Abide in Me and I Will Abide in You Michael Edwards
“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 15:7-11 NAS
What does it mean to abide in Christ?
One way is clear in these verses. Abide in His love, the love we see in his death on the cross. To abide in His love, we keep and fulfill Jesus commands just as Jesus kept and fulfilled His Fathers commands. This means we walk like Jesus, who lived and died bringing life, fulfilling the Spirit of all of God’s laws – love – Rom 13:8-10. It does not mean we walk like the Pharisee’s who enforced the letter of the law bringing condemnation and death while ignoring the Spirit of God’s law. We are qualified to minister the Spirit of God’s law that serves up life, not the letter that brings condemnation and death.
Who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2 Cor 3:6 NAS
Jesus commands love. We love God and love our neighbor as we love ourselves - Matt 22:37-40, as Jesus has loved us - John 13:34. While this may sound easier than keeping the letter of the law, it is not easier; it is impossible unless we abide in Christ. It was impossible to love our neighbor as ourselves and became beyond impossible with Jesus new command in John 13:34, love our neighbor as Jesus loves us. Jesus died on the cross for our neighbor and us.
| 
