What does it mean to “abide”? The Oxford Dictionary defines the verb as accepting and acting in accordance with a rule, decision or recommendation. We abide by the laws of the land or by the instructions of someone in authority. At its core, the action of “abiding” requires submission. The Jewish leaders insisted that salvation was possible only through abiding by their interpretation of the Law. However, the preposition “by” conveys the nuance of distance from what is being. One can abide “by” laws that one does not necessarily agree with. This was the problem with the Jewish leaders’ legalism. Outward, superficial obedience can never truly spark the inner heart transformation that God desires. By pairing “abide” with the preposition “in”, Jesus is suggesting something more intimate and relational. Believers must not merely obey Him but must be fully identified with Him as to become inseparable. In this chapter, Jesus gives His disciple two instructions: abide in Him and abide in His love.
Jesus first compares Himself to a vine. His Father is the vinedresser and we as believers are the branches attached to the vine. In the last chapter, we were introduced to the Holy Spirit and what it means to be indwelt and filled with Him. Jesus uses a familiar metaphor of a vine to illustrate the work of the Holy Spirit. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own without being attached to the vine, believers cannot bear the “fruit” of the Spirit apart from being in a relationship with Christ. In verses 2 and 6, Jesus also warns against false believers and teachers who claim to abide in Him. Not everyone who claims to be a follower of Jesus truly abides in Him. While only God can judge the heart of man, we are also called to discernment in our interactions with believers and non-believers alike. We can identify other believers by how the “fruit” of the Spirit manifests in their lives. And while the “fruit” is not the basis of salvation, they are evidence of salvation and the Holy Spirit’s transformative work in a believer’s life. However, there is hope. For those believers who do abide in Him and yet do not bear “fruit”, God does not give up on them. He prunes them in order so that they may bear “fruit”. Pruning is painful and often takes the form of God allowing us to face the consequences of sinful choices. Yet, if we humble ourselves and remain teachable, God’s discipline draws us closer to the Vine and abiding in Him.
Chief among this “fruit” is love. But this is not human love, which is conditional and fickle. Rather, this is a constant and sacrificial love with no strings attached. When Jesus says to the disciples in verse 13 that, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” He is referring to His sacrifice for us on the Cross for our sins. No human being could ever reproduce this kind of love. And yet by submitting ourselves to the Holy Spirit’s work, He perfects His love in us. Human love is invariably self-serving to a certain degree. However, Christ’s sacrificial and unconditional love is concerned solely with the love of the Father and identifying with His heart. And the heart of the Father is His love for His Creation. Jesus loves us because the Father loves us. And because we are loved by Jesus, we love others. To be sure, this is not a blind love. On the contrary, this love recognizes the sinful state of man yet desires the redemption of others as much as our own. In these final hours before His Crucifixion, Jesus calls on the disciples and all believers to abide in His love. In fact, He has destined us all to bear this precious “fruit” of love so that others may also know the goodness of abiding in Him.
Read the passage prayerfully a few times over and then answer the questions: John 15
Questions:
- What do you learn about the work of the Holy Spirit, salvation, and Jesus’ relationship with believers through the vine metaphor? (v. 1-8)
- What is the LOVE of GOD? How is it different from human love? Why is it so central to God’s character and the life of a believer? (v. 9-17, cf. John 3:16-17, Romans 5:8, Romans 8:37-39, 1 Corinthians 13, 1 John 4)
- What does Jesus mean when He talks about the hate of the world? How does he encourage the disciples even as He warns them about the cost of following Him? (v. 18-27)
Application:
- How is God pruning you as you seek to abide in Christ and His love?
- What encouragement do you draw from this passage as you reflect on the love of God?
Conclusion & Heart Prayer:
Lord, what are You saying to me? And what are You calling me to do about it?
