John 15:4, 8, 16
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

…

8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

…

16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

Central to the Christian faith is the idea of our spiritual habitation – that place where our spirit dwells.

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. (Psalm 91:1)

Colossians 1:12 & 13
12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

For those of us who have found salvation in Christ, it is not about our outward works (as so many point out); it is not about our acceptance in this world, neither is it about where we are physically. Our faith, and our salvation is centrally about being in communion and fellowship with Christ in our inward man. In the secret place of our own hearts we have a connection with Jesus Christ.

Not only do we have this connection with Christ, but it is the command of Christ that we learn to live perpetually in this place of fellowship with Him: ‘Abide in me, and I in you…’ (command).

With this command comes a promise: (v. 5) ‘He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.’

If we learn to abide in this place of fellowship with Christ, we will become fruitful; we will be effective for the Kingdom of God in this world.

This very simply is the very basis of personal spirituality. The foundation for that basis is cutting covenant with God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. That is, everyone ought to be in covenant with God by accepting the sacrifice that He made of His own beloved Son (John 3:16).

Those who are not in covenant with God through Jesus Christ cannot abide in fellowship with God. They can pray, certainly; they can enter into the presence of God by entering the congregation of the saints, but they are outside of fellowship with God, and cannot see or dwell in spiritual community with God.

John 3:3
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, [that is: ‘Truly, Truly] I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

By ‘born again’ Jesus is referring to entering covenant with God. When we enter this covenant we are given new life, we are (as stated in a verse above) translated from the power of darkness into the kingdom of God’s beloved Son.

The foundation of eternal life is believing in Christ and accepting this covenant (agreement) that God has extended to us. The basis of our spirituality is to remain perpetually in communion with God, to abide in Christ. From this place, and only from this place can we be effective in the world.

John 15:18
18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

If we learn to abide in Christ’s presence, we will naturally begin to change, to become like Him. This is what it means to be fruitful. If we are changed, and become like Christ, then not only will we begin to act like Christ, but we also will begin to be treated the way that world treats Christ (…because we act like Him).

Ideally, this means that those who love and seek the Truth should be drawn to you; but those who despise the Truth will be repelled. This then becomes the basis for the Church: all those who abide in Christ though they may disagree about many things have an abiding fellowship with Christ in common. As they are transformed into the likeness of Christ, they should have more and more in common. What’s more, they should come together to encourage each other, to lift one another up because… according to Christ, the world will hate us.

v. 19
19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

That the world will hate us is a promise; which is why we are commanded to love one another:

John 15:12
12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

Do not be deceived, those who despise the Truth are not in the Truth. There be many in our days who profess to be in Christ, but who despise the Truth.

John 15:35
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

If one claims to love you, and despises the Truth, they do not love you. How can I say this?

Jesus Christ embodies the Truth, as we abide in Him and become like Him, we begin to embody the Truth; Truth begins to become part of our identity.

Our culture – this world is actively rejecting the Truth, and requiring YOU and I do so as well. If we do not, they attack us.

19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

Do not comply with this world, which rejects the Truth, despising Christ:

Romans 12:2
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Be not conformed to the world, but be TRANSFORMED by the renewing of your mind. What does that mean? It means: Abide in Christ, and let fellowship with Him change the way you think.

There have been heretics in the world, but as we grow increasingly woke, we hear of ministers supporting the gay and ‘trans’ agenda; Christians accepting this rejection of Truth, this gross perversion ‘love.’

This is not the only issue we comply with to our detriment, but it is currently the most prevalent in our culture. Be not conformed to the pattern of this world. But what if they despise and reject us for it?

Then you’re following Christ, who promised they would.

This is also a sign of the times that Christ predicted. Speaking of the last days, Jesus said:

Matthew 23:11-13
11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Because iniquity shall abound (does iniquity abound? Is Truth itself the target of the world’s ire? Have we seen false prophets deceiving many? Yes, yes, and yes) the love of many shall wax cold.

Love of what? The love of God; the love of Truth, and by extension: the love of other believers.

In this time, our abiding in Christ, and our love of the Truth of God’s word, and the Truth of reality (which this perverse world would flip on its head) is vital.

Don’t let your love grow cold. Abide in Christ.

Psalm 8
1 God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods. [the ‘gods’ are God’s Children: mankind – see verse 6 & John 10:34]

2 How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.

3 Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.

4 Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.

5 They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.

6 I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.

7 But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.

8 Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.