© 22 Colin Melbourne
And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
1 Jn. 3:24 KJV
Indisputable Evidence
Almighty God gives every sinner who’s willing to repent and believe on His Only Begotten Son divine evidence of Christ’s resurrection that cannot be denied.
They come to know without any doubt that Christ is alive in them, and have proof inside that will never be gainsaid: The Presence of the Living God in the core of their being.
Christ In Us
It becomes a verifiable fact of life for every born again believer. They can no more doubt the resurrection of Christ than they can deny they have become alive to God: Born once in sin: Now Born Again in Christ Jesus!
His Presence transforms them from within, and it is now pure joy to honour, worship, and obey the Word of God, their indwelling Lord.
This is the way, walk ye in it
The witness of God in our spirit is direct personal evidence of His resurrection.
And because the Spirit of God now lives in the believer, He is able to guide and correct them as they follow the Living God.
Let’s read it in context…1 Jn. 3:19-24 KJV;
And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
The passage refers to God the Holy Ghost, the same Spirit who led Christ Jesus and now leads the believer.
Here we read that the indwelling Spirit of God is constantly directing our steps to do what is pleasing in God’s sight.
If we miss the mark the Teacher-within lets us know, and our heart (our spirit), condemns us until we do that which God commands, only then do we receive our requests of Him.
Now focus on verse 24;
And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
Notice the believer knows by the Spirit’s witness to his or her heart.
This is the crux of Fellowship with Father God.
Without inner spiritual union with God, the person flounders around, trying one way, then another, wondering which is right.
But by following the inward witness of God’s Spirit, the believer stays confidently in step with Christ, knowing they are doing what He’s directing them to do just as the first clause indicates, And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him.
It is the same witness as mentioned in Rom. 8:14-16 KJV;
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Also in Eph. 3:16 KJV;
That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
The Holy Ghost, through Peter, described the Spirit within as the hidden man of the heart, 1 Pe. 3:4 KJV;
But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
God’s Proof That Christ is Raised
God’s inner witness in the believer’s heart is the divine evidence that Christ is raised from the dead, the life that transforms new believers from the inside, causing them to switch from sin’s deceitful pleasures to live and walk in the righteousness of God.
This precious witness of God is spiritual proof of Christ’s resurrection borne inside the believer’s heart.
The Kingdom of God is Within You
As we permit His witness to rule in us, so the kingdom of God is manifested, and Christ works through us.
If we ignore the leading of God’s Spirit, we wither on the vine, becoming unfruitful in our knowledge of Christ.
Therefore it’s our obligation, as children of the Living God, to honour; God our Father, the Holy Spirit, and The LORD Jesus Christ, by fulfilling His word in spirit and in truth always.
As a result of our obedience to the Spirit’s leading, Christ continues His ministry on Earth through the believer today: Unchanged!
If We Don’t: Christ Can’t
Your cooperation is essential.
Our LORD was raised up to glory and is seated in Heaven at the right hand of the Father.
He’s sat down because He’s finished His part in His ministry on Earth: Now He depends upon the believer to be; His hands healing the sick, His arms lifting the needy, His lips speaking His message, His eyes showing love and compassion, His feet taking His Gospel to the ends of the Earth.
As the believer reflects the light of Jesus, He’s happy to confirm our actions and words With Signs Following.
© 22 Colin Melbourne
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