If we abide in Jesus as we live, then we are seated with Christ in heaven
Christians believe that if we ask Jesus Christ to come in to our hearts he will come and abide in our hearts. Thus, we will abide with Jesus Christ then on. Not only we will abide with Jesus Christ as long as we live but also we will continue to abide with Jesus Christ through out eternity. But this is not the Bible concept. The statement, "ask Jesus to come into your heart and Jesus Christ will abide in you from then on," was started in children’s bible study and it became a church cliché.
The command abide in Jesus Christ has started by Jesus Christ himself. He required his disciples to abide in him. Jesus Christ says that if we abide in Jesus Christ, then they will produce the fruit for the Father. That is, if the disciples abide in Jesus Christ, they will do the works that Jesus Christ did and they will teach the doctrine that Jesus Christ taught. Abide in Jesus Christ is the spiritual union of Jesus Christ with a person to enable the person to live as Jesus Christ lived. If we say that we abide in Jesus Christ and we do not live a pure life as Jesus Christ lived, then we are not telling the truth. If we abide in Jesus Christ, then we will follow the Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour.
"Psalms 68:18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them." The Lord Jesus Christ is willing to give the gifts of the Holy Ghost even to the rebellious, which are sinners. We see the gifts works in preaching deceivers as an evidence all the time among Christians. Since this is true, it is also true that the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ is among us with the intention to abide in us.
'God the Word' who created the universe became a man and was named Jesus. Jesus Christ taught his disciples how God abide in him and showed them how he abode in God. "John 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake." Jesus lived as a man in this world. At that time God was known as the Most High God. Jesus Christ called the Most High God as his father and told his disciples that he abides in God and God abides in him. This statement puzzled them. How can God and man live together as one? Jesus Christ gave two points for evidence (1) the words he spoke and (2) the works he did. If God abides in a person, then the mind of Christ and the power of God will manifest through that person. The obedience of the person and the love of God will do this. "John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love." Jesus Christ says that he got this abiding by obeying God the Father. And he says that we can also receive the abiding of God likewise by obeying the commandments of God.
God loved the world. He gave his begotten Son for the world on the cross. God requires the world to love God by obeying his commandments. If we love him enough to obey him then with his abundant love, God in Trinity will abide in us. God will declare those who have his abiding as his sons and daughters in order that they shall inherit the kingdom of heaven, be joint heirs with Jesus Christ and live with God through out eternity. "John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever.... 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you." If we have this abiding while we are on earth, then this abiding will continue through out everlasting future. This is the eternal promise for the obedient people of God.
The meaning of the word 'abide' is 'live' or 'dwell'. Abide in Christ means that we live in Christ together as one person. How can this be possible? A spirit can live in a physical body. God is a Spirit. So if we submit our body as the temple of God then he can live in our body. But how can we being a person with a physical body live inside a spirit? A spirit can move from place to place in seconds. A spirit can be in the heavens anytime. A spirit will not carry the physical body because of the limitations of a physical body. However, when a person has truly repented of his sins with remorse in his heart and asks God for forgiveness, God promise to forgive him of his past sins and gives him the spirit of man so that he may see the kingdom of God. At that point, the person is born of the spirit which is born again. "Matt 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." So if we are born of the spirit then we have both physical body and spirit body. Our spirit can live with another spirit as one. In other words a born again person can live in God and God can live in the person. So we can abide with God in the spirit.
"1 John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him." Here we see an example of a tree and its seed. The seed is an infant tree in all its essence. As it grows it will look like the parent tree and will produce the same fruit as the parent tree. Likewise the Seed of God that is planted and remains in a person will bring forth the fruit of righteousness through the person. God is limitless and omnipresent. But the name 'Seed of God' is used for our understanding that God can abide in a person. This Seed of God becomes the part of the person sharing the mind of Christ. The Seed who is the extension of God himself will convert the person to a new creature. "2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
Here are two verses for reference. "1 John 3:6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: ... 9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God." Verse 6 says that if we abide in God, we will not commit sin. Verse 9 says that if God abide in us, we will not to commit sin. So, if we see both together, we can find that our spirit of man abides in the Spirit of God is simultaneous with the Iota or the seed of God lives in our body, if our body is the temple of the Holy Ghost. So, God's abiding is that the Seed of God remains in a person. It seems that if we abide in God, then God will abide in us. From verse 9, we also know that a person who has the 'abiding of God' is also 'born of God'. At this point we will be waiting for the adoption as sons of God.
True Christian life is a life after Christ. It is not a religious life, but a spiritual life. Jesus Christ told his disciples to abide in him in order to be fruitful and to bring much fruit. "John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." Then again he warns them that if they do not abide in him, they will be cast out into the fire. "John 15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned." Abiding comes by obedience to the doctrine of Christ. "2 John 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son."
The Bible is a book. However, the Bible is the word of God that is of the Spirit as well as it is a book. "John 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." We study this book as we study any other book. As we study, our brain gather information from the book and we remember it. Even though we can study the material contents of the Bible, we cannot receive the spirit content unless it is revealed to us by God. "Matt 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given." If God has given his spirit to a person, the word that is spirit will impart to the spirit of the person. So, the Spirit person understands the things of God.
"John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me." Here the example is the vine plant and its branches. The plant and the branch are of the same nature. A person who is born again, who is a new creature, should immediately abide in Christ in order to be fed of the spiritual food. "1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:" As the milk is vital for the new born baby, the word of God is vital to the born again Christian. If they desire the truth of the word, then God will reveal it to them.
Grace is the most misunderstood word among Christians. They think that it is a free ticket to heaven. But grace is the whole package that we receive from God in order to be saved from our sins, which include the very presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. "Ex 33:16 For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us?" We know that Jehovah is Jesus Christ. (You may read the article: "Jesus Christ was Jehovah"). Moses was saying that the presence of Jehovah (Jesus Christ) going with them is grace. "2 Tim 1:9 ... according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus ---" Apostle Paul says that grace is given in the person Jesus Christ. "Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;" Again Apostle Paul personifies Jesus Christ as the Grace of God. "Rom 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life." In the Apostle's doctrine, the death of Jesus Christ is contributed to the forgiveness of the repented sinners and the life of Jesus Christ is contributed to the salvation of the saints (forgiven people). We know that we are saved by grace and we know that Grace is the life of Jesus Christ manifest in us.
There are many evangelists advertise miracles in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Most of them are just shows and they are deception. Some are genuine. People think that these people are holy and have the presence of God with them. Not necessarily so. "Psa 68:18 --- thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them." God gives gifts to rebellious peoples also. Rebellion is disobedience and it is sin. If the sinners can do miracles in the name of the Lord then it is not an evidence for the abiding of God. Abiding will produce the righteousness of God. They, who have the abiding, will live as Jesus Christ lived.
We saw that only those who are born of the spirit, who has received the spirit of man, can have the abiding of God. But it begins with the abiding of the word of God and the word will be instrumental in leading the person to be born again. This word of God is also part of the abiding. However, the word of God and Jesus Christ are inseparable because Jesus Christ is the word. The abiding of the word of God will guide us to pray according to the will of God and our prayer will have a guaranteed answer. "John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." Most of all, the abiding of the word will make us overcome the devil. "1 John 2:14 --- I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one."
Christians usually make religious or spiritual claims. Abiding in God is the priceless possession of wealth for spiritual life. Even though it is freely given, it is only given to deserving candidates, who are children of God. Further, there are many counterfeits distributed by the devil and his workers. The Bible counsels us to stand for the test so that we may not
be deceived. "1 John 3:6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. 7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil:...." If you think Jesus Christ lives in your heart, which is the abiding of God, you have to walk as Jesus Christ walked. "1 John 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked."There are so many religions in this world. They all worship a god or many gods. Everybody claim that the god they worship is the true god. Christians and Jews are suppose to worship the Creator, who created all things in existence, as God. There is no other God other than the Creator. All other gods are false gods. The Lord Jesus Christ, showed God as the Father to godly people. He showed the way to the Creator God. The way is righteousness and holiness through which Jesus Christ walked. Christians do not follow that way. Instead, they follow another Jesus, another spirit, and another gospel. They follow a false way just like any other religion. They lost the way of life and follow their leaders.
Two kinds of people are getting involved in the Church. They are carnally minded and spiritually minded. "Rom 8:4 ... the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." The spiritually minded people shall fulfill the righteousness of God. The carnally minded people will also be the part of the Church. But yet they cannot and will not obey the commandments of God. For example: If you talk to them about water baptism, Holy Spirit baptism, gifts of the Holy Spirit, becoming holy, obeying God, becoming perfect, stop sinning, etc., they may accept one or two and will reject the rest or they may reject them all. They will argue and justify why they should not obey the doctrine of God. They may belong to a certain denomination of a church or a group, but they do not belong to God. They are carnal Christians. They are in enmity with God even though outwardly they appear to be serving God.
Most Christians and Pastors do not know the difference between religiosity and spirituality. Sentiment, tradition, emotion, etc, which are considered spiritual by many are actually religious. Good Christian music in churches is accepted as the presence of God. The excitement and the admiration for the performance of music is mistaken for spiritual worship. We can add many more to this list. "John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." Jesus Christ says that the born again people, who are the children of God, will move along with the Wind, which is the Holy Ghost. They will do whatever the Holy Ghost requires from them with perfect obedience. Religious and Spiritual people may speak the same vocabulary. Spiritual people will live in obedience to the doctrines of God while Religious people will not obey, but will put up a show.
When Satan deceives people he will not identify himself as Satan. Even his disciples will not identify themselves as the servants of Satan. "2 Cor 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." Pretending as ministers of God, they preach false gospel and offer false salvation for which they will be punished accordingly.
We obtain salvation by obeying God out of our love toward our Lord Jesus Christ. Satan wants us to love God but not with obedience. To love God through our ceremonies, songs, music, festivals, prayers, testimonies, witnesses, preaching, proclamations, etc., is the easiest thing in the world. But this is not the true love. "Matt 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." However those who love God with a sincere heart will escape from the deception. "2 Pet 2:18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error."
We can hear the deceptive preaching of Satan from most churches. They say that grace is the favor of God that accepts a person to heaven, who continues to sin, as long as he confesses Christ. They believe that obeying God's commandments is the law. They say that God gave commandments just to show that commandments cannot be obeyed. They preach that God is against his own law and he hates those obey the law. They preach many lies such as this. It is so sad that so many Christians fall for it. If you need more clarity on this topic you may read these articles, "Beware of False Prophets" and "Satan Shows himself as God". Most Church people who are just carnal, religious or/and sentimental may be deceived by Satan. But God's people will overcome the world and Satan with the abiding of God in them.
"John 16:8 And when he (The Holy Ghost) is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:" If sin is present in a Church, then the Holy Ghost will reprove the people of sin. If a message of love, joy and peace is preached instead of the message of reproving sin, then that message is not from the Holy Ghost. If the church congregation cannot stand a message of righteousness and will run away from the message on judgment of God, then this congregation is neither seeking God nor it is of God.
The Holy Ghost will guide the disciples, who will do what the master says, into 'All Truth.' If it is All Truth, they will be guided into every truth without leaving anything and there will be no room for any error or a spot of lie. "John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you."
The disciples will find themselves abiding in Jesus Christ by the guidance of the Holy Ghost. Jesus Christ told the disciples that the Holy Ghost who is guiding them will also abide in them. "John 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." The worldly Christians cannot receive the Holy Ghost.
A Spirit that exhibits something other than the holiness of God is not the Holy Ghost. A False Spirit will lead people to another Jesus, that is, to the antichrist. "1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."
Most preachers make statements and claims that contradicts the Bible. Some say that Apostle Paul was sent to the gentiles and so if you are not a Jew we must listen to the writings of Paul only, as if there is a difference. Apostle Peter has written about it. "2 Peter 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction." More so, the Lord Jesus Christ came to Apostle John, long after Apostle Paul was martyred, and revealed his messages to the churches, which is the last book of the written word.
We are saved by grace from being a sinner. "Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, by grace ye are saved." But God gives grace to the humble only, which means that those who are not humble will not receive his grace, which means that they will not be saved. "James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." That is proud people will not be saved. "2 Chr 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin..." If you are proud, why don't you humble yourself? "Matt 23:12... whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted"
After his resurrection, being God, Jesus Christ has visited his beloved disciple John and gave messages to the churches through him. If we are Christians then these messages will apply to us also, as a message directly from Jesus Christ. In every message, he says that if you have an ear to hear then you hear. He did not push anybody. Jesus Christ, who is our God, wants us Christians to repent from our sins and to overcome the world and Satan. If we abide in him we can and will overcome both. "Rev 2:5 Remember ---, and repent, 7 To him that overcometh will I give --- 11 He that overcometh ---. 16 Repent; or else I will ---. 17 To him that overcometh will I give ---. 21 I gave her space to repent 22 except they repent ---. 26 And he that overcometh, --- Rev 3:3 --- hold fast, and repent. 5 He that overcometh, 12 Him that overcometh will I make --- 19 be zealous therefore, and repent. 21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, ---. Those who overcame will receive rewards, even to sit in the very throne of God, the glory of which cannot even enter in the minds of the people. "1 Cor 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."
The Lord Jesus Christ came from heaven to his disciple John to send important messages to his churches. It is the book of Revelation. As he concludes the book, he wrote who will enter into everlasting life and who will not, and he signed his name before and after the statement. So, this must be very important to the Lord Jesus Christ and to his true people the Church. Here is the verses: "Rev 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. 16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star." The message of the Lord is simple. Those who obey him will have eternal life and enter heaven and the rest of the people will not enter heaven. But the preachers tell stories and twist the gospel.
God, who created all things lives in the glorious heaven. God created people in order to have Children of his own. He gives commandments to the people, chooses the obedient, and grants them the Holy Spirit for abiding. "The abiding God" gives them power to live a holy life and protects them from the wiles of the devil. He raises them from the earth, changes their countenance to reflect the glory of Jesus and declares them as sons of God so that they may live with him as his children in heaven as joint heirs with Jesus Christ. "Jas 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth ---. Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." It is because of the abiding of God, these people will live eternally with God having the glory of God, as his Children.
Evangelicals believe in the rapture of the Church. They think that every Christian will be caught up to heaven to be with Jesus Christ on that day. Some Christians do not believe in any of this. However, Jesus will appear for those who keep themselves pure. "1 John 3:2 ... but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." In order to keep ourselves holy, we need the abiding of the Holy Ghost which is also the requirement for our rapture. "Rom 8:11 -- if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." The Lord Jesus Christ makes his bride pure and holy without spot, wrinkle, or blemish. Those who are not holy are not sanctified to be the bride of the Lord Jesus Christ. "Eph 5:25 ...Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." If the Holy Ghost abides in you, he will lead you to the abiding of God the Father and God the Son. "1 John 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming." If we are looking forward to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ then we will abide in God so that we may keep ourselves holy. If we do not have this abiding in us then we will be ashamed at his coming.
The omnipresence of God is not the abiding of God in his people. Since he is a Spirit, it is possible for our spirit of man to abide with him. If we love him enough to obey his commandments, we can abide in him and he will abide with us. "John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love." If we abide with him while we live in our physical body, then this abiding will continue through out eternity. "John 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. Luke 15:31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine." We will live with God forever and ever with his glory.
God bless you.