LYRICS & COMMENTARY
LYRICS
Abide in Me, and I will abide in You (2x)
A branch cannot bear any fruit of itself.
It must remain in the tree. John 15:4-5
Neither can You bear any fruit of Yourself.
You must remain in Me.
Abide in Me, and I will abide in You (2x)
A branch cannot bear any fruit of itself.
It must remain in the tree.
Neither can You bear any fruit of Yourself.
You must remain in Me.
So Abide in Me, and I will abide in You (2x)
Abide in Me, My people.
Know My Word is true to you.
Know My love for you, abide and live in Me.
Abide in Me.
© 2020 by Leonard J. Ransil CCLI # 7089371
COMMENTARY
“And He called a child to Himself and set him among them, and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you change (turn, convert) and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:2-3
“Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself but must remain in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:4-5
Jesus often astonished His mostly Jewish audience with statements like the one above – that we must “become like children” to enter heaven. Even more startling was His word to Nicodemus that he “must be born again” to see and enter heaven. But if you put these two puzzle pieces together, it describes part of the process of being “saved” by grace though faith.
Being dead to God in Adam, all of us need a “conversion” from who we are by nature when born of earthly parents to becoming alive to God through a second birth spiritually. Being born of God qualifies anyone for heaven’s one requirement – perfection! That is God’s gift of permanent right-standing (justification, righteousness) with God as His dearly loved child. God wants everyone to be a part of His everlasting family. But you must choose to believe and receive His invitation. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 gives a great overview of this Good News and Romans 10:9-13 gives the process of how – and Who – to “turn to” to be “converted” – born of God – to be saved into Father-God’s family. Any questions or doubts or fears? Please contact me for support.
We know from scripture that Jesus was crucified, died and was buried, then He arose from the grave and later, ascended to heaven to sit at the right hand of Father-God.
We now also know, through the Fifth Gospel that Jesus revealed directly to Paul, that the same process happens spiritually, by grace through faith, to every in Adam person who becomes ”saved” by being reborn of God through agreeing with Romans 10:9-13.
By doing so, one’s core being – the spirit-self that is dead to God in Adam – is made alive as a New creation, who never existed before, and is now spiritually compatible –“one spirit” with God in Christ. Paul referred to this transformation happening in one’s “inner man.”