Two Distinct Positions
I was recently meditating on abiding in Christ. The Lord has been revealing to me that the place of abiding is a fixed position IN Him that determines our very nature. To illustrate this point to me, He used the word (abide) itself. The "I" in abide is a fixed position that determines the nature of the word. Without the letter "I" within the word, the word would mean something entirely different. The word becomes nonsense, and the missing letter ("I") stands alone. Sound familiar? If I am depending upon the sufficiency of my own strengths, works, efforts, etc. I am not abiding. I am striving! The very nature of abiding IN Him is resting IN Him. Just like the letter "I" in abide is hidden within the word, as I abide, I am hidden IN Him. Literally, I abide IN Him. The "I" in abide is the perfect illustration of the spiritual principle of abiding IN Christ.
The very “nature” of the word changes when the letter "I" is removed from its position within the word. So too, it is with us within Christ’s Body. If we do not maintain our position of abiding IN Christ (the "I" within), our very nature changes. Consider 1 Corinthians 15:22 (KJV): “For as in Adam all die, even so IN Christ shall all be made alive.” The Amplified version says that because of their “union of nature” all died in Adam, so also because of “union of nature” shall all IN Christ be made alive. How? IN Christ, we become partakers of His divine nature (2 Peter 1:4; Acts 17:28, 29). We take on His nature as we abide IN Christ.
For more insight, let’s look at John 15:4-8, 16 (KJV): “Abide in Me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can you, except you abide in Me (4). I am the vine, you are the branches; He that abides in Me and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing (5). 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 (6). If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you (7). Herein is My Father glorified; that you bear much fruit; so shall you be my disciples (8). You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it to you (16).
The words "abide" and "in" are a combination of the operation of Holy Spirit in His position of abiding in us. It is a fact for Him, a choice for us. Abiding is a requirement on both parts. Jesus, in the person of the Holy Spirit abides in us, and we abide in Him. Both He and us abide. The other critical word in this text is the word IN. It is also like the word abide. Both parties are IN something; He is IN us and we are IN Him. The word IN means a present place of existence, a place of rest. So we are right now resting IN Him, and He IN us. Remember, you are already there because God established you in Christ. It was God Who translated you into His kingdom, which is Christ’s Body. It was God Who chose you to be the Bride of Christ. When Christ took you to be His bride, you literally became flesh of His flesh and bone of His bone. “In Him we live and move and have out being……” (Acts 17:28).
John 15:4 clearly distinguishes between two distinct positions: You IN Him and Him IN you. According to John 15:5, bearing “much fruit” is dependent upon both positions. How do we know these are two distinct positions? Can you be standing in the kitchen while you’re also standing outside? No! Therefore, how is John 15:4 possible for us? How can we maintain both of these positions simultaneously? Are you ready? Here’s the good news. We don’t! We are not responsible for His abiding IN us. As born-again believers, this is the work of the Holy Spirit given us as a seal upon conversion (Ephesians 1:13). Our only responsibility is abiding IN Him.
The Father is glorified when you bear much fruit (John 15:8). How do we bear much fruit? We are required to be like the branch on the vine. (Think of that. A branch does nothing to produce fruit or growth. It merely receives nourishment from the vine, growing naturally and bearing much fruit!). We were engrafted (put into) Him. This position of abiding IN Him enables us to receive His nourishment and provision making us partakers of His divine nature whereby we will bear much fruit of the Spirit.
We have discussed our position of abiding IN Christ. Let’s now discuss Christ (the Word made flesh) abiding in us. According to John 15:8, as we bear much fruit we will be His disciples and the Father will be glorified. This fruit is produced through the relationship of these two distinct positions. As we abide in Him (our position), the Holy Spirit abiding within us (His position) enables us to be His disciples.
Now I would like to draw your attention to a very important verse. Most of us that read John 15:1-8 overlook verse 1, which is key! Verse 1 says, “I am the true vine and My Father is the husbandman.” The Lord brought my attention to this and as I began to listen to Him, a whole new revelation began unfolding. You see, you are so far removed from having the responsibility of producing fruit that you must understand it is grace, not you! You are in a position of grace being in the vine. Abiding is your only responsibility, and it is simply a choice. Having said that, let me share about the husbandman’s responsibility to produce fruit; after all that is why He is the husbandman! The husbandman must determine where He wants to plant the vine, that has the branch, that bears the fruit. He knows the kind of fruit He is looking for. It is His responsibility to fertilize it so it will produce what He wants (not the branch!). It is His responsibility to water it, to make sure no weeds are growing near it, stealing its water and nourishment. If He doesn’t keep the weeds away, what can the branch do about it anyway? You as the branch are not the husbandman. It is the husbandman’s responsibility to watch for disease and bugs that attack the vine and branches, that keep it from producing fruit. Wow! Things that attack us as branches to stop us from producing fruit are an attack on the vine and even more so, are an attack on the husbandman, not an attack on us. So, as branches, just abide (rest), quit trying to be the husbandman and being something you’re not. Be what you already are – a branch in God’s vineyard and member in Christ’s Body.
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A New and Living Way
In
John 15:4-7, it becomes evident that Christ in you and you in Christ
are two distinctly different positions or places. Christ in you is
your hope of glory; if you are hoping for something then it simply
means without a doubt, you don’t have it. Your position in
Christ is real. It is a substance as a part of Christ’s Body and a
member in particular. You are a specific part of His Body, a
substance; just add faith to God’s word. Hope is then turned into
the new and living way. Faith is a person, Jesus Christ. Now read
Hebrews 11:1 this way: “Christ (faith) is the substance of things
hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
A New and Living
Way