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Read: John 15:11 ESV
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
What does it mean to abide in Christ?
(Gotquestions.org)To “abide” is to live, continue, or remain; so, to abide in Christ is to live in Him or remain in Him. When a person is saved, he or she is described as being “in Christ", held secure in a permanent relationship. Therefore, abiding in Christ is not a special level of Christian experience, available only to a few, rather, it is the position of all true believers. The difference between those abiding in Christ and those not abiding in Christ is the difference between the saved and the unsaved.
The branches who “abide” in Him are the truly saved—they have a real and vital connection to the Savior. The withered branches who do not “abide” in Him are the unsaved pretenders who feigned an attachment to the Vine but drew no life from Him. In the end, the pretenders will be seen for what they were: hangers-on who had no authentic attachment to Jesus.
"They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us."
1 John 2:19 ESV
In short and in simple language, we abide in Christ because we received the salvation. Abiding in Christ is the mere proof of the new birth.
Now, what's with the "joy in abiding"?
The call to abide in Christ is not a call to live a life in prosperity, in worldly wealth, in fame, or in "up moments". Someone who preaches that Christianity equals to good life is not in the vine. It is always and will always be a call to serve in suffering.
"These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full."
John 15:11 ESV
Jesus told this after reminding us many times in the previous verses to abide in Him or abide in His love. Why? Because the world will surely hate us!
"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you."
John 15:18-19 ESV
1. Our Position in Christ
John 15:11 teaches us out position in Christ and that by knowing that we are in the Vine, yes, the world may hate us, but we have this joy because we are His children."For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us."
Romans 8:18 ESV
2. God's will for His children
This also teaches us that God's will for His children is to bring glory and praise to Him amidst the suffering. And that the joy of the Lord often comes through much suffering and pain.'But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.'
2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV
3. Abiding in Christ produces real joy
And it is a glorious truth is that those who patiently endure the deepest pain for righteousness sake are often those that experience the greatest joy in the Lord.The message of Abiding in the True Vine is first given to His first real disciples, and we've seen how they fought for their faith and how they have lived in the gospel amidst all the adversaries given by those who do not belonged to them. Now, it is given to us, to those who have heard the good news and have accepted the gift of salvation. And we should not see it as a special level of Christian experience.Let this be heart cry of all who desire to produce much fruit to the glory of God. The one who is prepared to give up the good for the very best will discover the inner joy of Jesus that is reserved for those that can say from their heart: the life that I now live in the flesh is not mine to live but Christ - Who lives in me. The one who can take up their cross daily; renounce the things of this world and leave the old self nailed to the cross; is the one that understands what it means to abide in Christ; to fellowship in His suffering; to bring forth much fruit to the glory of God and to experience abundant life and fullness of joy.
Amen.
Photo by: Myunguen
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