Study Notes on JOHN 15: 1 - 12
John 15:1-12 • How to Abide in Christ
Introduction
There’s a very familiar chorus that nearly everyone knows by heart that begins:
You are the Vine,
We are the branches,
Keep us abiding in You.
Naturally this chorus is based on Christ’s dissertation recorded in John 15; but it may shock you to find that the lyrics of this chorus are not precisely biblical. According to John 15 Jesus is, indeed, the Vine, the Father is the Vinedresser, and we are the branches, but nowhere is it recorded, “Keep us abiding in You.” The word “abide” is used 10 times in this passage and you need to pay careful attention as to how it’s used and to whom it is addressed. This is a great example of why even what we think are the most familiar verses or phrases in the Bible need to be studied in their context so that the
Truth is not diluted by what we think it says rather than what it really says. If we were to only understand this verse based on this chorus, we would think it’s up to Jesus to ensure that we abide in Him when it’s really a responsibility placed on us.
1
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2Every 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. 3You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4Abide 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.
5
“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. 6If 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. 7If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
8
“My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be
My disciples. 9Just as the
Introduction
There’s a very familiar chorus that nearly everyone knows by heart that begins:
You are the Vine,
We are the branches,
Keep us abiding in You.
Naturally this chorus is based on Christ’s dissertation recorded in John 15; but it may shock you to find that the lyrics of this chorus are not precisely biblical. According to John 15 Jesus is, indeed, the Vine, the Father is the Vinedresser, and we are the branches, but nowhere is it recorded, “Keep us abiding in You.” The word “abide” is used 10 times in this passage and you need to pay careful attention as to how it’s used and to whom it is addressed. This is a great example of why even what we think are the most familiar verses or phrases in the Bible need to be studied in their context so that the
Truth is not diluted by what we think it says rather than what it really says. If we were to only understand this verse based on this chorus, we would think it’s up to Jesus to ensure that we abide in Him when it’s really a responsibility placed on us.
1
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2Every 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. 3You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4Abide 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.
5
“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. 6If 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. 7If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
8
“My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be
My disciples. 9Just as the