The Meaning of Abiding in Christ
I. The Revelation of Our Inner Union - John 15:1-3
- A. The Father's work and undertaking - John 15:1; 1 Cor. 3:9; James
5:7
- 1. Designed in eternity past - Eph. 1:4-5; John 15:16
- 2. Accomplished in Christ - Col. 2:10-13; 3:3-4
- 3. Transmitted and maintained by the Holy Spirit - Rom. 8:9-11;
1 Cor. 6:17;
1 John 3:24
- 4. Cultivated by the Father - John 15:1-2
- a) The pruning of environmental discipline - Heb. 12:5-14; 1 Cor.
11:30-32
- b) The pruning of the Word - John 15:3, 7; James 1:21; Eph. 5:26-27
II. The Experience of Abiding - John 15:4-11
- A. The meaning of abiding - John 15:4 ("remain" and "stay,"
indicating we are already in the place where we abide)
- 1. Our normal state - John 14:16-20; 15:4-5; 1 John 2:26-27
- 2. The true worth of spiritual work - John 15:5; Phil. 4:13
- a) Eternal value - 1 Cor. 3:10-15
- b) Present and future usefulness - John 15:6; Heb. 6:7-9
- B. The reality of abiding - John 15:4-5
- 1. An organic- or life-union with Christ Himself - Rom. 6:3-5
- 2. Always being in fresh experiences of death and resurrection -
Phil. 3:7-11;
2 Cor. 4:10-12
- 3. Being filled up with the Word and prayer - John 15:7; Col. 3:16
- 4. Remaining always in the divine love and joy - John 15:9-11; Rom.
8:35-39
- C. The issue of abiding
- 1. Bearing fruit - John 15:4-6, 8, 16
- a) Manifesting the virtues of Christ in ourselves - Gal. 5:22-23;
Heb. 12:11;
- 2 Pet. 1:5-11; Rom. 6:22
- b) Overflowing and imparting Christ into others - John 4:34-38;
15:16;
Rom. 1:11-13
- c) Keeping the oneness of the Spirit with believers - John 15:16;
Eph. 4:1-4;
- Col. 1:6, 9-11
- 2. Glorifying the Father as His expression - John 15:8