To Live is Christ — abiding in Him and He in me

The Apostle John wrote his first epistle (letter) to Christians who were threatened by false teaching. These new ideas were the beginnings of Gnosticism, upsetting Christians and making them feel uncertain about their relationship with God.

John assures his readers that they can know who they are, both objectively and subjectively. Christ died for our sins; that is a fact. If we acknowledge our sin and confess it to Him, then that is a good indication that we are genuine Christians. Other people seldom acknowledge sin, and even if they do, they will not accept Christ is their Savior.

Another test is our attitude toward one another. If we enjoy Christian fellowship, then that is also a good indication that we are genuine. False teachers have little regard for the children of God and while they might fake it for a time, their true intent eventually shows up or, as John says, they do not stick around.

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us. (1 John 2:19)

Another test is the abiding presence of God. This is very subjective, but nonetheless real. John describes it this way:

Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 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. (1 John 4:15–16)

I’ve written about this before. A strong connection exists between obeying God and loving others. However, the kind of love described in the Bible is not possible unless the Spirit of God lives within a person. No one can love others like Jesus loves others unless Jesus abides within. No one can experience or show forth the love of God without abiding in God and God in Him. No one can experience the abiding presence of God unless they confess the true identity of His Son. Therefore, genuine faith is linked to love and to the abiding presence of God.

False teachers today can be quite gushy about love as they define it. I’ve met those who think that all people are good and that everyone should be equally treated. It sounds good, yet I’ve not seen it put into practice by those who proclaim it. For instance, they become quite hostile against anyone who expresses a different view of that innate goodness of humanity.

In John’s day, the false teachers focused more on their somewhat complex philosophy. They looked down on anyone with simple faith in Christ and offered arguments against every major truth about His person and what He did. They said their esoteric knowledge was most important and the only redemption for the human spirit.

Wisely, John didn’t argue with them, but he did assure these Christians that they were on the right track. They confessed Christ as God’s Son, believed in the love of God and lived that love and faith in their daily lives.

Gnosticism came and went. Other false teachings have also come and gone. Where truth is, so also are lies and opposition. However, one day the source of those lies will experience the sentence given him when Jesus died and conquered death. At that time, God will separate the false from the true and take His people into His eternal home to abide with Him forever.