Remaining in Him! Series: Maintaining this Hope As we have been examining John 15 for the past few weeks we have centered in on a few important points. 1st - this was IMMEDIATELY AFTER the communion in the upper room where the disciple Judas Iscariot forsook Jesus as His Vine to betray Him. 2nd - The words 'IN HIM' mean literally IN HIM. One cannot be said to be 'IN HIM' while at the same time NOT being PART OF the Vine. 4th - The words "remove" or "taketh away" in verse 2 literally mean, "to lift up". 5th - The person in verse 2 and the one in verse 6 ARE NOT THE SAME PERSON. The one in Verse 2 is said to still be 'IN HIM'. The one in verse 6 is said to have forsaken Him. Chapter 15-16 is encouraging instructions and teaching Jesus gave His disciples on the way to the Garden of Gethsemane where both He and His disciples would be sorely tempted. Jesus was encouraging them to remain 'IN HIM', produces fruit born out of their union with Him and thereby glorify the Father 'in Him'! This is a very important teaching becuase it is through a misunderstanding of passages like this that many Christians backslide into worldliness again and feel safe in their lukewarm condition when scripture offers very sobering warnings to such. Please read and listen to this teaching with an open heart which is not seeking to protect itself. If you approach scripture with a preconcieved idea, you shield your heart from the voice of the Holy Spirit Who IS out only true teacher.