Discipleship (Part 4): Abiding in Christ and His Word

Finally we had our last sermon in our series on discipleship. Why is this series important? Well, as a church we seek biblical faith and conduct, and discipleship is the essence of being a believer in and follower of Christ. The label 'Christian' means so many thing to so many people, so much so that many don't know what it actually is supposed to mean. We have here sought to define genuine discipleship (though the study is, of course, not all-comprehensive) which defines that part of a genuine Christian life. We shall dive into the teachings of Jesus more thoroughly in the future for right doctrine and faith are very important as they determine how we live. Church history is full of doctrinal disputes, something Paul warned would cause damage. This we seek to avoid, yet nevertheless, correct biblical doctrine must be upheld - even in our post-modern and relativistic world! More about that later... Please do enjoy the following notes and seriously consider your own life if you claim to be a Christian: is Jesus your Lord and Saviour? Did you set right priorities? Are you seeking God's will? Have you given yourself to Jesus? These are the crucial questions for those who profess to be Christian. It is one thing to know something about God, yet blessing only comes if we put into action what we know and believe (see Jn 13:17)!

Discipleship (Part 4): Abiding in Christ and His Word

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. (John 15:7-8 NASB)

This text sets the tone for our sermon. The disciple is to bear 'much fruit,' a figurative speech to indicate that there must be results that show genuine faith and dedication to Christ. A tree that does not bear fruit is a waste of space, as we all know. No one can sell leaves on the market; only fruit counts! Abiding in Christ and His Word is the very key presented by Jesus for those who want to be effective for God and 'bear much fruit' for His glory. The disciple does not live to glorify himself or herself - totally contrary to today's philosophies of life - but rather seeks to glorify God through a genuinely godly life.

In the preceding words, Jesus used a powerful illustration to make His message understood. Please keep in mind that the culture of the day was very familiar with agriculture, hence the vine and vinedresser language made perfect sense. John 15:1-6 reads as follows (NASB):

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 it so 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, so 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, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.

There is a lot to be taken from these words. For one, Jesus is pointing to Israel as the vine planted by God, yet in times of rebellion and sin, she did not bear fruit in accordance with God's labour on behalf of His beloved people (see Isa 5). Jesus is genuinely Jewish and genuinely committed to God and His will - He expresses genunine godliness, and had borne fruit that glorified the Father; now He was to demand it from His followers for whom He had laboured (in discipleship, teaching, and care). The illustration is simple: a fruitless branch takes up unnecessary space and enegry from other branches in a tree, hence it is to be removed. It is a sobering passage, especially for 'Christians' living in compromise and sin. Abiding in Christ, on the other hand, gives us the necessary strength to live godly lives, be effective for God, and thus glorify the Father. A branch draws its life from from the tree; the stem upholds the branch (cf. Ro 11).

It is a fact that is sometimes hard to grasp, but truely without and apart from Christ humans cannot do anything that is worth eternity. It is only through Christ that we can serve God in an acceptable way. It is a glorious life, abiding in Christ, for it takes pressure of the disciple for fruit grows naturally on a healthy and connected branch! It is a life of grace where we do not have to strive to please God or live this life in our own strength. So many people are overtired and overburdened, but if they would only 'let go and let God' things would be much easier. Yes, I know, it is a process and a struggle to learn being dependant on God - I've been there! It is not easy to accept this overwhelming love and acceptance of God - it is almost too good to be true - I know, I've been there. In a cruel world in which people are ever to selfish, the unconditional and selfless love of God is just amazing! We we get to know God, we will be able to more and more 'let go and let God'; He wants to be our everything because in this way all of His goodness and abundant life can come to us. It is a peace so out of this world, or, as Paul says, and peace that is beyond our understanding or explication... Peace that the world cannot give, peace that is nowhere else to be found, peace that is deep, lasting, and eternal.

If we take a look at Jesus' own life, we will discover that He Himself had lived in this intimacy with the Father, and it was that deep relationship of trust that enabled Him to do what He did. Let me put it under three headings:

1. Jesus lived in total surrender, dependence, and obedience to God (e.g., Jn 5:19, 30; 6:38). It is amazing how Jesus Himself lived by abiding in the Father, even to such an extent that He could claim that He and the Father were one (Jn 10:30, 38; cf. 14:6-14).
2. Jesus lived in a prayerful relationship with God (Lk 5:16; Mt 14:23). Though He was fully God, Jesus, in His humanity, lived a lifestyle of prayer. This is yet another sign of Him relying on God for guidance and strength.
3. Jesus loived by God's Word and Spirit (Lk 4:1, 4, 8, 12, 14ff). Jesus was a Man of the Spirit, and that is what 'Christ' means: the Anointed One, the Messiah (Hebrew: Mashiach). In spiritual warfare, Jesus was victorious by sticking to God's Word - He was a Man of the Word.

These characteristics form a basis for a godly and effective life of a disciple who seeks to bear much fruit for God make his or her life count! May we more and more seek such a life the Master Himself lived and learn to bear much fruit in a dedicated life to Jesus, our 'Vine,' as we abiding Him as 'branches.'

Shalom,
Gordon