ABIDING IN CHRIST
The message in the gospel by John and chapter fifteen, is so very instructive to those who would be faithful servants and worshippers. Jesus is not speaking to the multitude of disciples (the curious followers), but to His own twelve disciples. He is not speaking of eternity or salvation, going to heaven, etc., but of those who desire to honor God and do well in the Christian life.
The Lord does not say in this chapter that one who fails to be faithful will lose salvation, as some teach, but that one will lose the place of privilege and blessing, and his works and life will come to naught. The church is not formed there at that time and the Holy Spirit had not yet come. The disciples are in Him by trust in Him, and must continue until "endued with power from on high"---the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; John 14:16-17). If one confesses Him and desires to be faithful that one must abide in Him, and then can worship as shown collectively at the Lord's Table, and individually all the time, for that is the only way to be fruitful. He is speaking to His own ("ye are clean") and about those who have some interest and draw near ("If a man abide not..."). It is a universal truth, and speaks in general of one remaining in the way and following closely after Christ.
There is blessing to all who have a true heart for the Lord God (as those who came among Israel found). Salvation is not in following after Jesus and His teaching, but following is a beginning. It is a source of blessing (Kingdom of Heaven). Baptism (like circumcision) shows the sincerity of this stand one takes. Those who owned the God of Israel and came among them enjoyed blessing and privilege as being a part of that company. These needed, however, a right heart and sacrifices to be saved. Today, one also needs a right heart and the sacrifice to be saved, and that speaks of the Lord Jesus and the cross of Calvary ---not just good works. If one today is "born of the Spirit", he has moved beyond the Kingdom of Heaven and profession to the Kingdom of God, which is eternal life.
If a child of God abides in Christ he will be fruitful, receive blessings here, and rewards hereafter; and if simple professors of Christ abide in His way they may receive the Spirit of God and be saved by the indwelling Spirit in due time. The whole world could enjoy peace and blessings today, if they would just bow to the Lord Jesus and seek always to honor and worship Him. One day the Kingdom of Heaven will not be only in the spiritual world for those who will seek it, but will come on the earth in a practical way when Christ returns to reign. -RLD: from biblecounsel.net
