Abiding in Jesus

Here are four Biblical reminders about abiding in Jesus that preceded communion during our worship service yesterday. There is more to be said on this subject, but these truths are helpful when approaching the Lord’s Table.

Note: To abide means to stay or remain.

Abiding in Jesus is essential to spiritual life and fruitfulness. 

1“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. (John 15:1-11)

A Christian is to Jesus as a branch is to a tree–or as an appliance is to a power outlet. We must remain plugged into Jesus to live, grow and function as Christians.

Abiding in Jesus is a central function of the church. 

Dulin’s Grove is in an interesting season right now as several have withdrawn from among us. Our deacons met last week and began to pray through these things, which prompted me to take a fresh look at what the Bible has to say about church. I began in Revelation, working backwards through the New Testament. So far, I have been surprised how frequently God tells the church to endure in the faith, to hold fast to Jesus’ name and abide in him.

• Revelation 2:2: Jesus praises the church in Ephesus for “patient endurance.”
• Revelation 2:3: “I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary.”
• Revelation 2:4: Jesus chastises them for having “abandoned their first love.”
• Revelation 2:10: Jesus encourages the church in Smyrna in the face of tribulation, poverty, slander, spiritual warfare, imprisonment, “be faithful unto death.”
• Revelation 2:13: Jesus praises the church in Pergamum, in the midst of an intense spiritual battleground, “Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith…”
• Revelation 2:29: Jesus praises the church in Thyatira for their “patient endurance.”
• Revelation 2:25: Jesus warns them to “hold fast what you have until I come”, to keep his works to the end.
• Revelation 3:3: To the church in Sardis, “remember, then, what you have received and heard. Keep it.”
• Revelation 3:8: Jesus praises the church in Philadelphia, “you have kept my word and have not denied my name.”
• Revelation 3:10: “You have kept my word about patient endurance.”
• Revelation 3:11: Warning, “hold fast to what you have.”
• Jude 1:3: “Contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.”
• Jude 1:20: They were to be building themselves “up in your most holy faith.”
• Jude 1:21: “Keep yourselves in the love of God.”
• 1 John 2:24: “Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father.”
• 1 John 2:27: “his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.
• 1 John 2:28: And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.”
• 2 John 1:9: “Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.”
• Hebrews 2:1: “Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.”
• Hebrews 3:12: “Take care brothers lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.”

The current of culture (often even church culture) flows away from Jesus. If you are not actively trying to abide in him, you are drifting away from him. There is no neutral ground. This principle holds true for churches as well. A local church can do many good activities, but one central activity must be working to remain in Jesus.

Abiding in Jesus is Believing in Jesus. 

Belief is the hand that grips onto Jesus.

28Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”30So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

35Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.38For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

41So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” 43Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. 44No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. 45It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me— 46not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. 47Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48I am the bread of life.49Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” (John 6:28-52)

The word translated believe here does not refer to a blind leap of faith. It means trust because persuaded. This is clear thinking, reasonable belief. It is real belief that influences the way one lives. This is what keeps us connected to Jesus.

Abiding in Jesus is the Purpose of Communion. 

56Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. (John 6:56)

Jesus told us to partake in the Lord’s Supper “in remembrance of him” (1 Corinthians 11:24). Regularly returning to the table is like a regular couples retreat, keeping the marriage fresh. Jesus ordained that his life and work would remain sealed in the minds of his disciples, not only through teaching or preaching, but through this ritual meal.

Discussion Starters

1. How can one abide in Jesus? What Scriptures are helpful for answering this questions? 
   
2. How can one help his Christian brothers and sisters abide in Jesus? What Scriptures point the way here?
3. How can a church abide in Jesus? Brainstorm some Scriptures that give guidance here.
4. What influences conspire to pull us away from Jesus as individuals? As a church?
5. How does regularly partaking in the Lord’s Supper relate to Jesus’ desire for us to abide in him?
6. How often do you think we should do communion as a church? Why?
7. Take some time to pray for one another and our church.