain a body. But without connection to the head, it dies immediately.
 
Next, as we consider our text today, we must understand our true connection. We read further in our text, “Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit.” Ask yourself this question: what do you “abide” in? For “abiding” is to remain in or be connected to something that is of necessity to the vitality of life. What do you have in your life that you consider is of absolute necessity. Some look at their work or careers as their vine. Others see their families or their friends as the absolute necessity of life. But, for all Christians, Jesus alone is the vine to which we must remain connected. We are told that our fruit is through Him. Philippians 1:11 states that we are, “filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” Fruit is grown through all who abide. It is not an optional but an absolute experience for those who are connected to the rootstock of Christ. Fruit is the evidence of your true connection.
 
As we conclude today, let us also understand our true limitation. The final statement we have in our Scripture verse states, “for apart from me you can do nothing.” The very life-giving vitality flows through the vine and into the branches, and from that the branches will produce their fruit. Remove a branch from the vine and it will shrivel and die. It cannot produce when it is set apart from the vine. Yet, when we look around our world, we see many people navigating through life, living their days with a semblance of success and fulfilled opportunities. Some might wonder how it is that those who do not even know the LORD Jesus are able to accomplish a great many pursuits. It is of great importance to understand that worldly success does not equal fruitfulness to the LORD. And it is fruitfulness that Christ is wanting to produce through you.
 
Are you trying to live your Christian life independent of the LORD Jesus? It sounds foolish when said, but there are many who believe on the LORD Jesus and yet try in their own power to accomplish His will. Paul asked the question of the Galatian Christians, “Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh” (Galatians 3:3). Apart from Him, you and I are without the means of bearing fruit for God’s glory.
 
So, how do we “abide in Christ?” 1 John 2:24 tells us, “Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father.” Does God’s word abide in you? Do you cling to it of necessity and saturate your life with God’s truth? This is the means of abiding in Christ, to hold fast to His word in faithful obedience. In this you will discover a growing measure of fruitfulness to the glory of God.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

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