Pastor Paul began his sermon with a reminder that the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper would be observed the following week. The sermon about Abiding in Christ was a message for Church Members to consider their relationship to the body of Christ. This is in service to the Apostle Paul’s warning in 1 Corinthians 11:27-30:
Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.
Using John 15:1-11 as the scripture lesson, Pastor Paul explored the theme of abiding in Christ. In this passage, Jesus described our relationship with him by saying that he is the true vine and that his followers are the fruitful branches. He identified three important outcomes from this abiding relationship: fruitfulness, salvation, and joy.
Fruitfulness
Jesus is the vine who gives life, and God is the vinedresser who prunes in service to fruit bearing. Faithful followers of Jesus are branches pruned by God to bear the fruit he desires. God desires that we bear the fruit of the Spirit, which includes things like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. As followers of Jesus, we know that Spiritual fruit doesn’t happen through our efforts. We must pray to develop these fruits, confess any sin that stunts their development (this is pruning), and abide in Christ's life-giving Word and Holy Spirit to bring Spiritual Fruit to maturity.
Spiritual Fruit relates to individual believers and to churches. There is also fruit that God desires from churches. The fruit God desires from a church is illustrated in Acts 2:42-47. This scripture shows a corporate commitment to teaching, prayer, the Lord’s Supper, sacrificial caring among church members, commitment to observe the Sabbath, and eating together. God honored the church's corporate life by adding to its number daily.
Salvation
Jesus said that if anyone does not abide in him, he will be like a branch that withers and is cast into the fire to be burned. This phrasing is a warning about judgment and Hell. Those who abide in Him are saved from the judgment of fruitlessness and Hell.
Does this mean that our good works save us? No. We have no power of our own to produce the fruit God desires. To be fruitful, we must live humbly before God by confessing and turning from our sins. And as our sins are pruned away, Christ’s life, given through his life-giving Word and Holy Spirit, produces desirable fruit.
Joy
Abiding in Christ also brings joy! In verse 11, Jesus said,
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
Jesus knew that in a short while, his disciples would see him be arrested, falsely convicted, crucified, dead, and buried. He knew they would be plunged into despair, confusion, and doubt. His counsel for them to abide in him was necessary to carry them until they witnessed his resurrection. When the disciples saw the risen Lord, their joy became full and remained full for the rest of their lives.
In his words about abiding, Jesus reminds us that despite trials and disappointments, we can find joy in Him that rises above our circumstances. If you abide in the risen Christ, you will always have a reason to rejoice. The joy of Christ is truly unshakeable and untouchable.
Jesus' command to abide in him is tender. Abiding in him gives you his life and power so that you can bear fruit, assure salvation, and fill you with joy!
It's a great day to live the Gospel!
God willing, we hope to see you on Sundays!
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