An Aggressive Abiding in Christ

We’ve all heard the term “abide in Christ,” but what does it mean? And how do we abide?

This “abiding in Christ” is not something we aspire to, rather it is the essence of Christianity itself — for we cannot have life unless we abide (remain) in the vine.

Jesus Christ alone is our life and supply that we hold tight to … or, as 2 Peter 1:3 reminds us, everything we need for life and godliness is found solely in Him.

In this episode, we explore the idea of abiding in Christ and the call to aggressively do so.

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Show Notes / Additional Resources

• 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.”

Abide / Remain

• Menō: to abide, remain, stay in place, sink down into, hold tight to, refuse to depart
  • Arndt + Gingrich Lexicon: “an inward enduring personal communion”
• The blessing of abiding through obedience
  • John 15:10 – 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.
    • Keep: to guard, attend carefully to, take care of, observe
• The ease of obedience through love
  • Obedience should not be a “have to” but “because I want to”
  • John 14:15-17 – “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper [to keep the commandments], to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
  • 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 home with him.
  • 1 John 2:5-6 – … but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

Bear Fruit – Natural Result of Abiding

• Romans 1:13 / John 4:35-38 – harvest of those we lead to Christ and who mature in their faith
• Romans 6:22 – [Personal holiness] – But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. 
• Galatians 5:18-25 – [certain things removed … certain things evident] But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
• Ephesians 5:9 – … for the fruit of Spirit (light) is in all goodness and righteousness and truth …
• Colossians 1:10 (also see Matt 5:13-16) – so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
• Hebrews 13:15 – [praise and worship] – Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.

Join the Conversation

Question: How have you seen your life transform through abiding in Christ?

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About NRJohnson

NRJohnson (Nathan Johnson) is a Christian who has an overwhelming passion for Jesus, the Gospel, and Studying God’s Word. He is a writer, teacher, and communicator who helps other believers understand and apply the Bible as they grow and mature in their faith—desiring that they gain greater intimacy with Christ, experience the victorious Christian life, and transform the world through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Read more about him here.

About the Deeper Christian Podcast

Many Christians feel frustrated because they don’t grow spiritually. The Deeper Christian Podcast helps equip Christians to understand the Word of God and cultivate a passionate love for Jesus that turns the world upside down.

Whether you want to learn how to study God’s Word, grow in your faith, cultivate a powerful and effective prayer life, share the Gospel boldly, deepen your intimacy with Jesus, live victoriously, or transform the world through the indwelling life of the Holy Spirit, the Deeper Christian Podcast with NRJohnson (Nathan Johnson) will encourage and equip you to grow spiritually and live a Christ-centered life.