Jesus’ promise is clear and perfect: if we do not abide in him we can do nothing and are cast off, but if we abide in him and his words abide in us we will bear much fruit; and our fruit will remain. Abiding in the vine becomes paramount to us. And nothing could be clearer than the provision Christ has given that we abide in him: the Spirit of truth. How do we know that we are in him? By the Spirit that he’s given us. God has poured and will pour his love into our hearts by the Holy Ghost who is given to us.

This is the knowing and believing the love God has to us: this abiding love, this everlasting love, this love of the Father manifested in sending his Only Begotten and delivering him up for us all, this love of the Son in humbling himself as the servant of all and pouring his soul out to death, this unconquerable love that declared him to be the Son of God with power by the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead, this love that set him at the right hand of the Majesty in power, this love that sends the Spirit of the son into our hearts by which we cry Abba, Father.

There is no condemnation that stands in the face of this love. There is no separation that can impose itself between God and us. God justifies his own, and he challenges anyone to rise and condemn them. The resurrected and glorified Christ personally intercedes for us. Condemnation itself has been nailed to his cross!

The love and communion of the Father and the Son to which we are called and drawn is out of reach of any interference. Principalities that would interfere have been spoiled and humiliated. Angels that would preach any other gospel are eternally condemned. Heights and depths are no issue, they’ve been subsumed in the Word which near us; on our lips and in our hearts.