24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. —Matthew 16:24-25
4 REMAIN IN ME, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you REMAIN IN ME. 5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who REMAIN IN ME, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not REMAIN IN ME is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you REMAIN IN ME and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. 9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. REMAIN IN MY LOVE. 10 When you obey my commandments, you REMAIN IN MY LOVE, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. —John 15:4-12
1. The difference between
and
63 The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But some of you do not believe me.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn’t believe, and he knew who would betray him.) 65 Then he said, “That is why I said that people can’t come to me unless the Father gives them to me.” 66 At this point MANY OF HIS DISCPLES turned away and deserted him. 67 Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?” —John 6:63-67
27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, 29 FOR MY FATHER HAS GIVEN THEM TO ME, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. 30 The Father and I are one.” —John 10:27-30
1 So now there is no condemnation for those who BELONG TO CHRIST JESUS. —Romans 8:1
17 This means that anyone who BELONGS TO CHRIST has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! —2 Corinthians 5:17
2. To “remain in Jesus” is to follow His
10 When you obey my commandments, you REMAIN IN MY LOVE… —John 15:10
Obedience to Christ’s commandments is both a sign and a test of our love for Him.
12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. —John 15:12
1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. 2 We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments. 3 Loving God means keeping his commandments, and HIS COMMANDMENTS ARE NOT BURDENSOME. —1 John 5:1-3
3. To “remain in Jesus” is to produce
5 … Those who REMAIN IN ME, and I in them, will produce much fruit… —John 15:5
8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. —John 15:8