ABIDING IN CHRIST

BIBLE TEXT: John 15:1-4

Subject: Presence

Proposition: Abiding In His Presence

Theme: The Savior of the world invites us into an intimate, personal, abiding relationship with Him where we will experience His wonderful love

INTRODUCTION

Lesson Aims:

Understand Christ’s claims to deity in this passage

Understand that Christ is the only true Vine

Be encouraged to accept Christ’s invitation to abide with Him

Introduction:

The word abide is not one that we use on a constant basis

Abide means to remain or settle down according to Webster

In a mobile world where people are always on the go; remaining or settling down is not a part of our thoughts

People are constantly changing relationships, jobs, and even churches

The result is that fewer people are finding and having an abiding relationship with Christ

Television has greatly influenced our culture

Every six to seven minutes people feel the need to have a break and get a snack

Eight times in this chapter, Christ says Abide in me or Remain with me

Christ wants you to settle into a constant, stable relationship with Him

He desires that you commune with Him constantly

John 15 happens between the upper room and the Garden of Gethsemane

Perhaps He said this while passing through a vineyard

While many want to try Christ He is inviting them to be with Him forever

This is why we need to study abiding in Christ

LESSON

I. THE SUPREMACY OF HIS PRESENCE

A. Jesus Is The I Am

1. He calls Himself the I am

a. He is not just another religion, He is!

b. This title reveals that God exists as God

c. Jesus used this phrase many times

i. I am the bread of life

ii. I am the light of the world

iii. I am the door

iv. I am the way the truth and the life

d. Each of those statements define Jesus as the only God

2. All Jesus claims say He is supreme

B. Jesus Is The True Vine

1. The word true means absolutely genuine

a. Jesus is not one of many vines

b. He is not a false vine

c. He is the genuine vine

2. There are many man made religions in this world

a. However, God is true

b. To truly be sustained, we need to abide in the Vine

3. Many believe it does not matter what you really believe in as long as you believe

a. Without Christ, you are abiding in a false vine

b. This excludes all works or religions as a means to obtain eternal life

c. Jesus says, I am the true vine

C. Believers Share The Life Of The Vine

1. In this section of Scripture, the branches represent the lives of believers

a. We share our life in the Vine

b. Since the Vine is life, can you afford to be in the wrong Vine?

ü Never be afraid or ashamed to make sure you are attached to the true Vine

c. Make sure this is settled

2. The Vine is where we draw our strength and our sustenance

a. We have entered into a personal, abiding relationship with the one who lived a perfect life

b. When we abide in Christ, we abide in God Himself

c. No other religion has this truth as its basis

II. THE INVITATION TO HIS PRESENCE

Jesus says, Abide in me, and I in you

That is a complete sentence and a complete thought

It is an invitation into His presence

To enter into His presence you first enter into a relationship

In order to enter into a home you must first enter

To enter into a relationship with Christ, you place your faith in His finished work of the cross

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God

Abiding in Christ means that we place our faith in Him- we trust in His death, burial, and resurrection as the payment for our sins

From the moment you trust in this, you have the ability to abide in Christ

The invitation begins with salvation, then you can abide

He invites you to come alongside of Him

He wants you to draw sustenance from Him

He wants you to cling to Him like branches cling to the vine

God is giving you a life long relationship

A. Abide In Me

Here are three ways that we continue to abide in Christ after we are saved…

1. We abide through Bible study

a. We need to spend time in God’s Word daily

b. John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God

c. Spending time in God’s Word is spending time with God

d. His Word will change your heart and life

2. We abide through prayer

a. James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you

b. Through prayer, we are ushered into the presence of God

c. He invites you to approach the throne

3. We abide through trials

a. Trials are a precious thing when we allow them to draw us close to God

b. 1 Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ

c. We do not have to turn to the world to cope with life, we can abide in our Comforter

B. I In You

1. In the old west, a man was carrying a bag of grain. A man with a buckboard offers him a ride. The driver says put the grain down and relax. The rider says, oh, no. it’s enough that you would allow me to ride- I would never ask you to carry my load, too!

2. The purpose of Jesus abiding in us is because He wants to carry your load

a. 1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you

b. Paul spoke of Christ living in us

ü Galatians 2:20 Christ liveth in me

c. Through the Holy Spirit Christ has taken up residence in your life

d. He is in us every minute of every day

III. THE CONSOLATION OF HIS PRESENCE

A. Eternal Love

1. Look at verse 9

a. Jesus reminds us that abiding in Him is to abide in the love of God

b. In a world starving for real love, we have the promise of God’s eternal love

c. Jesus promises to love us as the Father loves Him

2. Jesus’ love is different from the love of the world

a. 1 John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us…

b. God loved us even before we were born

c. God loved you before the world was formed

d. There is nothing we can do to earn a love like this

3. God created you and desires for you to abide in Him in a close personal relationship

B. Perfect Love

1. 1 John 4:18 … perfect love casteth out fear…

2. God’s perfect love is unconditional and accepting

a. Earthly love often has strings attached

b. I will love you if…

c. Often we will submit to their desires out of the fear of rejection

3. God’s love give security and peace in knowing you abide in Him

C. Unchangeable Love

1. It is an eternal and perfect love that cannot change!

2. You cannot do anything that will change God’s mind

3. God loves you completely

ü Paul wrote it this way, Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

ü Romans 8:38-39 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord

CONCLUSION

You may have done some bad things in your life

You may have made some big mistakes

You may even still be experiencing problems

God still loves you…

You are one prayer away from abiding

God will always welcome you back to His fellowship

It is as if Christ holds out His nail pierced hands and says, come to me. Let me be your Savior. I am the true Vine

If you were invited by the president or queen to have dinner; you would accept

It would be the chance of a life time

God offers you the chance of eternity; abide in Him and He will abide in you