John reminds us of Jesus’ guidance for disciples.
And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.
All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us (1 John 3.23-24).
Abiding in Christ is a significant message of John’s letter. Why is it important and why should we follow his direction?
Jesus’ Teaching
One of Jesus’ final words to his followers was about living in an abiding relationship with him.
If we work through what Jesus taught, we will have the answer to our questions.
(1) Jesus introduced the concept with a parable.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower.
“He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit.
“You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you.
“Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me” (John 15.1-4).
In our backyard, we have trees that are budding with new leaves. We also have dead branches that are lying on the ground.
What is the difference between dead and living branches? The living abides in a life-giving relationship with the tree.
The only path to a life-giving relationship with Jesus is to remain connected to Jesus in a personal relationship.
(2) Nothing is accomplished in the Christian life without an abiding relationship with Jesus.
Jesus continued with his application of the parable.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.
“Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned” (John 15.5-6).
The dead branches in our backyard are useless and a hindrance to mowing the yard. They will soon be gathered and put in the trash.
They are a picture of humans who choose to live separate from a personal relationship with Jesus.
If we are separate from Jesus, we cannot produce the life that God has purposed us for.
On the other hand, as Jesus (through the work of the Holy Spirit) lives within us, we become what God has designed us to be.
(3) The gift of prayer is essential to abiding in Christ.
Discipleship and prayer are intimately connected. As in any relationship, a conversation is essential for it to take place.
“If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
“My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples” (John 15.7-8).
Conversation is a two-way enterprise. In any relationship, there is both speaking and listening.
We best listen to Jesus through the inner voice of the Holy Spirit and by reading the Bible.
Abiding in Christ is best accomplished by daily reading the Bible and being sensitive to the Spirit. We respond by talking to him about what we have heard.
(4) Obedience to the directions of the Lord is another key element in an abiding relationship.
John wrote about love and obedience in his letter because he learned their importance from Jesus’ direct teaching.
Jesus said, “As the Father has loved me, so I have 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” (John 15.9-10).
Obedience completes the third component of abiding in Christ. Once we have listened to Jesus and talked to him about what we have heard, we must act on what he has shown us.
Why is “abiding in Christ” such a big deal?
If we don’t abide in a relationship with Jesus, we are like useless dead branches.
When we abide in Christ – listening, praying, and obeying – he will give us the best life possible.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross and I continue our study of 1 John today. Our video can be found on the Bob Spradling YouTube channel.
Real Voices 