Abiding In Christ

by Elin Greene

What exactly is abiding IN Christ? Abiding in Christ is a continuous process. Abiding is not a knowledge of Him nor is it saying you have a relationship with Him once we accept Christ as our Savior in our hearts. It is a growing process. It is my intent to show that abiding is the essence of Christ. We are either abiding in Christ or we are not abiding in Christ. Let's see what the Word says about abiding, and not abiding in Christ.

(verses NKJV, emphasis is mine)

John 15:1-10
"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, 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, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. As the Father loved Me, I also 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."

Strong's 3306 menw meno men'-o

a root word; TDNT-4:574,581; v

AV-abide 61, remain 16, dwell 15, continue 11, tarry 9, endure 3, misc 5; 120

1) to remain, abide

continue

1b1a) of persons, to survive, live

remain

2) to wait for, await one

Nine times John uses the word, abide. God is spoken of as the Vinedresser and Jesus is the true Vine. We are the branches, who have believed by faith. The branches abide and grow from the Vine and bear fruit. The Father is glorified by us bearing much fruit. The branches who are attached to the Vine that do not bear fruit, the Father takes away. The branches that do bear fruit, the Father prunes so that we may bear more fruit. The pruning process is a trimming away anything in us that is undesirable that would hinder us from bearing fruit worthy of the Vine. Self needs to be pruned away so more of Jesus grows in us and shows forth. It is a continuous process to get more growth and fruit. The Spirit of God does the convincing so more of Jesus becomes evident in us as our fruit increases as we abide in the Vine. He gives the increase by our obedience to abide, and not of ourselves. Our fruit grows and ripens as the Word of God abides in our hearts.

Our life comes from the Vine that supplies our nourishment as we continue to abide in Him. We must develop an attitude of total dependence on Him. The nourishment for our growth comes from the Word. It all works together if we are willing to receive in our hearts what the Vine has to nourish us. Hebrews 3:14 "For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end." Partakers, Strong's #3353: A participant, associate, sharer, partner, companion. Abiding is a continuous commitment and a joining of ourselves to Jesus as partner and companion. 1 Timothy 4:6 "If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of good doctrine which you have carefully followed." Abiding is looking to the Vine for the words of faith and good doctrine. Everything that we need for nourishment comes from the Vine, and what He has provided us, the Word.

The Word of God is pure milk to grow on so that we come to maturity and are then able to get to the solid food of the Word to nourish us. Unless we are nourished from the Vine, we cannot grow. 1 Peter 2:2-3 "As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may GROW thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious." Abiding in the Vine automatically brings growth as we continue to be nourished as we mature in Him. Yet milk is for babies, and babies must grow up to be adults. Hebrews 5:13-14 "For everyone who partakes ONLY of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good from evil." As we abide in the Vine, we will grow in discernment, if we are separated from the Vine our discernment will also disappear. After a period of time without nourishment, we have no growth, no fruit and we may die. Abiding in Him allows our desire to grow in Him to mature beyond the milk stage, so we can endure and remain clean in Him.

The Word of the Lord washes and makes us clean as we abide in Him (John 13:10, Ephesians 5:26). When we accept the Word as it is at face value, not adding to it or privately interpreting it, the Word is able to accomplish the Lord's intent in it. 2 Peter 1:20 "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation." The Scriptures are given to us by the inspiration of God and is alive for us by the Holy Spirit through abiding in it. The Word is God-breathed. It is not produced by human consciousness or human intellect. 2 Timothy 3:16 "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness..." The Word abiding in us has been inspired by God. Abiding in it allows it to correct and instruct us. 2 Timothy 1:13-14 " Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us." We must abide in the Word and allow the Word to abide in our hearts by the Holy Spirit and hold fast to it, not letting go. We are branches when we abide in Him and are pruned by Him.

We, the branches must abide in the Vine for His life giving nourishment needed for the fruit we bear. We cannot on our own bear fruit for Him. We must be part of the Vine that sustains us. We can do nothing of our own that will produce good fruit without Him. Our fruit that we bear is only from abiding in the Vine. Matthew 7:20-23 "Therefore by their fruits you will know them. Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!" The Holy Spirit shows us the fruit that is produced in one's life which reveals whether or not one is abiding in the Vine. Matthew 7:15-19 talks about knowing the lie from truth by the fruit that others bear. The Holy Spirit guides us to be able to make His righteous judgment, and not associating with false teachers. We don't want false teaching to separate us. Jeremiah 2:20 "Yet I had planted you a noble vine, a seed of highest quality. How then have you turned before Me into the degenerate plant of an alien vine?" We must be sure we are abiding in the one true Vine.

Jesus is the Vine and we are the branches. As we abide (dwell, be present)in Him, He abides(is present, remains) in us. In that joining relationship, we bear and produce much fruit for the Father. Without Him we can do nothing and will not produce good fruit. If we choose not to abide in Him, the eventual consequences will be us cast out because we are a withered branch, and good only for the fire. All those withered branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire and burned. These branches may sound like Christians but the Spirit of the Lord does not abide in them. Jesus quoted Isaiah speaking about the original branch, Israel. Matthew 15:8 "These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me." The Jew had a head knowledge of the Lord, but they didn't even know the Lord was standing in front of them. It is possible to say the right things and even do the right things yet not have the Lord. Having knowledge ABOUT Christ is not the same as a heart relationship that abides in Him. Abiding in the Vine and allowing His Spirit to reveal the Word to us will keep us in the truth and a part of the vine. He is truth, therefore we must have the truth in order to be abiding in Him.

If we choose to abide in Him and His word abides in us, whatever we ask it shall be done for us. In John 15, Jesus said, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you." What a promise! We must first be abiding in Him and His Word abiding in our hearts. Matthew 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." The key is to seek the kingdom of God and abide in it. The Father is pleased to provide for us as we abide in the Vine and we bear His fruit.

Jesus says that we are His disciples, the fruit bearers of the Vine as we abide in Him. As the Father loved Jesus, He has also loved us and we are to abide (dwell, continue) in that love. Abiding in that love means keeping His commandments, being obedient just as Jesus kept the Father's commandments and abides in the Fathers love. Obedience is the evidence of our love for God. Those who obey and live the Word are those who truly know Him and abide in Him. Abiding will allow His love to perfect us and mature us. 1 John 2:5-6 "But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked."

Strong's 5048 teleiow teleioo tel-i-o'-o

from 5046; TDNT-8:79,1161; v

AV-make perfect 12, perfect 4, finish 4, fulfil 2, be perfect 1, consecrate 1; 24

1) to make perfect, complete

to carry through completely

2) to complete (perfect)

3) to bring to the end (goal) proposed 4) to accomplish

4a) bring to a close or fulfillment by event

4a1) of the prophecies of the scriptures

The love of God is completed in those who keep His Word and are obedient to Him. This is how we know that we, and those around us are abiding in Him. If we are abiding in Him then we will reflect Him and be like Him. Only those who are learning to live like Jesus know and love Him, thus abide in Him. If we truly know Him we will walk the walk and not just talk the talk. The fruit of abiding in Him will be reflected in all aspects of our lives an anointing that will teach us. 1 John 2:24-29 "Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that He has promised us eternal life. These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him." Abiding has been ordained from the beginning.

The Word that we heard from the beginning must be abiding in us. It is a heart relationship with our Lord as we abide in Him. If we allow the Word to abide in us, then we also abide in Christ and the Father. John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Jesus IS the Word that we must abide in. If we abide in the truth of the Word, then the promise of eternal life is ours. Another wonderful promise! We certainly don't want to lose out on that promise because we have separated ourselves from Him by accepting false teaching. We must rely on the Holy Spirit to live in our hearts so that we may know for certain what is truth and what is error.

When false teachers or heretics cross our path, we will not fall victim if we are constantly abiding in the truth concerning Christ. The anointing of the Holy Spirit that abides in us has illuminating power that helps us to distinguish truth from error. The Holy Spirit brings revelation of the Word to the human heart. John 14: 16-17 "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you." To receive spiritual knowledge under the guidance of the Holy Spirit is to know the truth in a way that human insight cannot provide. To abide in Him we must be willing to receive truth of the Word as the Holy Spirit quickens or makes it come alive in us. The anointing of the Holy Spirit teaches us all things true, not lies, if we abide in Him.

Paul warns of those in error who do not abide in Christ and tells us to avoid them. We can't avoid them if we lack discernment by the Holy Spirit to make that judgment. 1 Timothy 6: 3-5 "If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself." These are worldly people, destitute of truth who do not abide in the truth. Romans 16:17-18 "Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple." If we abide in the truth, we will be able to note such persons and not be deceived by them. The Holy Spirit is able to enlighten us so that we have sound judgment as we abide in Him.

Paul abided in Christ throughout his ministry and tells us to follow his example. Philippians 3:17-19 "Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame who set their mind on earthly things." He warns us not to follow those who walk contrary to the truth and tells us what happens to those who do not abide in the truth. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers and they will turn their ears away from the truth and be turned aside to fables." If one does not abide (endure) in the truth of the Word, then they will end up in error. They will fall into doctrines that sound good but are not of God. They fall for another interpretation instead of the God inspired Word of truth. His truth is in us if we abide in Him and allow the Holy Spirit to illuminate it in our hearts. He loves us and calls us His children if we abide in Him.

We who abide in Him are His children! If we continue to abide in Him then at His coming we have no reason to be ashamed. We will be confident as we are righteous in Him. Jesus is righteous, therefore abiding in Him makes us righteous because we are born of Him. Philippians 3:9 "And be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;." Our righteousness is by faith in the Lord. Our own righteousness is as filthy rags. Isaiah 64:6 "But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousness are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away." The Lord is the source of our righteousness as we abide in Him. If we abide in Him and the truth of the Word, we will not sin. 1John 3:6-7 "Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins, has neither seen Him nor knows Him. Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous." His righteousness is our righteousness. You can not sin if you are abiding in Him.

Abiding in Christ encompasses the whole of the Word. If we are not growing, then we have already begun to die. We can do nothing without Him. We must tap into the Vine, dwelling, being nourished and growing. Our fruit must be worthy of the Vine in whom we abide. A fig tree only produces figs and no other fruit. His Word, by the power of the Holy Spirit must abide in our hearts and be living and breathing in us. We must know truth from error. We don't want to be the branches separated from Him that are burned up because we have become independent of the Vine. Abide, dwell, continue, remain, endure and do not depart from the Lord. His love is then perfected in us and we will bear much fruit that reflects our Lord as we remain secure, abiding in Him.