Suppose you’ve ever purchased plants and driven them home in the back of a truck only to find a wilted branch or two the next day. In that case, you have the perfect visual for what Jesus wants to drive home to the disciples and to us: Remain firmly attached to the One who supplies everything needed to bear much fruit for God’s glory.
Remaining connected is the difference between a weak, ineffective life and one brimming with spiritual vibrancy.
Where Does the Bible Say, 'Remain in Me, As I Also Remain In You'?
Many believe that Jesus’ words in John 15:4 took place as He and the disciples made their way to the Mount of Olives following The Last Supper: “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”
With vineyards as plentiful as olive groves in Ancient Jerusalem, it’s no surprise that Jesus used natural elements like vines and branches to illustrate the importance of remaining in Christ.
In Greek, the word “remain” or “abide” is meno, which means to continue to be present, to be held, kept, continually. It also carries the idea of remaining as one, waiting for one.
How Does God Remain in Us?
In John 15:4, Jesus is speaking to His disciples and followers, not to a large crowd where both believers and skeptics are present. His message is for those who already have an existing relationship with Jesus.
At the Last Supper, Jesus told the disciples He would not physically be with them much longer (John 13:3), but He also assured them that their union would not end at the foot of the cross (John 14:16). He would ask the Father to help them by sending the Holy Spirit, and even though the world would not see Him, He would live inside every believer.
Just as Jesus had remained closely connected with the disciples, teaching them, and offering comfort, the Holy Spirit would also do this, but He would be with them forever (John 14:16).
Through the Holy Spirit’s power and presence, the disciples (and every believer since then) are spiritually nurtured by Him, much like a vine nourishes its branches in hopes of producing fruit. God remains in us through the Holy Spirit. Jesus gave us a glimpse of this glorious reality in John 14:20: “On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.”
How Can We Remain in God?
We remain (or abide) in God by cultivating a life closely connected to Him. Our every need for life, spiritual growth, and furtherance of the gospel is ours as we remain committed to a consistent walk with Christ. When we do this, lasting fruit is produced. Remaining in Him isn’t about working or serving ourselves into a frenzy. It is an ongoing, growing relationship that rests in the One who gives us the ability to live abundantly.
When we look at a branch bearing fruit, we don’t see either part visibly striving. We see an active resting on the branch. Active because all the work happens inside the stem where the vine delivers life-giving nutrients. Our true vine, Jesus, longs to do the same for us (John 15:1).
“A machine can do work; only life can bear fruit. A law can compel work; only love can spontaneously bring forth fruit. Work implies effort and labor; the essential idea of fruit is that it is the silent, natural, restful produce of our inner life.” Andrew Murray, The True Vine
Some ways that signal we are remaining in Christ include:
1. Even when we don’t feel like spending time in God’s Word, we meet with Him more often than not.
2. When we sin, we don’t run away from Him or hide behind busyness, forgetfulness, or addictions. Instead, we run to Him, confident we can approach the throne of grace with boldness to receive grace and mercy. (Hebrews 4:16)
3. When facing trials, we give ourselves grace in pain, and permission to ask God difficult questions while ultimately resting in His sovereignty, knowing it is grounded in goodness.
4. We converse with God throughout the day. Whether asking for wisdom, a guard over our mouth, or expressing gratitude, it flows from the lips with the same ease as our breath.
5. We care less about what others think and more about what God thinks.
6. We care more about others than ourselves.
7. The fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—continues to increase in our inner lives.
8. The ease we experience when spending time with a close friend is also experienced when spending time alone with God. We don’t continually ask for something. We simply enjoy God’s presence. (Sometimes, I pull up a chair during my dedicated time with God in the morning. It’s a tangible reminder that He is there.)
9. We seek time with other believers and make ourselves available for counsel, accountability, and worship. This is true whether we’re introverts, extroverts, or in-between.
10. We wait differently. Remember the meaning of the word “remain” in its original language? It carries the idea of waiting on one. Waiting is one of the most difficult tasks for anyone, but as we remain in God, He feeds us the patience and trust required to do so in a way that brings us peace in the wait and brings God much glory.
Why Is it Important That We Remain in God?
We must remain in God for many reasons; one specific to this verse is to produce fruit. “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (John 15:8).
We glorify God and show ourselves to be his disciples when we bear fruit. He desires that we bear much fruit. Aren’t you thankful this isn’t dependent on you making a way or striving to the detriment of your health and your family’s well-being? Our responsibility is to remain connected to God by reading and studying His Word, praying, and staying in biblical community with other believers. When we remain connected, God does the work through us, and we can experience what Andrew Murray described as the silent, natural, restful produce of our inner life.
Other Bible Verses about Remaining in God
1. “Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” (1 John 2:6)
2. “And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.” (1 John 2:28)
3. “Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.” (1 John 3:24)
4. “No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.” (1 John 3:6)
A Prayer to Remain in God
Heavenly Father, I want to remain in You, to stay connected and close. Sometimes I allow other things to override this desire. I ask for Your forgiveness, and with a humble heart, receive and rest in Your cleansing power. Give me Your wisdom to make choices that will draw me closer to You so that my life will bear much fruit for Your glory and give evidence of a loving, personal, and life-giving God. Amen.
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Motortion
This article is part of our larger resource library of popular Bible verse phrases and quotes. We want to provide easy to read articles that answer your questions about the meaning, origin, and history of specific verses within Scripture's context. It is our hope that these will help you better understand the meaning and purpose of God's Word in relation to your life today.
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