As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
As the Father has loved Christ, so Christ loves His followers, and He calls them to continue and remain in that love. To continue in His love is to abide in Him as a branch abides in the vine, keeping His commandments from the heart as He kept His Father's commandments and abides in His love. That love is unselfish and self-sacrificing, infinite and unchangeable, fully demonstrated when He laid aside His royal glory to become divine-human and gave His life in suffering and crucifixion. Those who abide bear much fruit to the glory of the Father, keep His joy in them with joy made full, and receive what they ask with the Father and Son making abode with them by the Holy Spirit. His love is the pattern and measure for love toward one another even to laying down life for friends, bringing unity with Him and with one another that testifies to the world of genuine discipleship.
Words and Historical Setting
Christ loves His disciples with the very same love the Father has for Him, and He calls them to continue and remain in that love. Remaining in His love is joined to taking hold firmly of Him and to keeping His commandments from the heart, as He kept His Father's commandments and abides in His love. That abiding puts believers on vantage ground where His strong hand upholds against temptation, giving strength, efficiency, victory and peace, and believing and living His words leads to abundant fruit-bearing. The love revealed is unselfish and self-sacrificing, more than loving a neighbor as oneself, given because people belong to Christ who purchased them and not dependent on human praise, affection or appreciation. Jesus' love for His disciples is like the Father's love for Jesus, and they are to remain in Jesus' love.
These words were spoken as private counsel at the supper in the upper chamber, part of Christ's instruction before His separation from the disciples and shortly before His crucifixion. They were words of comfort, counsel and prayer to sustain them through coming disappointment, trial, and the great tests and trials that would come to His people. They belong to His words of hope and courage near the end of His earthly ministry when cruel death was just before Him, and the chapter is precious to believers as comfort to the heart. This instruction is the divine foundation on which their work must rest, for ministry cannot succeed apart from the divine agency, and it is given as preparation for meeting Him at His coming with joy.
Their full meaning was not understood or appreciated when spoken, but only after His sufferings, condemnation, betrayal, trial, crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, and the falling of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Then the words were repeated to sustain the disciples through disappointment and trial, giving peace, hope, and power to witness. After Jesus demonstrated unselfish love by dying on the cross, the disciples understood its depth more fully, seeing its full measure and what the love of God comprehended. Knowing this love was to unite them and prepare them to witness powerfully.
The verse belongs to the lesson of the true vine and its branches, presenting in simple yet profound form the relation of Christ's followers to Him as branches of the vine. True branches have a vital connection to the vine by which they receive life and strength, unlike spurious branches and unlike merely superficial association. Believers are joined to Christ as branches to the true Vine and brought into unity through that connection, each keeping individual identity yet remaining in fellowship, drawing life from the same source and sharing the same Spirit. This vital connection is the privilege of all, with Christ rather than other people's faults as the focus.
The verse stands among John 13-17 and John 14-17, which plainly outline God's will and what He desires to do for humanity. Those chapters carry deep import and hold the richest promises, to be believed exactly as written, studied with open hearts while looking to Jesus, lived out before fellow ministers, and understood with new enlightenment when the mind is reshaped by the Spirit. It means what every word says and must be read, studied word by word for the meaning of every word, and even committed to memory. Kept in the mind as a storehouse of truth, it forms real, genuine piety and supplies rich consolation to impart to the oppressed, the sorrowful, the afflicted and those ready to perish.
The comparison of the Father's love for Christ with Christ's love for His followers is wonderful and striking, broad and full in measure. That love is as real and sure as the Father's love for Christ, though beyond human understanding. Because Christ speaks truth, His words are to be trusted rather than met with unbelief, and the disciples are to continue in His love.
It was spoken with full knowledge of every trial the church would face through unconverted believers and how severely faith and courage would be tried, and with knowledge of every phase of experience, conflict, manifold afflictions from the world, and great temptation to lose faith. Though betrayal, scourging and death awaited Him, His thoughts were for the disciples and not for Himself, giving encouragement, hope, comfort and consolation to strengthen them to endure without failing. He mingled bright hopeful lines with the dark, and with John 14, 16 and 17 these words are of highest value for every soul consecrating life to God's service. His call to abide is a comforting assurance that He loves His followers, knows the trials ahead, and will guide, uphold and care for them so they are not alone. It is simple enough for all, even children, to understand, yet it imparts courage to stand fast in the most trying hour, bringing strength and assurance to the true believer as long as time shall last.
Nature of Christ's Love
Christ's love for His disciples is the same love with which the Father loves Him, and they are called to remain in it. That love is unselfish and self-sacrificing, going beyond loving a neighbor as oneself to giving His own life. It does not depend on human praise, affection, or appreciation, but is given because those He loves belong to Him as those He has purchased. It is not self-love nor desire for the highest place, but is joined to meekness and lowliness of heart. Understood fully only after He demonstrated it by dying on the cross, it is to be expressed in loving one another as He loved, and as an active principle guided by the will it shows itself in loyal obedience and firm resolve to serve God even unto death rather than as mere impulse or emotion.
That love is infinite and measureless, broad and full in measure, unchangeable and unparalleled. Its full meaning was not grasped when spoken, but only after His sufferings, crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, and the falling of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost revealed what the love of God comprehended. Its depth was demonstrated when He laid aside His royal robe and kingly crown to come as divine-human and wrestle under the temptations of the enemy like every human being, tempted in all points yet without sin. Through faith in His Father's power He conquered the foe men must face, overcoming every trial victorious to the close of His earthly ministry though pitilessly assailed by the prince of darkness who since the fall has sought to thwart God's purposes and set up a rebellious kingdom. It was fully displayed and revealed in His condemnation, suffering, crucifixion, and giving of His life to redeem man, culminating in the words It is finished.
His coming to seek and save the lost reveals that love, shown in pity for the fallen race and in giving His life so that through His grace they can be overcomers and at last enter the city of God. His whole sacrifice as sin-bearer to bring sinners to God cleansed from iniquity is to be claimed by faith with the whole burden laid on Jesus, answering the darkness that says they cannot be saved with the fact that Jesus died for them. By taking human nature and subjecting Himself to all human temptation He both proved His love for the human race and gave an example of what humans may do through grace ever ready to impart. That love should awaken gratitude for the gift of God's Son and an earnest desire to bring life into conformity to the will of God. Jesus places Himself directly in the link between the Father and His followers, bringing to them the same love the Father has for Him.
Continuing in that love is loving union between Christ and the believing soul, in which He takes the believer into partnership with Himself and keeps believers in connection with Himself as He is in connection with the Father. It is oneness with God through the union of humanity with divinity, made possible because the Lord sent Jesus so humanity could grasp divinity and divinity could lift up humanity to become one with Jesus Christ. This oneness is the standard and privilege to be claimed, where the whole being is brought into unity with Jesus Christ by laying hold of the divine nature and becoming partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world through lust. Staying in that love is reason for thankfulness and gratitude, to be expressed by telling children that Christ died for them and seeing them decide to be Christians, and by loving one another with the same love Christ gives, which cannot remain silent but must warn neighbors, friends, and unbelievers around.
Continuing in His Love
To continue and abide in his love is to keep his commandments from the heart, as he kept his Father's commandments and abides in his love, following his example of obedience. Keeping his commandments is how disciples remain in that love, and those who keep them abide in Christ; believing and living his words leads to abundant fruit-bearing. The following verse explains this abiding, joining it to bearing fruit and to loving one another as he has loved, with his teaching meant to keep his joy in them and make their joy complete.
Remaining in his love is conditional on obedience, and only those who meet the condition have a claim on God's promises in prayer. To claim the promises while disobeying insults God and shows lack of love. This love kept by obedience is the substance of God's covenant, by which his death gives another trial to form characters fit to be called sons and daughters, members of the royal family and children of the heavenly King. Continuing in his love in this way brings full joy, requires loving one another even to laying down life for friends, and makes obedient believers his friends.
This love kept by obedience is an active principle guided by the will, not mere impulse or emotion. It is expressed in loyal obedience and firm resolve to serve God even unto death, in abiding faith and constant obedience that makes the truth manifest in character, words, and conduct. It means forsaking sins and obeying God's commandments, doing his will rather than being ruled by the world and its pursuit of flattering approval. Allegiance to Christ in this obedience stands against the world's influence.
The commandments to be kept include honoring the seventh-day Sabbath, and accepting a man-made sabbath teaches others error. Obedience means obedience to all the commandments of God, both the first four and the last six. While living in transgression of them, God can do very little for them. The believer's life is thus joined to Christ's, as Christ's life is joined to the Father's, in sacrifice and obedience to God's Word.
Obedience is his yoke, not an oppressive burden or bondage to the law, but rest, peace, grace, and assurance. It brings full joy rather than mourning, doubt, or uncertainty, and belongs to a joyful life in Christ. Keeping his commandments is the evidence that a person loves God, evidence of friendship with God, and those who keep them abide in Christ and are elected in him. His love for those who thus obey is unchangeable and unparalleled.
Continuing in his love means abiding in him as a branch in the vine, remaining in him by faith so as to receive his life and strength, with desires brought into harmony with God's will. It means taking hold firmly of him, laying the whole burden on Jesus, and claiming by faith the whole salvation secured by his whole sacrifice as sin-bearer to bring sinners to God cleansed from iniquity. It means claiming the promises and blessing left on record through the Son, answering the darkness that says they cannot be saved with the fact that he died for them, and taking him at his word as spirit and life. It means living in close fellowship with him through faithful obedience and constant prayer, doing one's best in faithful discharge of duty, becoming one with him, consulting his will in every action and perplexity, and bearing much fruit as his disciples so the Father is glorified.
It means taking his yoke and learning his meekness and lowliness, which requires human effort joined with God's work in the believer. It requires daily emptying the heart of self and of hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong, depending wholly on Christ, putting away supposed wisdom, wearing his yoke, and receiving his Spirit. In this are learned meekness and lowliness, patience and forbearance, control of thoughts and words, and Christlike love for one another, finding rest and peace more precious than gold. Humility under God and learning his meekness and lowliness keep a person from the snares of an uncontrolled temperament, while the Holy Spirit alone transforms and shapes the character.
It requires daily carrying out the conditions on which salvation depends, and continuing in this way brings peace. It means following in his footsteps in obedience to his Word, showing faith by obedient action, glorifying him, and letting the world and the heavenly universe witness enjoyment of his love. It means walking humbly with God, not exalting self or relying on merits, but hiding the life in Christ and learning from the way he walked in the world.
Fruit Joy and Blessing
Remaining in his love enables believers to bear much fruit as trees of righteousness, and that fruit glorifies the Father. Bearing fruit in this way makes discipleship evident and shows the genuine work of the Holy Spirit in the heart, proving true conversion and true repentance rather than mere words or profession. Those who abide have his mind and show true discipleship by bearing good fruit, and though they have different characters they can act in unity with him as the vine. Believing and living his words leads to abundant fruit-bearing, for the love revealed is unselfish and self-sacrificing, and continuing in that love means keeping his commandments as he kept his Father's commandments.
His teaching is given so that his joy remains in believers and their joy is made full and overflowing. That fullness fills the heart with his joy and happiness in God's love, received by those who abide in his love through keeping his commandments as he kept his Father's commandments and abides in his love. It is expressed also in loving one another with self-sacrificing love, and those who obey in this way are his friends. The joy is experienced anew when souls turn from darkness to light and confess him, while separation from him does not bring joy.
Continuing in his love puts believers on vantage ground where his strong hand upholds them against the temptations of the enemy. Taking hold firmly of him in this way gives his strength and efficiency for victory and peace with him, with hope, courage, sympathy, and power to work with him in helping others understand faith and carry out his plan. It brings peace and rest of soul to all who believe, ending doubt and uncertainty, for rest comes only when he dwells within as the hope of glory. Abiding in his love in this manner gives strength to stand through every test, since his righteousness alone gives power to resist the evil overwhelming the world. Those who abide and let his words abide in them receive what they ask, receive the Father's love, have him manifest himself to them, and have the Father and Son come to make abode with them by the Holy Spirit who teaches and reminds, so that communion with God becomes possible and his presence is brought near.
It is a wonderful promise to commandment keepers, full of possibilities and strength. It is to be believed and held fast when hindrances and difficulties come instead of giving up in despair, as a precious assurance to those living the Christian life by receiving the merits of the crucified and risen Saviour. It is a basic lesson of true godliness that must be learned step by step as believers grow in the Christian life. Because this love and vivifying, sanctifying power are freely given, churches have no excuse for being without faith and without power. Obedience to his word to love one another gives his people supremacy and makes them one as the Father is in him and he is in the Father, perfect in one, so the world may believe the Father sent him and may know the Father has loved them as he has loved him.
Unity and Mutual Love
His love is the pattern and measure for love toward one another, commanded as loving one another as He has loved, even to laying down life for friends, in deed and in truth with practical compassion for a brother in need and not in word only. Remaining in His love is joined to keeping His commandments as He kept His Father's commandments and abides in His love, and His teaching keeps His joy in them and makes their joy complete and full. That abiding love bears fruit that glorifies the Father, brings fruitfulness that marks His disciples, fills with His vivifying, sanctifying power, lets His words abide so they receive what they ask, and leaves churches without excuse for being without faith and power. Those who obey are His friends, and obedience expressed in self-sacrificing love shows lives of love for one another.
Believers are joined to Christ as branches to the true Vine and are brought into unity through that connection. Each keeps individual identity yet remains in fellowship with the others, drawing life from the same source and sharing the same Spirit, so they have love for one another and their unity does not require sameness or uniformity. Though believers have different characters, they can act in unity with Christ the vine, and remaining in Christ enables them to bear fruit that glorifies God, making their discipleship and the genuine work of the Holy Spirit in their hearts evident.
Abiding in the truth and in Christ's love brings the unity He desires among believers, oneness with Him in this life continuing throughout eternity. Living out His instruction in practical life means remaining in His love and leads to unity with Him and with one another, presented as a remedy for dissension and as strength to stand firm against the enemy's attacks and Satan's test. Continuing in His love means oneness with God through the union of humanity with divinity made possible by the Lord sending Jesus so humanity may grasp divinity and divinity may lift humanity to become one with Christ. This oneness is the standard and privilege to be claimed, where the whole being is brought into unity with Christ by laying hold of the divine nature and becoming partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world through lust, while resisting the influence of His Holy Spirit keeps from coming up to this standard. Letting His love abide in the heart shapes spirit and actions and enables unity and love among them.
That mutual love is the testimony to the world that Christ is formed within, the hope of glory, and the test of genuine religious experience and sanctification. It is the sign of discipleship and evidence of belonging to Him and of being branches of the living vine, with unselfish love giving evidence they belong to Him. His love is the basis for love for one another and for the unity and fruitfulness that mark them as His disciples. His coming death on the cross reveals the depth of that love, and knowing it binds His followers together, prepares them for the Spirit, and sends them to witness with power, with Christlike love for one another as a sign of discipleship.
Remaining in His love means loving one another as He loves them, giving up distrust, jealousy, faultfinding, evil-speaking, suspicion, bitterness, strife, pride, pettishness, envy, malice, and hatred. It means laying pride and dignity at His feet and cherishing love for one another as mature soldiers bearing reproach for Him, so that unity and love bear good fruit like a good tree and prove to all men that they are Christians. Suspicion, bitterness, and strife are contrary to His love as the measure for love toward one another, and living in His love belongs with bearing fruit and showing they are His disciples. This love builds up fellow believers and supports their shared work of carrying God's light to the world, and it is self-giving as shown by willingness to lay down life for friends.
In the home this love would end unkind words, jealousy, envy, scolding, and fretting, allowing peace to rule. Husbands and wives are not to scold or fret before children, because this sets a terrible example. Fathers and mothers continue in His love through obedience in the home by never getting into a scolding line because scolding gains nothing, but by bringing children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord through teaching them the love and nurture and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Its full measure was seen in betrayal, trial, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, and knowing this love was to unite them and prepare them to witness powerfully, joined to keeping His commandments with His words bringing full joy.
Daily Christian Living
Remaining in this love is the divine foundation for ministry laid before separation from the disciples, for work cannot succeed if the divine agency is left out, and those who believe are to stay with Christ as doers of the word in the obedient class rather than becoming one with the world in spirit, aims, and principles. That love rests on them with special support when they work as Christ did to save perishing souls for the advancement of His kingdom. Abiding means bearing fruit by keeping His commandments and loving others as He loved, so that conduct becomes a wholesome, saving influence in the world. Words that abide do not use gifts for selfish gain or judge by wealth, but follow His self-giving example, bring good news and comfort to the needy, and value every soul.
Christ's experience teaches how to live in harmony with Him and how to act when tried, tempted, or afflicted. He laid aside royal robe and kingly crown to come as divine-human, wrestling under the enemy's temptations like every human, tempted in all points yet without sin, and through faith in His Father's power He conquered the foe to the close of His earthly ministry though pitilessly assailed by the prince of darkness who since the fall has sought to thwart God's purposes and set up a rebellious kingdom. By taking human nature and meeting all human temptation He both proved His love for the race and gave an example of what humans may do through grace ever ready to impart, so when trials come believers know One has passed through like trials to complete victory and through power He grants they also may be victorious. Contemplating the terrible severity of the temptations brought upon the Son of God helps comprehend that love and continuing in it, which keeps His joy in them and makes their joy full. That continuing brings encouragement to take every trial and perplexity directly to the Lord Jesus in prayer instead of running to neighbors or other human beings, and telling Him all troubles brings relief to the heart and leaves a healthful and saving impression on the mind. It means learning the lessons He desires to teach, knowing what bearing fruit to His glory means, looking for someone to help and bless, having something to say to those not abiding in Him, and drawing with Christ in constant work to His name's glory.
Meditating on Jesus' love and mercy strengthens the soul and gives vigor to faith. Beholding Jesus, His love, and His perfect character changes people into His image, brings peace and rest, makes life a light to others, and allows trust and rest in that love. A vital connection with God is revealed in a life reflecting God's works and ways, whose absorbing interest is keeping His commandments, receiving light from Christ and sharing it with others. That obedience from the heart, as Christ kept His Father's commandments, joined with bearing much fruit, is evidence of the Spirit's witness and of true discipleship, and brings His joy into life. The world and the heavenly universe witness the enjoyment of His love.
Connection with Christ is the source of strength, and remaining in His love by keeping His commandments brings fullness of joy and grounds thoughtful care for the body and resistance to self-gratification. Remaining is necessary to be kept from the snares of uncontrolled temperament, through humility under God and learning His meekness and lowliness, while the Holy Spirit alone transforms and shapes character. His love must continue to abide in the heart, and persistent criticism can drive away the Spirit and leave no room for it to remain, though even direct correction can be given in the spirit of that love.
Christians are to remain in His love as they carry out work faithfully day by day, and parents have the solemn work of teaching and shaping children's character, bringing them up in nurture and admonition and praying earnestly that they will love Christ and live to please Him. God desires that none be lost and that parents raise children as children of God rather than give them over to the world, which requires submission to God's will and way. Continuing means choosing Christ's side and working with Him with all ability to overcome the enemy, laboring unitedly and heartily with the Holy Spirit for victory at every step toward heaven and eternal life, to enter through the gates into the city where there is no more death and no more sin and no more temptation and no devil, to see the King in His beauty and have right to the tree of life, for earthly history will soon close. Parents are therefore to seek that beauty of character for their children so they may be welcomed through the gates.
This is their privilege even while sent into the world: they can follow Jesus the pattern Man and overcome through His strength. Remaining is joined to keeping His commandments as Jesus kept His Father's, to loving one another as He loved, and to keeping those commandments in dealings with one another, and living rather than merely talking religion shows one is a branch of the living Vine. Following Christ rather than sinful ways brings hatred and persecution, yet Christ is the example of overcoming the world, and only the overcoming Christian will reach the kingdom. Continuing and abiding means walking in the way of God's commandments with a perfect heart just as Christ kept His Father's and abides in His love, and meeting those terms of eternal life keeps God's presence, favor, and love in the soul, which must not be given up to gain peace with neighbors. It means looking to the heavenly Father for approval rather than to men for good opinion, personally lifting Christ's cross with heaven-born independence that does not fear to be alone or stand alone, for in obedience one is never alone but on the side of God and Christ and angels. It stands against the world's influence and pursuit of flattering approval by doing His will rather than being ruled by the world, choosing loyalty to God rather than widespread disobedience, living apart from worldly influence, and testifying that obedience is better than sacrifice, made possible by the love shown in giving His life.
The teaching calls for obedience to His conditions to receive grace, and refusing them leaves one unworthy to belong to His people when He comes in glory. Continuing means living by faith that prays for the baptism and impartation of the Holy Spirit, awakening from heavy slumber, cutting away every hindering needless thing, and seeking the promised Spirit now rather than waiting for a more favorable opportunity, bringing encouragement and all other blessings in its train. That love kept by obedience is the substance of God's covenant, by which Christ's death gives the human family another trial to form characters fit to be called sons and daughters, members of the royal family and children of the heavenly King. Only those meeting the condition have claim on God's promises in prayer, for to claim them while disobeying insults God and shows lack of love, while obedience joined with faith brings eternal life, full joy, friendship with Him, love for one another even to laying down life for friends, keeping His law in perfect obedience, bearing much fruit to the Father's glory, and shaping character and conduct by a practical life of obedience to the Word. That love shown in pity for the fallen race and in giving His life enables overcomers through grace at last to enter the city of God, and should awaken gratitude for God's Son and earnest desire to conform life to God's will.
The chapter is precious to believers and offers comfort to the heart as words of hope and courage spoken near the end of earthly ministry when cruel death was just before Him. Followers face trials and conflict with the world yet need not be discouraged, for the Captain of the Lord's host is with them and fights for them, and angels minister to heirs of salvation, with victory from Christ and not human ability, calling for humbled hearts. Its lessons call for continuing in His love and acting with the welcome and mercy He would show, including receiving a repentant person and offering another chance rather than closing the door of hope.
As the Father has loved Christ, so Christ loves His followers, and He calls them to continue and remain in that love. To continue in His love is to abide in Him as a branch abides in the vine, keeping His commandments from the heart as He kept His Father's commandments and abides in His love. That love is unselfish and self-sacrificing, infinite and unchangeable, fully demonstrated when He laid aside His royal glory to become divine-human and gave His life in suffering and crucifixion. Those who abide bear much fruit to the glory of the Father, keep His joy in them with joy made full, and receive what they ask with the Father and Son making abode with them by the Holy Spirit. His love is the pattern and measure for love toward one another even to laying down life for friends, bringing unity with Him and with one another that testifies to the world of genuine discipleship.
Words and Historical Setting
Christ loves His disciples with the very same love the Father has for Him, and He calls them to continue and remain in that love. Remaining in His love is joined to taking hold firmly of Him and to keeping His commandments from the heart, as He kept His Father's commandments and abides in His love. That abiding puts believers on vantage ground where His strong hand upholds against temptation, giving strength, efficiency, victory and peace, and believing and living His words leads to abundant fruit-bearing. The love revealed is unselfish and self-sacrificing, more than loving a neighbor as oneself, given because people belong to Christ who purchased them and not dependent on human praise, affection or appreciation. Jesus' love for His disciples is like the Father's love for Jesus, and they are to remain in Jesus' love.
These words were spoken as private counsel at the supper in the upper chamber, part of Christ's instruction before His separation from the disciples and shortly before His crucifixion. They were words of comfort, counsel and prayer to sustain them through coming disappointment, trial, and the great tests and trials that would come to His people. They belong to His words of hope and courage near the end of His earthly ministry when cruel death was just before Him, and the chapter is precious to believers as comfort to the heart. This instruction is the divine foundation on which their work must rest, for ministry cannot succeed apart from the divine agency, and it is given as preparation for meeting Him at His coming with joy.
Their full meaning was not understood or appreciated when spoken, but only after His sufferings, condemnation, betrayal, trial, crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, and the falling of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Then the words were repeated to sustain the disciples through disappointment and trial, giving peace, hope, and power to witness. After Jesus demonstrated unselfish love by dying on the cross, the disciples understood its depth more fully, seeing its full measure and what the love of God comprehended. Knowing this love was to unite them and prepare them to witness powerfully.
The verse belongs to the lesson of the true vine and its branches, presenting in simple yet profound form the relation of Christ's followers to Him as branches of the vine. True branches have a vital connection to the vine by which they receive life and strength, unlike spurious branches and unlike merely superficial association. Believers are joined to Christ as branches to the true Vine and brought into unity through that connection, each keeping individual identity yet remaining in fellowship, drawing life from the same source and sharing the same Spirit. This vital connection is the privilege of all, with Christ rather than other people's faults as the focus.
The verse stands among John 13-17 and John 14-17, which plainly outline God's will and what He desires to do for humanity. Those chapters carry deep import and hold the richest promises, to be believed exactly as written, studied with open hearts while looking to Jesus, lived out before fellow ministers, and understood with new enlightenment when the mind is reshaped by the Spirit. It means what every word says and must be read, studied word by word for the meaning of every word, and even committed to memory. Kept in the mind as a storehouse of truth, it forms real, genuine piety and supplies rich consolation to impart to the oppressed, the sorrowful, the afflicted and those ready to perish.
The comparison of the Father's love for Christ with Christ's love for His followers is wonderful and striking, broad and full in measure. That love is as real and sure as the Father's love for Christ, though beyond human understanding. Because Christ speaks truth, His words are to be trusted rather than met with unbelief, and the disciples are to continue in His love.
It was spoken with full knowledge of every trial the church would face through unconverted believers and how severely faith and courage would be tried, and with knowledge of every phase of experience, conflict, manifold afflictions from the world, and great temptation to lose faith. Though betrayal, scourging and death awaited Him, His thoughts were for the disciples and not for Himself, giving encouragement, hope, comfort and consolation to strengthen them to endure without failing. He mingled bright hopeful lines with the dark, and with John 14, 16 and 17 these words are of highest value for every soul consecrating life to God's service. His call to abide is a comforting assurance that He loves His followers, knows the trials ahead, and will guide, uphold and care for them so they are not alone. It is simple enough for all, even children, to understand, yet it imparts courage to stand fast in the most trying hour, bringing strength and assurance to the true believer as long as time shall last.
Nature of Christ's Love
Christ's love for His disciples is the same love with which the Father loves Him, and they are called to remain in it. That love is unselfish and self-sacrificing, going beyond loving a neighbor as oneself to giving His own life. It does not depend on human praise, affection, or appreciation, but is given because those He loves belong to Him as those He has purchased. It is not self-love nor desire for the highest place, but is joined to meekness and lowliness of heart. Understood fully only after He demonstrated it by dying on the cross, it is to be expressed in loving one another as He loved, and as an active principle guided by the will it shows itself in loyal obedience and firm resolve to serve God even unto death rather than as mere impulse or emotion.
That love is infinite and measureless, broad and full in measure, unchangeable and unparalleled. Its full meaning was not grasped when spoken, but only after His sufferings, crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, and the falling of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost revealed what the love of God comprehended. Its depth was demonstrated when He laid aside His royal robe and kingly crown to come as divine-human and wrestle under the temptations of the enemy like every human being, tempted in all points yet without sin. Through faith in His Father's power He conquered the foe men must face, overcoming every trial victorious to the close of His earthly ministry though pitilessly assailed by the prince of darkness who since the fall has sought to thwart God's purposes and set up a rebellious kingdom. It was fully displayed and revealed in His condemnation, suffering, crucifixion, and giving of His life to redeem man, culminating in the words It is finished.
His coming to seek and save the lost reveals that love, shown in pity for the fallen race and in giving His life so that through His grace they can be overcomers and at last enter the city of God. His whole sacrifice as sin-bearer to bring sinners to God cleansed from iniquity is to be claimed by faith with the whole burden laid on Jesus, answering the darkness that says they cannot be saved with the fact that Jesus died for them. By taking human nature and subjecting Himself to all human temptation He both proved His love for the human race and gave an example of what humans may do through grace ever ready to impart. That love should awaken gratitude for the gift of God's Son and an earnest desire to bring life into conformity to the will of God. Jesus places Himself directly in the link between the Father and His followers, bringing to them the same love the Father has for Him.
Continuing in that love is loving union between Christ and the believing soul, in which He takes the believer into partnership with Himself and keeps believers in connection with Himself as He is in connection with the Father. It is oneness with God through the union of humanity with divinity, made possible because the Lord sent Jesus so humanity could grasp divinity and divinity could lift up humanity to become one with Jesus Christ. This oneness is the standard and privilege to be claimed, where the whole being is brought into unity with Jesus Christ by laying hold of the divine nature and becoming partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world through lust. Staying in that love is reason for thankfulness and gratitude, to be expressed by telling children that Christ died for them and seeing them decide to be Christians, and by loving one another with the same love Christ gives, which cannot remain silent but must warn neighbors, friends, and unbelievers around.
Continuing in His Love
To continue and abide in his love is to keep his commandments from the heart, as he kept his Father's commandments and abides in his love, following his example of obedience. Keeping his commandments is how disciples remain in that love, and those who keep them abide in Christ; believing and living his words leads to abundant fruit-bearing. The following verse explains this abiding, joining it to bearing fruit and to loving one another as he has loved, with his teaching meant to keep his joy in them and make their joy complete.
Remaining in his love is conditional on obedience, and only those who meet the condition have a claim on God's promises in prayer. To claim the promises while disobeying insults God and shows lack of love. This love kept by obedience is the substance of God's covenant, by which his death gives another trial to form characters fit to be called sons and daughters, members of the royal family and children of the heavenly King. Continuing in his love in this way brings full joy, requires loving one another even to laying down life for friends, and makes obedient believers his friends.
This love kept by obedience is an active principle guided by the will, not mere impulse or emotion. It is expressed in loyal obedience and firm resolve to serve God even unto death, in abiding faith and constant obedience that makes the truth manifest in character, words, and conduct. It means forsaking sins and obeying God's commandments, doing his will rather than being ruled by the world and its pursuit of flattering approval. Allegiance to Christ in this obedience stands against the world's influence.
The commandments to be kept include honoring the seventh-day Sabbath, and accepting a man-made sabbath teaches others error. Obedience means obedience to all the commandments of God, both the first four and the last six. While living in transgression of them, God can do very little for them. The believer's life is thus joined to Christ's, as Christ's life is joined to the Father's, in sacrifice and obedience to God's Word.
Obedience is his yoke, not an oppressive burden or bondage to the law, but rest, peace, grace, and assurance. It brings full joy rather than mourning, doubt, or uncertainty, and belongs to a joyful life in Christ. Keeping his commandments is the evidence that a person loves God, evidence of friendship with God, and those who keep them abide in Christ and are elected in him. His love for those who thus obey is unchangeable and unparalleled.
Continuing in his love means abiding in him as a branch in the vine, remaining in him by faith so as to receive his life and strength, with desires brought into harmony with God's will. It means taking hold firmly of him, laying the whole burden on Jesus, and claiming by faith the whole salvation secured by his whole sacrifice as sin-bearer to bring sinners to God cleansed from iniquity. It means claiming the promises and blessing left on record through the Son, answering the darkness that says they cannot be saved with the fact that he died for them, and taking him at his word as spirit and life. It means living in close fellowship with him through faithful obedience and constant prayer, doing one's best in faithful discharge of duty, becoming one with him, consulting his will in every action and perplexity, and bearing much fruit as his disciples so the Father is glorified.
It means taking his yoke and learning his meekness and lowliness, which requires human effort joined with God's work in the believer. It requires daily emptying the heart of self and of hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong, depending wholly on Christ, putting away supposed wisdom, wearing his yoke, and receiving his Spirit. In this are learned meekness and lowliness, patience and forbearance, control of thoughts and words, and Christlike love for one another, finding rest and peace more precious than gold. Humility under God and learning his meekness and lowliness keep a person from the snares of an uncontrolled temperament, while the Holy Spirit alone transforms and shapes the character.
It requires daily carrying out the conditions on which salvation depends, and continuing in this way brings peace. It means following in his footsteps in obedience to his Word, showing faith by obedient action, glorifying him, and letting the world and the heavenly universe witness enjoyment of his love. It means walking humbly with God, not exalting self or relying on merits, but hiding the life in Christ and learning from the way he walked in the world.
Fruit Joy and Blessing
Remaining in his love enables believers to bear much fruit as trees of righteousness, and that fruit glorifies the Father. Bearing fruit in this way makes discipleship evident and shows the genuine work of the Holy Spirit in the heart, proving true conversion and true repentance rather than mere words or profession. Those who abide have his mind and show true discipleship by bearing good fruit, and though they have different characters they can act in unity with him as the vine. Believing and living his words leads to abundant fruit-bearing, for the love revealed is unselfish and self-sacrificing, and continuing in that love means keeping his commandments as he kept his Father's commandments.
His teaching is given so that his joy remains in believers and their joy is made full and overflowing. That fullness fills the heart with his joy and happiness in God's love, received by those who abide in his love through keeping his commandments as he kept his Father's commandments and abides in his love. It is expressed also in loving one another with self-sacrificing love, and those who obey in this way are his friends. The joy is experienced anew when souls turn from darkness to light and confess him, while separation from him does not bring joy.
Continuing in his love puts believers on vantage ground where his strong hand upholds them against the temptations of the enemy. Taking hold firmly of him in this way gives his strength and efficiency for victory and peace with him, with hope, courage, sympathy, and power to work with him in helping others understand faith and carry out his plan. It brings peace and rest of soul to all who believe, ending doubt and uncertainty, for rest comes only when he dwells within as the hope of glory. Abiding in his love in this manner gives strength to stand through every test, since his righteousness alone gives power to resist the evil overwhelming the world. Those who abide and let his words abide in them receive what they ask, receive the Father's love, have him manifest himself to them, and have the Father and Son come to make abode with them by the Holy Spirit who teaches and reminds, so that communion with God becomes possible and his presence is brought near.
It is a wonderful promise to commandment keepers, full of possibilities and strength. It is to be believed and held fast when hindrances and difficulties come instead of giving up in despair, as a precious assurance to those living the Christian life by receiving the merits of the crucified and risen Saviour. It is a basic lesson of true godliness that must be learned step by step as believers grow in the Christian life. Because this love and vivifying, sanctifying power are freely given, churches have no excuse for being without faith and without power. Obedience to his word to love one another gives his people supremacy and makes them one as the Father is in him and he is in the Father, perfect in one, so the world may believe the Father sent him and may know the Father has loved them as he has loved him.
Unity and Mutual Love
His love is the pattern and measure for love toward one another, commanded as loving one another as He has loved, even to laying down life for friends, in deed and in truth with practical compassion for a brother in need and not in word only. Remaining in His love is joined to keeping His commandments as He kept His Father's commandments and abides in His love, and His teaching keeps His joy in them and makes their joy complete and full. That abiding love bears fruit that glorifies the Father, brings fruitfulness that marks His disciples, fills with His vivifying, sanctifying power, lets His words abide so they receive what they ask, and leaves churches without excuse for being without faith and power. Those who obey are His friends, and obedience expressed in self-sacrificing love shows lives of love for one another.
Believers are joined to Christ as branches to the true Vine and are brought into unity through that connection. Each keeps individual identity yet remains in fellowship with the others, drawing life from the same source and sharing the same Spirit, so they have love for one another and their unity does not require sameness or uniformity. Though believers have different characters, they can act in unity with Christ the vine, and remaining in Christ enables them to bear fruit that glorifies God, making their discipleship and the genuine work of the Holy Spirit in their hearts evident.
Abiding in the truth and in Christ's love brings the unity He desires among believers, oneness with Him in this life continuing throughout eternity. Living out His instruction in practical life means remaining in His love and leads to unity with Him and with one another, presented as a remedy for dissension and as strength to stand firm against the enemy's attacks and Satan's test. Continuing in His love means oneness with God through the union of humanity with divinity made possible by the Lord sending Jesus so humanity may grasp divinity and divinity may lift humanity to become one with Christ. This oneness is the standard and privilege to be claimed, where the whole being is brought into unity with Christ by laying hold of the divine nature and becoming partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world through lust, while resisting the influence of His Holy Spirit keeps from coming up to this standard. Letting His love abide in the heart shapes spirit and actions and enables unity and love among them.
That mutual love is the testimony to the world that Christ is formed within, the hope of glory, and the test of genuine religious experience and sanctification. It is the sign of discipleship and evidence of belonging to Him and of being branches of the living vine, with unselfish love giving evidence they belong to Him. His love is the basis for love for one another and for the unity and fruitfulness that mark them as His disciples. His coming death on the cross reveals the depth of that love, and knowing it binds His followers together, prepares them for the Spirit, and sends them to witness with power, with Christlike love for one another as a sign of discipleship.
Remaining in His love means loving one another as He loves them, giving up distrust, jealousy, faultfinding, evil-speaking, suspicion, bitterness, strife, pride, pettishness, envy, malice, and hatred. It means laying pride and dignity at His feet and cherishing love for one another as mature soldiers bearing reproach for Him, so that unity and love bear good fruit like a good tree and prove to all men that they are Christians. Suspicion, bitterness, and strife are contrary to His love as the measure for love toward one another, and living in His love belongs with bearing fruit and showing they are His disciples. This love builds up fellow believers and supports their shared work of carrying God's light to the world, and it is self-giving as shown by willingness to lay down life for friends.
In the home this love would end unkind words, jealousy, envy, scolding, and fretting, allowing peace to rule. Husbands and wives are not to scold or fret before children, because this sets a terrible example. Fathers and mothers continue in His love through obedience in the home by never getting into a scolding line because scolding gains nothing, but by bringing children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord through teaching them the love and nurture and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Its full measure was seen in betrayal, trial, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, and knowing this love was to unite them and prepare them to witness powerfully, joined to keeping His commandments with His words bringing full joy.
Daily Christian Living
Remaining in this love is the divine foundation for ministry laid before separation from the disciples, for work cannot succeed if the divine agency is left out, and those who believe are to stay with Christ as doers of the word in the obedient class rather than becoming one with the world in spirit, aims, and principles.
That love rests on them with special support when they work as Christ did to save perishing souls for the advancement of His kingdom.
Abiding means bearing fruit by keeping His commandments and loving others as He loved, so that conduct becomes a wholesome, saving influence in the world.
Words that abide do not use gifts for selfish gain or judge by wealth, but follow His self-giving example, bring good news and comfort to the needy, and value every soul.
Christ's experience teaches how to live in harmony with Him and how to act when tried, tempted, or afflicted.
He laid aside royal robe and kingly crown to come as divine-human, wrestling under the enemy's temptations like every human, tempted in all points yet without sin, and through faith in His Father's power He conquered the foe to the close of His earthly ministry though pitilessly assailed by the prince of darkness who since the fall has sought to thwart God's purposes and set up a rebellious kingdom.
By taking human nature and meeting all human temptation He both proved His love for the race and gave an example of what humans may do through grace ever ready to impart, so when trials come believers know One has passed through like trials to complete victory and through power He grants they also may be victorious.
Contemplating the terrible severity of the temptations brought upon the Son of God helps comprehend that love and continuing in it, which keeps His joy in them and makes their joy full.
That continuing brings encouragement to take every trial and perplexity directly to the Lord Jesus in prayer instead of running to neighbors or other human beings, and telling Him all troubles brings relief to the heart and leaves a healthful and saving impression on the mind.
It means learning the lessons He desires to teach, knowing what bearing fruit to His glory means, looking for someone to help and bless, having something to say to those not abiding in Him, and drawing with Christ in constant work to His name's glory.
Meditating on Jesus' love and mercy strengthens the soul and gives vigor to faith.
Beholding Jesus, His love, and His perfect character changes people into His image, brings peace and rest, makes life a light to others, and allows trust and rest in that love.
A vital connection with God is revealed in a life reflecting God's works and ways, whose absorbing interest is keeping His commandments, receiving light from Christ and sharing it with others.
That obedience from the heart, as Christ kept His Father's commandments, joined with bearing much fruit, is evidence of the Spirit's witness and of true discipleship, and brings His joy into life.
The world and the heavenly universe witness the enjoyment of His love.
Connection with Christ is the source of strength, and remaining in His love by keeping His commandments brings fullness of joy and grounds thoughtful care for the body and resistance to self-gratification.
Remaining is necessary to be kept from the snares of uncontrolled temperament, through humility under God and learning His meekness and lowliness, while the Holy Spirit alone transforms and shapes character.
His love must continue to abide in the heart, and persistent criticism can drive away the Spirit and leave no room for it to remain, though even direct correction can be given in the spirit of that love.
Christians are to remain in His love as they carry out work faithfully day by day, and parents have the solemn work of teaching and shaping children's character, bringing them up in nurture and admonition and praying earnestly that they will love Christ and live to please Him.
God desires that none be lost and that parents raise children as children of God rather than give them over to the world, which requires submission to God's will and way.
Continuing means choosing Christ's side and working with Him with all ability to overcome the enemy, laboring unitedly and heartily with the Holy Spirit for victory at every step toward heaven and eternal life, to enter through the gates into the city where there is no more death and no more sin and no more temptation and no devil, to see the King in His beauty and have right to the tree of life, for earthly history will soon close.
Parents are therefore to seek that beauty of character for their children so they may be welcomed through the gates.
This is their privilege even while sent into the world: they can follow Jesus the pattern Man and overcome through His strength.
Remaining is joined to keeping His commandments as Jesus kept His Father's, to loving one another as He loved, and to keeping those commandments in dealings with one another, and living rather than merely talking religion shows one is a branch of the living Vine.
Following Christ rather than sinful ways brings hatred and persecution, yet Christ is the example of overcoming the world, and only the overcoming Christian will reach the kingdom.
Continuing and abiding means walking in the way of God's commandments with a perfect heart just as Christ kept His Father's and abides in His love, and meeting those terms of eternal life keeps God's presence, favor, and love in the soul, which must not be given up to gain peace with neighbors.
It means looking to the heavenly Father for approval rather than to men for good opinion, personally lifting Christ's cross with heaven-born independence that does not fear to be alone or stand alone, for in obedience one is never alone but on the side of God and Christ and angels.
It stands against the world's influence and pursuit of flattering approval by doing His will rather than being ruled by the world, choosing loyalty to God rather than widespread disobedience, living apart from worldly influence, and testifying that obedience is better than sacrifice, made possible by the love shown in giving His life.
The teaching calls for obedience to His conditions to receive grace, and refusing them leaves one unworthy to belong to His people when He comes in glory.
Continuing means living by faith that prays for the baptism and impartation of the Holy Spirit, awakening from heavy slumber, cutting away every hindering needless thing, and seeking the promised Spirit now rather than waiting for a more favorable opportunity, bringing encouragement and all other blessings in its train.
That love kept by obedience is the substance of God's covenant, by which Christ's death gives the human family another trial to form characters fit to be called sons and daughters, members of the royal family and children of the heavenly King.
Only those meeting the condition have claim on God's promises in prayer, for to claim them while disobeying insults God and shows lack of love, while obedience joined with faith brings eternal life, full joy, friendship with Him, love for one another even to laying down life for friends, keeping His law in perfect obedience, bearing much fruit to the Father's glory, and shaping character and conduct by a practical life of obedience to the Word.
That love shown in pity for the fallen race and in giving His life enables overcomers through grace at last to enter the city of God, and should awaken gratitude for God's Son and earnest desire to conform life to God's will.
The chapter is precious to believers and offers comfort to the heart as words of hope and courage spoken near the end of earthly ministry when cruel death was just before Him.
Followers face trials and conflict with the world yet need not be discouraged, for the Captain of the Lord's host is with them and fights for them, and angels minister to heirs of salvation, with victory from Christ and not human ability, calling for humbled hearts.
Its lessons call for continuing in His love and acting with the welcome and mercy He would show, including receiving a repentant person and offering another chance rather than closing the door of hope.