Abiding in Christ

[00:00:00] This audio sermon is provided by AnabaptistSermons.com and may be freely copied and distributed. You may not sell or edit this sermon. Our prayer is that you would be blessed by this ministry. We greet you this morning in the name of Jesus. We welcome each one of you to this service, Repentance and Amendment of Life. Repentance brings a change. Turn with me to John chapter 3. As I was thinking of the focus this morning of examining ourselves, I am reminded of a number of things. [00:00:40] And John chapter 3 addresses one thing. I think there are a number of things that we need to remember, but I think there are some more things that we do well to check in our lives. John chapter 3, I'd like to begin reading at verse 1. There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. The same came to Jesus by night and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God, for no man can do these miracles that thou doest except God be with him. [00:01:16] Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. [00:01:52] Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof But canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth So is every one that is born of the Spirit We'll stop reading there Nicodemus was a ruler, he was a ruler of the Jews Was he a member of the Sanhedrin? I believe He was an important ruler of the Jews But he had some sincere questions and he saw Jesus and he saw the life that Jesus lived [00:02:27] And I think Nicodemus believed in his heart that Jesus was that Messiah that was to come Nicodemus had some fears You notice when he came? I don't know what you imagine but I can kind of see Nicodemus waiting until the sun goes down Until nobody can recognize who he is And he went down the street where he knew he could find Jesus. He did it by night. He didn't want to be seen by other people. Sometimes we go through that thing. But he came to him with some honest questions. And he just simply asked him, well, first of all, he expressed his belief in Jesus. And then Jesus said that you have to be born again. [00:03:16] and Nicodemus struggled to understand what Jesus was saying. And he asked him a question. He asked him a number of questions. Well, is this the physical birth you're talking about, Jesus? And Jesus said, no, I am not talking about the physical birth. I am talking about a spiritual birth. And then Jesus did what he so often does. He took an example from nature. He said, you know, you know that the wind blows and, you know, you can't tell where it comes from or where it's going. But you know it's blowing. Well, Nicodemus, that's a little bit what the new birth that I'm talking to you is like, the spiritual birth. [00:03:55] You know, the wind comes from the north or the south. Why does it? And I don't think Nicodemus could explain that. We have some scientific explanations. We say there's a low pressure system in one area. The wind, the air moves toward that and that creates breeze. That's what scientists tell us today. I think it's correct. But the thing that Jesus was trying to tell Nicodemus was there is something that defies logic. There's something that you are not going to be able to explain by your rational thinking that has to happen in your life. [00:04:33] I think we are all very aware that Jesus was talking about the salvation experience here. and I think we understand that. However, Jesus was saying something else here and I think we understand that as well. It defies explanation. It's something that I cannot explain scientifically what happens inside a person when he receives the new birth. I don't think any of us would argue that we need to be born again [00:05:06] in order to take part in a service like we are anticipating next Sunday. However, there is more to it than being born again. Being born again is an experience. And we say that, I have heard people say that we dare not just depend on an experience. And I think they are right. I think we must have a right system, a right belief system. and we get quite taken up with that. [00:05:39] I think there is something else that we do well to consider and I'd like to have you turn with me to John chapter 15 and I'd like to consider the chapter here. I'd like to read the first part of the chapter of John 15. I think this talks about something that we do well. I'd like to read the first eight verses of John chapter 15, where John was talking to his disciples, or John, Jesus was talking to his disciples. [00:06:13] John records it here, and Jesus had some words to say that I think we do well to consider, and they are certainly not the only words, but they are, I think, important. Jesus is talking here about fruit bearing, and what it takes to bear fruit. and I think it is important that we are Christians that bear the right kind of fruit as we consider the service that we have today. [00:06:44] And as we look at our lives, I would just welcome you to look at my life. I think we do well to look at one another's lives but primarily I think each one of us needs to look at our own lives. Follow along as I read from verse 1, chapter 15 of John. I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away, and every branch that beareth fruit he purgeth, or we would say he prunes it. [00:07:20] He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit, for without me ye can do nothing. [00:07:56] If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered, and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit. So shall ye be my disciples. I remember hearing a certain speaker talk about one of the early Christians and I remember being just a little bit troubled by what this speaker had to say. [00:08:42] And I forget who the early Christian was and it doesn't really matter this morning except I just thought of that as I was preparing this message. This speaker had certain beliefs that we would probably have, we would find fault with. This man was a man who was, I think, sincere in his walk with the Lord, but I believe he was probably sincerely mistaken in some of his beliefs. But this man suffered greatly for his faith. [00:09:16] and in his life people could see that this man had something that they needed and this man was a man whose life bore fruit for the Lord Jesus Christ. Now when this man stands before God in judgment, what will God say to him? I'll confess to you that I am not sure. But there is one thing that I can say. I think this man lived according to what he understood and knew as far as God's word is concerned. [00:09:50] And I think he had a changed life, so much so that he was willing to give his life. I don't know whether he was burned or what happened to the man, but he gave his life for his faith. And I am not this morning suggesting that it does not matter what we believe. It does matter what we believe. It really does, but it is not the only thing to consider. And so, as we consider this, and maybe I should just simply say this, [00:10:25] as I look at my fellow brothers and sisters, brothers and sisters, I looked at the wrong side at the wrong time, but you understand what I'm saying. I think I do well not to be casting stones quickly at my brother or my sister. I think I do well to have mercy before I am judgmental of my brother or sister. But as I look at John chapter 15, what is it that Jesus said? [00:10:56] What are some of the things that Jesus is saying? One thing is that fruit bearing is important. And he also tells us how we can bear fruit. But I think the first two words that I read in this chapter are important. Jesus said, I am. He didn't stop there. I am the true vine. But I think if you understand what I am saying, there are the, Jesus said, I am, a number of times. [00:11:30] In John chapter 4, he didn't say, I am the living water, but the idea was there. I am He, He said to the woman. I am the Messiah. When the woman said, I know that Messiah cometh, and when He comes, He is going to tell us all things. And then Jesus said, I that speak to you am He. and so he said I am the Messiah and by implication I am the living water. [00:12:03] Here Jesus said I am the true vine and what does that have to do with fruit bearing? I am the true vine. Jesus is the vine. He is the trunk we could say of the, and does a grape vine have a trunk? It has a main, you understand what I'm saying. It has the main vine and then from there it branches out and you understand what I am saying. But Jesus tells us how we can bear fruit and that is, he says, we must abide in him in order to bear fruit. [00:12:41] How is it that we abide in him? I think, if I understand correctly, abiding is another way of saying to live, make our abode in Jesus. And that could be several things, but I think it's important that we recognize that. To abide in Him is to make Jesus our abode. Not only do we ask Him to come to abide with us, but we abide in Him. [00:13:12] He is the life-giving source. He is the source of life. Without Him, we can do nothing, He said. It's not possible to live a Christian life unless we abide in Him. And Jesus says a number of things here, but fruit-bearing is impossible without abiding in Him. That is one thing that I would have us notice. [00:13:42] Verse 3, I would have us notice as well. Ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. He cleanses us is one thing that I see here. I notice also, and you heard what I said as far as he said, he used the word purge. We say we prune the grapevines. That's what Jesus tells us here that God does to us. Why is it that people suffer? [00:14:15] Why is it that people go through trials? I'm not sure that I can always tell you. But it seems to me that as we consider this pruning of the grapevine, We might consider that perhaps God is wanting us to be fruitful for him. And you notice who it is, what vine or what branch it is that gets pruned. It's the one that already is bearing fruit. [00:14:47] What happens to those that do not bear fruit? Do you notice that? Did you notice what I read? It's taken away, it says here. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away, And every branch that beareth fruit, he purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Sometimes we see that people suffer and we wonder why. And I don't, I'm not sure. But isn't it often when people go through trials, they just simply show what they are made of. [00:15:22] And not that people are anything of themselves, because of ourselves we are nothing. But as we abide in him, as we allow him to prune us, we can be fruitful. And I trust that we are willing to do that. Sometimes we try to figure out what we are doing wrong when we go through trials. Sometimes I may try to figure out what other people are doing wrong when they go through trials. [00:15:54] And I think that is a mistaken approach. I think when I suffer, when others suffer, we do well to just simply remember that Jesus suffered as well. Did Jesus do wrong? What did Jesus do wrong that he suffered? Nothing. He was suffering for other people, and I am not saying that we suffer for other people, But I do, I think I do well to not try to, there are some things I do well to accept without having to figure out why this is the way it is, I guess is what I am saying. [00:16:30] Jesus said, I am in a number of other situations. He said, I am the door in John chapter 10 verse 9. By me, if I am the door, by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved and shall go in and out and find pasture. You notice that Jesus talks about the salvation experience, but Jesus talks about more than the salvation experience. He says, by me, if any man enter in, he shall go in and out and he shall find pasture, he shall find sustenance for him. [00:17:06] In John chapter 10 verse 11, I am the good shepherd. I give my life for the sheep as opposed to the hireling. The hireling runs away. He flees. In John chapter 11 verse 25, I am the resurrection and the life, Jesus said. Now, what should we focus on as we think of our service this morning? Should we focus upon ourselves, upon our lives? We can do that. There is some advantage to doing that. But I think if I only focus upon myself, I'm going to get a skewed picture of what I really should be seeing. [00:17:52] And the thing that I am saying is that I think we need to focus upon the Lord Jesus Christ and my relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. And as I do that, I think I can see myself more nearly as I need to see myself. And it is true that we need our brethren. Sometimes I think I am correct and I need my brother's input in my life. I would just like to ask a few questions that I hope help us, and I'm not going to prolong this message this morning. [00:18:30] But I would like to ask a few questions as we consider sharing our testimony this morning. Just going to ask some questions that I think I need to ask myself. The first question is, where is my heart? And I'm going to, I may elaborate on these just a little bit. What are my goals? What are your goals? [00:19:02] What do I spend my time doing, thinking? What is it, what's the driving force behind what we do and say? And I recognize that we do need to earn a living. But what is it? What's the driving force behind what we do? Is it earning a living or is it more than that? I'd like to quote a few lines. Is it the chorus of a hymn? [00:19:33] I'm not sure where this hymn is found, but you will recognize the hymn. Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in his wonderful face. and the things of this earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace. Are the things of this life strangely dim or are they in full focus for me and for you? [00:20:04] And I think as we express ourselves this morning, we do well to just simply remember that. What is it that I live for? Why? Why do I? What do I live for? What is my? What is the driving force? What's my goal? I asked those questions. I could elaborate on them. But I think as we consider these in our heart, they will help us. And I will confess to you that I I need to be reminded of these things as well. Shall we stand together to pray?