John 15:9-10

As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you; continue ye in My love. V. 10. If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love.

The result of living in Christ as branches in a vine is

• • a strengthening of the bonds of love,

  • an increase in the amount and in the quality of the good works, and

  • a confirming of discipleship.

The obedience of Christians is not a galling servitude, but a cheerful, joyful expression of their love. The same measure of love that the Father has toward the Son the latter has toward His own, and so the union and intimacy is a most perfect one, and should be kept by all means. Every person that abides in the love which Christ has for him and for the whole world is safe by reason of that love.

But this abiding is done and accomplished by keeping and observing the commandments of Jesus; this brings the full possession and enjoyment of Christ's love. Just as Christ kept the will of His Father and carried it into execution, so the Christians will naturally find their delight in observing all the commandments, all the sayings of their Master, above all that one concerning the clinging to the Word of the Gospel as the one Word of salvation.

This abiding in Christ, in the Word of the Gospel, faithfulness in confessing: it is the result and working of God's grace. He that began the good work in us by planting us into the true Vine, Jesus Christ, will also perform it until the great day of glory.