1. Abiding Hope Cornerstone Adult Learning Communities Spring 2010 / Teacher: David Opderbeck © 2010 David W. Opderbeck Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution / Share-Alike

2. “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.” -- Jesus

3. Pruning Photosynthesis and Veraison Thinning the Fruit Harvest Day What does viniculture teach us about the parable of the vineyard?

4.  This book is very sweet to every healthy Christian heart that savors the bread of God, and it should constantly be in the mind of God’s holy church. But I chose it more particularly because what it specially commends to us is love. The person who possesses the thing which he hears about in this epistle must rejoice when he hears it. His reading will be like oil to a flame.... For others, the epistle should be like flame set to firewood; if it was not already burning, the touch of the word may kindle it.  -- St. Augustine

5.  The problem of Gnostic teachers

6.  2:6: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.  2:10: The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him.  2:14: I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.  2:24: As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.  2:27: As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.  2:28: Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.  3:6: No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him.  3:9: No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.  3:14: We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death.  3:17: But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?  3:24: The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.  4:12: No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.  4:13: By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.  4:15: Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.  4:16: We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

7.  What abides in us as children of God?  (1) God’s word and testimony ▪ 2:14: I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. ▪ 2:24: As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.  (2) God’s anointing and Spirit ▪ 2:27: As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him. ▪ 3:24: The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. ▪ 4:13: By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.  (3) God’s “seed” ▪ 3:9: No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God  (4) God Himself ▪ 4:12: No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. ▪ 4:15: Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. ▪ 4:16: We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

8.  Where do we abide as children of God?  (1) in “light” ▪ 2:10: The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him.  (2) in Christ ▪ 2:27: As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him. ▪ 2:28: Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming. ▪ 3:6: No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him. ▪ 3:24: The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. ▪ 4:13: By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.  (3) in God ▪ 4:15: Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. ▪ 4:16: We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

9.  What lifestyle do we embody if we abide in Christ?  (1) Characterized by walking away from the direction of sin ▪ 2:6: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. ▪ 2:10: The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. ▪ 3:6: No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him. ▪ 3:9: No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.  (2) Characterized by love ▪ 3:14: We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. ▪ 3:17: But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? ▪ 4:12: No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. ▪ 4:16: We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.  (3) Filled with the Holy Spirit ▪ 4:13: By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.  (4) Confessing Jesus as Lord ▪ 4:15: Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

10.  The Trinitarian character of abiding: God the Father sends the Spirit through the Son so that we can participate in the divine life of the Triune God, characterized by freedom from sin and the fellowship of light and love