How To Abide in the Thins of God

The desire of every true believer is to draw closer to God, to experience His presence in a deeper way, and to live in constant communion with Him. The Scriptures teach us that God Himself desires to abide in us, for we are His people, and He has promised to dwell within us (2 Corinthians 6:16). Our focus today is on how we, in turn, can abide in the things of God, allowing His presence and His principles to permeate every aspect of our lives.

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God must abide in the Christian, because we are His people and He abides in us. II Corinthians 6:16.

"What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: 'I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.'" This foundational truth reminds us that as believers, we are the dwelling place of God. His desire is to be intimately connected with us. Our response should be to cultivate an environment within ourselves where His presence can flourish.

1. The Holy Spirit must abide in us (1 Corinthians 6:19).

"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own." The Holy Spirit is God's active presence within us. To abide in the things of God, we must continually yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit's guidance, allowing Him to fill us, direct us, and empower us. This involves prayer, seeking His will, and being sensitive to His promptings.

2. Christ must abide in us (John 6:56; John 15:4-5).

"Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him." (John 6:56) "Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:4-5)

Just as a branch must remain connected to the vine to bear fruit, we must remain in Christ. This abiding involves a constant dependence on Him, drawing our life, strength, and nourishment from Him. It is through this connection that we can live a fruitful life that glorifies God.

3. His word must abide in us (John 5:38).

"but you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one he has sent." (John 5:38)

Jesus rebuked those who did not have His word abiding in them. To abide in the things of God, we must make His Word a central part of our lives. This means reading, studying, meditating on, and memorizing Scripture. When His Word dwells richly within us, it shapes our thoughts, guides our actions, and strengthens our faith.

4. We must abide in His love (John 15:9-10).

"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love." (John 15:9-10)

Jesus calls us to remain in His love. This is not a passive state but an active choice to live in accordance with His commands. Obedience is the pathway to experiencing and abiding in His love. As we love God and love others as He has loved us, we dwell in His love.

5. We must also abide in His teaching (2 John 9).

"Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son." (2 John 9)

To abide in the things of God means to remain faithful to the true teaching of Christ as revealed in Scripture. We must be discerning, avoiding false doctrines and holding fast to the sound teaching that has been passed down to us. Abiding in His teaching ensures we have a right understanding of God and His ways.

6. We must abide in the faith (Acts 14:22).

"strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. 'We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,' they said." (Acts 14:22)

The early disciples were encouraged to remain true to the faith. Abiding in the faith means holding fast to the core truths of the Gospel, the বিশ্বাস that has been revealed to us. It involves perseverance, especially in the face of trials, and a commitment to the foundational principles of our salvation.

7. We must abide in the goodness of God (Romans 11:22).

"Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off." (Romans 11:22)

Paul warns us to abide in the goodness of God. His kindness and grace are extended to us, but this abiding is conditional on our continued faith and obedience. We must not take His goodness for granted but live in a way that reflects our gratitude and dependence on Him.

8. Faith, hope, and love must abide in us (1 Corinthians 13:13; Hebrews 13:1).

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13) "Let brotherly love continue." (Hebrews 13:1)

These foundational Christian virtues must be constant in our lives. Faith is our trust in God, hope is our confident expectation in His promises, and love is the defining characteristic of a follower of Christ. These must abide within us, shaping our attitudes and actions.

9. We must remain firmly grounded and steadfast in the faith (Colossians 1:23-24).

"if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant." (Colossians 1:23)

Paul emphasizes the importance of remaining firmly grounded and steadfast in the faith, not being moved away from the hope of the Gospel. This requires spiritual maturity, a deep understanding of God's Word, and a commitment to stand firm in the face of false teachings and worldly pressures.

10. What we have heard from the beginning must remain in us (1 John 2:24).

"As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father." (1 John 2:24)

John stresses the importance of holding onto the foundational truths of the Gospel that we heard from the beginning. Abiding in these core teachings ensures that we abide in the Son and in the Father, maintaining our vital connection with God.

Conclusion:

Abiding in the things of God is not a passive state but an active and ongoing pursuit. It requires a conscious commitment to the Holy Spirit's leading, a constant dependence on Christ, a deep engagement with His Word, a life lived in His love, faithfulness to His teaching, steadfastness in the faith, a recognition of His goodness, the cultivation of faith, hope, and love, firm grounding in the Gospel, and a holding fast to the truths we have learned from the beginning. May we all strive to abide deeply in these things, so that we may truly experience the fullness of God's presence in our lives and bear fruit that lasts for eternity. Amen.

How To Abide in the Thins of God