Tuesday | 28 January 2020
The apostle John joyfully proclaimed what it means to know God − to know God is to abide in Him! 1Jn 5:20. To ‘abide’ simply means to ‘dwell, remain, reside or wait’. He becomes our dwelling place. The psalmist expressed this understanding when he wrote, ‘He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty’. Psa 91:1. The Scriptures also teach us that we become His dwelling place. Psa 68:16. Thus, there are two aspects of abiding – He abides in us and we abide in Him.
Having just explained that knowing and abiding in God is eternal life, John then concluded his letter by imploring us to keep ourselves from any doctrines other than the gospel of sonship. These doctrines are worthless because they do not minister this assurance of eternal life! 1Jn 5:21. Jer 10:8. There are many ‘false gospels’ and ‘false versions’ of Christianity. These may appear ‘religious’, but there is no substance to them, because they do not teach us how to live as sons of God. Unless a person comes to know God and abides in Him, anything else that they have believed is useless! It is imperative, therefore, that we come to know and believe the true gospel, which is the gospel of sonship.
Jesus described how we abide in Him and how He abides in us, by using the analogy of a vine with many branches as a symbol of our connection with Him. He said, ‘I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit.’ Joh 15:5. Again, as we can see, there are two aspects of abiding – Christ abides in us; and we abide in Him. These two aspects, together, are essential to our living as a son of God. We can only truly live as a son of God when Christ abides in our hearts by faith, and when we abide in the fellowship of His offering and body.
Further Study:
John 15
Daily Proverb:
References:
1Jn 5:20
And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
Psa 68:16
Why do you fume with envy, you mountains of many peaks? This is the mountain which God desires to dwell in; Yes, the LORD will dwell in it forever.
1Jn 5:21
Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
Jer 10:8
But they are altogether dull-hearted and foolish; A wooden idol is a worthless doctrine.
Joh 15:5
I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.