The Two Parts of Abiding in God

Ever had a Bible verse that you have read multiple times suddenly grab a hold of your attention? You know days even weeks later you can’t get those verses out of your head? Recently while working through a sermon series on 1 John, 1 John 4:13-16 has grabbed a hold of me. We often hear people talk about abiding in God. But that is only part of the truth – There are two parts of abiding in God.

You can watch the YouTube Video or read the text below

1 John 4:13-16 (ESV) = By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

Abiding in God (some translations use remain) is a common theme for John. If I recall correctly you can find the word abide used some 23 times in 1 John

From just these 3 verses we discover there are two parts of Abiding with God. Both parts are only experienced if we have come to salvation through Jesus by faith.

First We Abide in God

2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV) = He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

By faith we are wrapped in the righteousness of Jesus. The Father looks at us and instead of seeing our sin he sees the righteousness of Jesus. He is righteous because of his obedience to death on the cross and the power of his resurrection.

Even now we are seated with Christ in Heavenly Place

Ephesians 2:4-6 (ESV) = But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus   

Second – God Abides in Us

As we read earlier in 1 John 4:13 “By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.”

So we know that God is in us because has given us his Holy Spirit to dwell in us.

John 14:15-17 (ESV) = “If you love me, you will keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive him because it doesn’t see him or know him. But you do know him, because he remains with you and will be in you.

It is the Holy Spirit – God in us that causes us to be transformed and to mature into being more and more like Christ. He re-orders our desires and passions. It is the Holy Spirit who directs and guides us. It is the Holy Spirit who minsters through us to others and brings us into a deeper relationship with God.

John said that the fact of us abiding in God and God in us is sign of how much he loves us. God is so madly passionately in love with us he gives us the Holy Spirit as evidence that we abide in him and he abides in us.

A Challenge

I challenge you to take the next few days and reflect on the truth that we abide in God and God abides in us. – I believe it will transform how you view your daily life.

Let me know in the comments of what it means to you that you abide in God and he abides in you.

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About the Author: Jon Stallings

I am enthusiastic about helping others discover their purpose and grow into a deeper relationship with Jesus. It is great to see their eyes light up at their “Ah Ha!” moment when they discover they were created for something more. My hope is that this blog will help encourage and inspire you along your way. Join the conversation and take the time to share with me your own story. I have been married to my beautiful wife Janice for over 30 years. We currently live in McDonough Georgia with our daughter. Our two boys have left the nest and we have two wonderful grand kids. Of course we cannot forget about our dog Bear.