Letters from the Beloved: How to Abide

John, the Beloved, uses the word “abides” 5 times in his gospel. In every instance he is quoting Jesus teaching us the importance of abiding in God or God in us.

It’s no wonder, then, that John frequently talks about abiding in God and Jesus or having them abiding in us. He uses the word abides 13 times in 1 John.

Today, sweet sisters, let’s see what the beloved has to say about how to abide in God and how to have Him abide in us.

·        We must walk how He walked. 1 John 2:6 [NKJV] He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

·        We must not sin. 1 John 3:6 [NKJV] Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.

·        We must keep His commandments. 1 John 3:24 [NKJV] Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

·        We must confess that Jesus is the Son of God. 1 John 4:15 [NKJV] Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

·        We must abide in (or live in) love. 1 John 4:16 [NKJV] And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

John also said that we know He abides in us because of the Holy Spirit He has given to us. [1 John 3:24, latter part] The Spirit is the proof of God in us. But a life of love and obedience, plus confessing Jesus is how others will know that we abide in Him.

The Greek word translated “abide” or “abides” in these scriptures is also translated “remain”, “tarry”, and “dwell” (or forms of these) throughout the New Testament. I find one especially touching.

In Matthew 26:38, Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, as He was about to wrestle in prayer in the garden, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.” [KJV] The New King James uses, “Stay here”. But the use of “tarry” hits me differently. To me it brings a little more weight to how human He was in that moment and in need of His friends to wrestle with Him, support Him and just be with Him as He was about to pray, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me…” (verse 39)

1 John 2:6 [NKJV] He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

Jesus very much wants us to be in the struggle to save this world with Him. He is the only Savior, of course, but we are His laborers in the work.

And He is very much willing to tarry with us when we need a faithful friend to just be with us through troubling circumstances.

Abiding in God and Jesus is part of day-to-day walking the Christian walk. But oh how sweet it is to know that when we need Him to just be with us in those tough moments, He is there.   

I welcome your comments and questions. You can write me in the comments section or at Nancy@DynamicChristianMinistries.org