John 15:1-17

 “If you obey my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.”

— ‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭10‬‬

Abide in me and bear love. Similar to abide in me and bear fruit. Fruit is love in this passage, not all sorts of good works.

Abide is not only found in John 15. I think first mention is John 6, where four or five phrases relate activities to various rewards: looking upon seeing, believing, following, eating Jesus’ flesh —- eternal life, food that never perishes, raised at last day, etc. Therefore, abiding is not something that only happens in succession but for John is a package deal. Abiding/remaining = believing in our terms = following. 

Fruit = obey commandments, but in John 15 Jesus gives the command. “New command” is to love.

1 John 4:16-18

“And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has in us. God is love, and the one who resides in love resides in God, and God resides in him. By this love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, because just as Jesus is, so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears punishment has not been perfected in love.”

— ‭‭1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭16‬-‭18‬‬

By this: Goes back to v. 16 (Mutually residing in God)

So that: result of love being perfected—we have confidence on day of judgment. Day of judgment is key concept when understanding “punishment and fear” later on.

Perfect love drives out fear. Not really talking about all relationships/friendships, those with harsh pasts or reasons to have trust issues. John in both gospel and letters has grand dichotomy between his opponents/false teachers and the true believer. Number one way to demonstrate abiding in Christ or knowing God’s love: loving others. If someone did not share God’s love, in this 1st cent church, his/her doctrine would line up with heresy. John says they should fear judgment. But those who love display evidence of having received God’s love. No need to fear. 

Per NET notes: For John, opposite of perfect love isn’t imperfect love. Opposite of perfect love is hate. He deals in absolutes. 

This is serious business and the modern church would do well to take note.