Remain (Greek Word - Meno) in Christ

John 15:4 - Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch can't bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me.

Meno is related to Latin “Maneo”. It means to remain in one place, at a given time, with someone. Metaphorically it can mean to keep an agreement, to remain in a particular sphere of life, to make a stand against difficult circumstances. Hence meno can be used of that which remains valid in law.

These two things are absolutely necessary to our salvation:

1. That we continue closely united to Christ by faith and love, and live in and to him.

2. That we continually receive from him the power to do good; for as the branch, however good in itself, cannot bear fruit from itself, through its own juice, which it has already derived from the tree, and can be no longer supported than it continues in union with the parent stock, neither can we, unless we remain in Him. As the branch partakes of the nature of the tree, is nourished by its juice, and lives by its life, so we must be made partakers of His Divine nature, be wise in His wisdom, powerful in His might, and pure through His holiness.

Of the 118 instances of meno, 40 are found in John and 24 in Johannine Epistles. Here it is used with a special Christological force. The normal Greek uses of the word are also found in NT. Intrans, “meno” means to remain (“in fellowship with,” Jn 14:10)

On one hand, meno expresses the closest possible relationship between father and son: “The father who dwells in me (en emoi menon) does his work” (Jn 14:10). The unbroken fellowship of Jesus with the father causes the word of Jesus to be the word of God and his work to be the work of God (Jn 1:32, 8:35). On the other hand it depicted the closest possible relationship between Christ and the believer, Jesus calls men in this fellowship and guarantees to the believer that he also will remain in them (Jn 15:14).

In Jn.15: 4. “Abide in me and I in you”. Jesus is showing his disciples that he is the source of spiritual life. Jesus is the source of life. Jesus said, “I have came to give you life and life abundantly” (Jn 10:10). The question we need to ask, “Are we connected to the vine?” If we want to live a meaningful life than we need to be connected to the source of life (Jesus).