In our day we hear much about evangelism, and well we should. But precious little is taught believers regarding the walk with Christ after salvation and its relationship to ‘bearing fruit’ in the spiritual life. But there is a very real and vital union between Christ and the believer, a spiritual connection whereby we are given grace and peace from God the Father, through the Son, by the inward working power of the Holy Spirit. It is instructive that our Lord’s teaching on abiding follows on the heels of His promise of the coming of the Spirit.  

2 Thessalonians 1:2 [2] Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (ESV)Colossians 3:11 [11] Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. (ESV)

2 Peter 3:18 [18] But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (ESV)

We must be careful regarding the timing of this teaching. This discourse from Jesus occurred either during our just following the Lord’s Supper institution. One should also factor in the fact that Judas had most-likely just left the room (13:10 cf. 15:3). Knowing this should impact our understanding of the importance of the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper and the role it plays in our worship and walk with Christ.

There are four main components to the analogy that instruct us to be we must be clear that the main point is abiding in Christ, i.e., union with Christ. 

Since this is such an important and often missing aspect of Evangelical spirituality, my method will be to use this morning to explain the essentials of the analogy and their interpretation. 

In part 2, next week we will look more closely at how Scripture teaches us to ‘abide in Christ.’