ABIDE IN CHRIST (John 15:1-11) (Kent Smith Notes (5/26/24)
ABIDE IN CHRIST
John 15:1-11
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THE VINE AND THE BRANCHES
An illustration of our relationship with Christ.
Four Identities
The Vine: Jesus
The Vinedresser: The Father
Good Branches: True Christians
Bad Branches: False Believers
They have an appearance of connection to the vine, but there is no life.
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John 15:1-3
Other Illustrations:
Child of God / God the Father
Citizen of the Kingdom / King
Slave & Master
Sheep & Shepherd
Body & Head
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WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO “ABIDE”?
The Greek word “meno”: To remain, stay or continue
In reference to a place: to tarry, or hang-out (to not depart)
In reference to relations: to continue to be present, to be held, or kept
In reference to time: to continue to exist, to last, endure (to not perish)
In reference to a condition: to remain as one, consistent, persist, persevere (not to become another or different)
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Abide in a place. We have abided in the same house for 50 years.
Abide in a relationship: (Friendship) We have kept up our friendship through many ups and downs, but it still abides..
Abide as an expression of time. He’s 100 years old but still abiding.
Abide as a condition. She has abiding honesty and candor; I’ve never known her to lie even to her own hurt.
Some Opposites of abide: leave / move on / get out / depart / quit / take off / pull out / walk away / exit / bail or bail out
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ABIDING EVIDENCE #1: ABILITY TO BEAR FRUIT
The potential to bear fruit is a result of
HIS ABIDING PRESENCE IN YOU!
“Apart from me you can do nothing!”
“You are not the explanation for your life” (MacArthur)
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John 15:4-5 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
THE SPIRIT John 14:16-17 I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; 17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.
THE SON John 14:20 In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.
THE FATHER John 14:23 “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.
Romans 8:10-11 If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
Colossians 1:27 God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
1 John 4:15-16 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
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ABIDING EVIDENCE #2: REALITY OF FRUITFULNESS
OUT FRUIT IS THE FRUIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
To the extent that you do things differently now that you are a Christian…
To the extent that you refrain from sinful behaviors at all…
To the extent that your language has changed….
To the extent that you think differently….
To the extent that you serve others or sacrifice for others…
YOU ARE BEARING FRUIT
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John 15:4-5 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
Philippians 1:9-11 I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
When we abide in Christ and He abides in us: EVERYTHING CHANGES: Our behaviors, attitudes, appetites, desires, and affections.
In verse 4 – we bear fruit
In verse 2 – we are pruned to bear more fruit
In verse 5 – we are to bear much fruit
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ABIDING EVIDENCE #3: ANSWERED PRAYER
Preconditions to answered prayer:
You must abide in Him (Your personal salvation) (John 15:7)
You must pray in accordance with His purpose. (John 14:13)
You must pray with right motives (James 4:3)
You must have an obedient lifestyle. (1 John 3:22-23)
WHEN YOUR PRAYERS ARE ANSWERED YOU CAN KNOW THAT YOU ARE PRAYING IN THE SPIRIT THAT ABIDES IN HIM
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John 15:7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
John 14: 13 Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
James 4:3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives,
1 John 3:21-22 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.
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ABIDING EVIDENCE #4: GOD IS GLORIFIED
Do your actions, words, and choices glorify God?
Do others glorify God because of your service and conduct?
If you can affirmatively answer these questions -
THEN YOU CAN BE ASSURED THAT YOU ARE:
ABIDING IN HIM AND HE IN YOU
A GENUINE DISCIPLE
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John 15:8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.
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ABIDING EVIDENCE #5: OBEDIENCE & LOVE
THE GREAT MOTIVATION OF THE ABIDING-LIFE IS LOVE!
Our love for Him is expressed in praise and worship.
Our love is demonstrated through our obedience
From a heart of devotion (not duty)
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John 15: 9-10 Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
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The REASON Jesus wants us to “abide”
“These things I have spoken to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.”
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John 15:11
Psalm 16:11 In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.
When we seek joy and satisfaction elsewhere, we depart from Him, we are no longer abiding, And we forfeit the full joy He intends for us.
The world offers many substitutes, sex, drugs, alcohol
But there are other temptations that are more noble but still represent a departure from abiding in Him,
When success, influence, and affluence become our desires we depart from the abiding presence that brings joy.
When we need God AND something else to experience fulfillment, then we depart from the abiding life He intended for us.
Is God enough for you? Make abiding in Him your pursuit, and you will experience a joy that makes the things of this world seem frivolous.
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