OceanSide church of Christ

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A STUDY OF 1 JOHN (26)

 

Proofs of A Christian’s Relationship with God

1 John 4:13-16

Victor M. Eskew

 

          The Gnostics of John’s day believed that they had superior knowledge that put them in a positive relationship with God.  If they were asked:  “Do you dwell in God and does He will in you?” they would have answered in the affirmative.  In this section of John’s epistle, he challenges their relationship with God.  He does this by setting forth three proofs of the true Christian’s relationship with God.

          The relationship the Christian has with God is pictured by the apostle using the word “dwell” (1 John 4:13) and “dwelleth” (1 John 4:15, 16).  Throughout the years, there has been a major discussion regarding the indwelling of deity.  The discussion is not centered upon whether God dwells in us, but how God dwells in us.  Here, John appears to use the Greek word “meno,” translated “dwell” to refer to one’s relationship with God.  We say this because John teaches that not only does God dwell in us, but we also dwell in God.  In fact, John says this three times in this part of John’s letter.  “Hereby know we that we dwell in him…” (1 John 4:13).  “…God dwelleth in him, and he in God” (1 John 4:15).  “…and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God…” (1 John 4:16).  This is not a literally indwelling on our part.  Indwelling involves being identified with God, continuing in a relationship with God, being under the influence of God, and being involved in the practice of God’s demands.  Note, if we are “in God,” then, He, too, is “in us.” 

          John wants to assure His readers that they dwell in God, and that God dwells in them.  In essence, he wants them to be confident that their relationship with God is true.  Thus, John distinguishes them from the antichrists who affirmed they were in a true relationship with deity.  The first proof involved THE SPIRIT OF GOD.  “Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit” (1 John 4:13).  Previously in the epistle, John had written about this.  When these individuals obeyed the gospel of Christ, the apostles laid hands on them and gave them the gifts of the Spirit.  “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.  For to one is given by the Spirit, the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:  but all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will” (1 Cor. 12:7-11).  These gifts provided the first century church with an inspired message and a divine means of establishing the precious church for which Jesus died on the earth since they did not have the New Testament in written form.  The fundamental message of the Spirit was clear:  “And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world” (1 John 4:14).  These individuals knew they had received these miraculous gifts.  Too, they knew the inspired message about God sending His holy Son in the flesh into the world.  Yes, the spiritual gifts these individuals had received were evidence of their relationship with God.  “Hereby we know that we dwell in him, and he in us…”

          The second proof was THE CONFESSION THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD.  “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God” (1 John 4:15).  This confession was made by every one of them prior to being immersed for the forgiveness of their sins.  We learn this from the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch recorded in Acts 8.  “And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water:  and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?  And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.  And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God” (vs. 36-37).  This confession involves the reality that Jesus was made flesh and dwelled among men as a man (John 1:14).  The confession did not make a distinction between Jesus and the Christ.  The confession proclaimed that a divine spirit being took upon Him the actual flesh of a human being.  Yes, the second member of the Godhead had a body prepared for Him (Heb. 10:5). 

          The third proof revolved around THE LOVE OF GOD.  “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us.  God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him” (1 John 4:16).  These Christians had been taught about the love God had for them.  “But God commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8).  Notice John says that Christians dwell in the love of God.  They identify with God’s love.  They are in a relationship with God’s love.  They are influenced by God’s love.  Too, they practice that love in their lives.  They do this by keeping God’s commandments and manifesting love toward their brothers and sisters in Christ.  If they truly dwelled in love, then they also dwelled in God, and God in them.

          These Christians could ask themselves three simple questions in order to establish their relationship with God, a relationship the false teachers had caused them to doubt.  First, did they have the Spirit of God?  Second, had they confessed that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  Third, were they dwelling in the love of God?  If they could answer all of these questions with a “Yes” answer, they could rest assured that they were dwelling in God, and God was dwelling in them.  Yes, they could be confident that they were in an approved relationship with their heavenly Father.