How to remain in his love
Jesus has made clear that the key to fruitfulness is to remain in him (4). It’s only through his life in us that we can bear fruit – apart from him we can do nothing (5). But the wonderful converse is that if we do remain in him then it is certain that we will bear much fruit. How, then, can we do that?
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In these next few verses, Jesus answers that question. He says clearly that the basis of this relationship is love, just as his own relationship with the Father is one of love. So to remain in him is to remain in that love (9). Once again, remain is the Greek word meno as in v.4-5, with the sense of to dwell or to abide. This is achieved not by an intense spiritual focus or mystical experience but by something much more practical – “if you obey my commands,” Jesus says, “you will remain in my love” (10a).
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This shouldn’t surprise us. He has already emphasised love and obedience to them (14:15; 14:21-24), and it’s on the same basis that Jesus’s own relationship within the Father’s love has been maintained (10b). Obedience to God’s commands, both for him and for us, is not a legalistic attention to rule-keeping, but rather constantly doing the Father’s will, whatever the cost (6:38; 8:29; 14:31).