Charles Spurgeon Commentary John 15:4

"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; so neither can ye, except ye abide in me." — John 15:4 (ASV)

Abide in me and I in you.

There is the great canon of the Christian life. Hold fast to Christ.

Not only live with him, but live in him. "Abide in me." And on! Let Jesus not be merely your companion now and then, on holy occasions, but let him abide in you; make your heart a temple; let him find his sweetest rest, his home, in you.

As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can you, except you abide in me.

It is keeping in Christ, then, that is the vital connection. There is the root of the whole business, to remain one with Jesus by vital union, deriving the sap of our life entirely from him.

Abide in me, and I in you.

The main thing is not restless activity, running here and there, and doing this, and that, and the other thing; it is abiding in Christ, persevering, constant holding fast to Christ, by virtue of a vital union with him: Abide in me, and I in you.

As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can you, except you abide in me.

You may hurry, and flurry, and worry; but you will lose by it.

Keep close to Christ. Never let your heart be dissociated from intimate communion with him. So shall you bring forth fruit, but not otherwise.

Abide in me, and I in you.

Do not merely find a temporary shelter in me, as a ship runs into harbour in stormy weather, and then comes out again when the gale is over; but cast anchor in me, as the vessel does when it reaches its desired haven. Do not be as branches that are tied on, and so can be taken off, but be livingly joined to me. Abide in me.

As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

You must bear fruit, or else be cast away; but you cannot bear any fruit except by real union and constant communion with Jesus Christ your Lord.

Abide in me, and I in you.

The pruning is nothing without the abiding in Christ. You may suffer again and again; but no good can come of it except you have vital, continuous, everlasting union with Christ.

You cannot take a branch away from the vine for a little while, and then put it back again; its life depends upon the perfect continuity of its union. So is it with us and Christ: the branch is in the vine, and the vine is in the branch. The very essence and sap of the vine are in the branch even as the branch is part and parcel of the vine.

Abide in me,

"Now that you are clean, do not imagine that you can do without me: Abide in me."

And I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

It is not a transient faith, it is not saying, "I was converted so many years ago;" but it is a living faith, an abiding faith, a constant vital union with Christ that marks the true heir of heaven.