1. 1 “By the use of μένειν John seeks to express the immutability and inviolability of the relation of immanence. In so doing he elevates the Christian religion above what is attained in Hellenistic rapture or even in the prophecy of Israel. Thus God abides in Christ, 14:10. Believers abide in Christ (6:56; 15:4– 7; 1 Jn. 2:6, 27 f.; 3:6, 24) and Christ in them (Jn. 15:4–7; 1 Jn. 3:24). God abides in believers (1 Jn. 4:16), and believers in God (1 Jn. 2:24; 4:16).” TDNT Do you remember what this line means from our study last week?

2. 2 “By the use of μένειν John seeks to express the immutability and inviolability of the relation of immanence. In so doing he elevates the Christian religion above what is attained in Hellenistic rapture or even in the prophecy of Israel. Thus God abides in Christ, 14:10. Believers abide in Christ (6:56; 15:4– 7; 1 Jn. 2:6, 27 f.; 3:6, 24) and Christ in them (Jn. 15:4–7; 1 Jn. 3:24). God abides in believers (1 Jn. 4:16), and believers in God (1 Jn. 2:24; 4:16).” TDNT The Greeks thought they could get their gods to do things for them, and clearly the Lord did wonderful things for the Israelites but nobody ever thought about God living inside of us!

3. 3 “By the use of μένειν John seeks to express the immutability and inviolability of the relation of immanence. In so doing he elevates the Christian religion above what is attained in Hellenistic rapture or even in the prophecy of Israel. Thus God abides in Christ, 14:10. Believers abide in Christ (6:56; 15:4– 7; 1 Jn. 2:6, 27 f.; 3:6, 24) and Christ in them (Jn. 15:4–7; 1 Jn. 3:24). God abides in believers (1 Jn. 4:16), and believers in God (1 Jn. 2:24; 4:16).” TDNT It means that the most vivid, bold and aspiring imagination of the Greeks and their fictitious deities interacting with mankind, or for that matter, even Israel’s biblical prophecies in truth, God speaking to them, feeding them, protecting and providing for them, NONE of this comes anywhere close to the concept of God INDWELLING those He loves.

4. 4 “By the use of μένειν John seeks to express the immutability and inviolability of the relation of immanence. In so doing he elevates the Christian religion above what is attained in Hellenistic rapture or even in the prophecy of Israel. Thus God abides in Christ, 14:10. Believers abide in Christ (6:56; 15:4– 7; 1 Jn. 2:6, 27 f.; 3:6, 24) and Christ in them (Jn. 15:4–7; 1 Jn. 3:24). God abides in believers (1 Jn. 4:16), and believers in God (1 Jn. 2:24; 4:16).” TDNT Even in Israel’s biblical history, God was unapproachable on Mt. Sinai. The Shekinah Glory was shielded from the sinful eyes of Israel. Uzzah, in 2Sam 6:7, lost his life when he breached the gap between sinful man and Holy God by touching the Ark of the Covenant.

5. 5 “By the use of μένειν John seeks to express the immutability and inviolability of the relation of immanence. In so doing he elevates the Christian religion above what is attained in Hellenistic rapture or even in the prophecy of Israel. Thus God abides in Christ, 14:10. Believers abide in Christ (6:56; 15:4– 7; 1 Jn. 2:6, 27 f.; 3:6, 24) and Christ in them (Jn. 15:4–7; 1 Jn. 3:24). God abides in believers (1 Jn. 4:16), and believers in God (1 Jn. 2:24; 4:16).” TDNT Mankind has no appreciation for the purity of holiness and needs to learn the infinite difference between the holiness of God and the sinfulness of man. God set that boundary to that end, but in Christ, that veil between God and man was ripped from top to bottom.

6. 6 “By the use of μένειν John seeks to express the immutability and inviolability of the relation of immanence. In so doing he elevates the Christian religion above what is attained in Hellenistic rapture or even in the prophecy of Israel. Thus God abides in Christ, 14:10. Believers abide in Christ (6:56; 15:4– 7; 1 Jn. 2:6, 27 f.; 3:6, 24) and Christ in them (Jn. 15:4–7; 1 Jn. 3:24). God abides in believers (1 Jn. 4:16), and believers in God (1 Jn. 2:24; 4:16).” TDNT Can you imagine in your wildest dreams that YOU can have exactly the same relationship with the Father that Jesus had on the earth? This is bigger than you can imagine!

7. 7 Let’s make certain we are all getting this. Can you have as intimate a relationship with the Father as Adam had with Him before he sinned? You might think Adam had an advantage over you in that he was innocent and you have fallen flesh, which is true, but it is also true that YOU have the Holy Spirit in you, and Adam didn’t. So you actually have a greater potential for intimacy than the first man had. The real acid test is this question. Can you have the same level of intimacy with the Father as Jesus had while on the earth as a man?

8. 8 Some would argue that Jesus was God, AND He had a sinless nature, a holy nature, and a history of engagement with the Father in pure unity. And that is true – except that He emptied Himself of His expression of His deity and lived purely as a man. HOWEVER – can you enjoy the intimacy that Jesus enjoyed with the Father while He walked on the earth? The answer is yes, because Jesus has given to each one of us HIS resurrected life. We have fallen flesh, but we also have the indwelling Holy Spirit who is greater than your flesh!

9. 9 Jesus relied on the Holy Spirit to make His choices as He lived on earth and so can you. Jesus had a will that was different than the Father’s but He chose to rely on the Holy Spirit in Him, just like you have, to lead Him through His own thoughts to unity with the Father. So, since you actually have the life of Jesus in you as your life, the fact is, aside from whatever power you give to your flesh to run your life, you have the potential to live your life exactly as Jesus did, just as intimate with the Father as He was!

10. 10 Jesus relied on the Holy Spirit to make His choices as He lived on earth and so can you. Jesus had a will that was different than the Father’s but He chose to rely on the Holy Spirit in Him, just like you have, to lead Him through His own thoughts to unity with the Father. So, since you actually have the life of Jesus in you as your life, the fact is, aside from whatever power you give to your flesh to run your life, you have the potential to live your life exactly as Jesus did, just as intimate with the Father as He was! Now do you understand why the TDNT says that neither Hellenistic rapture or Israelite prophecy have ever come anywhere close to even imagining what God has granted to us in Christ by the immutable and inviolable immanence of God in us? Have you ever stopped long enough to think about what the immanence of God, immutable and inviolable, practically means to you in how you will live your life today?

11. 11 Let’s look at our contextual flow in John. Bear in mind that Jesus is spending His last hours with His disciples in the upper room (John 13:33). He kicks off this very heavy conversation with this statement, “ Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ ” What is the direction that Jesus is sending the minds of His disciples? In His final words to His beloved disciples, He gives them a divine and critical lesson in proxemics, the study of spatial relationships.

12. 12 “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. 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. Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.” John 15:1-11 That is a very abstract and critical concept. What would you have thought Jesus was talking about if you were a disciple in that upper room?

13. 13 “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. 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. Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.” John 15:1-11 What do you think it means in practicality? How do we “abide in Him”? Maybe it would be easier to grasp if we first looked at what abiding is NOT. It means that you do NOT abide in yourself! What is the difference in abiding in self as opposed to abiding in Him?

14. 14 Suppose your mate does something selfishly that really hurts you. What are you going to do if you abide in yourself? You are going to do something that pleases self, like protect self, retaliate, try to make him feel bad, try to make him look like an idiot or look selfish, give him the silent treatment… What would you do if you were abiding in Jesus? What kind of difference does abiding in Jesus really make and why does it do it?