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Abiding in Him
What's the one common theme found in these verses? Why is this message so important to us? John 5:38; 6:56; 8:31; 15:4-10; 1 John 2:14, 28; 2 John 9.
The word rendered to abide has also been translated as "to remain," "to live in," "to dwell in." It is an important concept in John's Gospel and in his letters. It occurs 25 times in 1 John and twice in 2 John.
The concept stresses that it is important to remain in the Son, the Father, and the Holy Spirit. A right relationship with the Godhead is crucial. It also is important to remain in correct doctrine and in the Word, because that will affect our relationship with God. Indeed, that seems to be a crucial aspect of John's letter, because he's afraid of what these false teachers and their false views could do to the faith of the believer.
One of the promises made to those who remain in Him is the promise of eternal life. Why is the promise of eternal life so important to us? What would our faith offer us if we didn't have that promise? Why bother even being a Christian at all? See 1 Cor. 15:1-19.
No question, for John a crucial aspect of the Christian faith was abiding in the Lord. This is simply another way of stating that we need to "walk in the light," we need to live in a close relationship with Jesus, which means a daily surrender of our will to His, as revealed through the Word and through the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives. As soon as we start disobeying the Lord, as soon as we start thinking we can figure things out apart from God, as soon as we start passing negative judgments on whatever parts of the Bible we don't like, we're moving in a direction that, if not stopped, will separate us from a saving relationship with Jesus.
How do you "abide" in Christ? What were the things you did in the past 24 hours that enabled you to "abide" in Him? Make a list of the things that we can do that are part of what it means "to abide" in Christ, and share your list with members on Sabbath.
What's the one common theme found in these verses? Why is this message so important to us? John 5:38; 6:56; 8:31; 15:4-10; 1 John 2:14, 28; 2 John 9.
The word rendered to abide has also been translated as "to remain," "to live in," "to dwell in." It is an important concept in John's Gospel and in his letters. It occurs 25 times in 1 John and twice in 2 John.
The concept stresses that it is important to remain in the Son, the Father, and the Holy Spirit. A right relationship with the Godhead is crucial. It also is important to remain in correct doctrine and in the Word, because that will affect our relationship with God. Indeed, that seems to be a crucial aspect of John's letter, because he's afraid of what these false teachers and their false views could do to the faith of the believer.
One of the promises made to those who remain in Him is the promise of eternal life. Why is the promise of eternal life so important to us? What would our faith offer us if we didn't have that promise? Why bother even being a Christian at all? See 1 Cor. 15:1-19.
No question, for John a crucial aspect of the Christian faith was abiding in the Lord. This is simply another way of stating that we need to "walk in the light," we need to live in a close relationship with Jesus, which means a daily surrender of our will to His, as revealed through the Word and through the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives. As soon as we start disobeying the Lord, as soon as we start thinking we can figure things out apart from God, as soon as we start passing negative judgments on whatever parts of the Bible we don't like, we're moving in a direction that, if not stopped, will separate us from a saving relationship with Jesus.
How do you "abide" in Christ? What were the things you did in the past 24 hours that enabled you to "abide" in Him? Make a list of the things that we can do that are part of what it means "to abide" in Christ, and share your list with members on Sabbath.