1 John 4:13

We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.

(v13, NIV)

This idea of abiding is continued here in this verse. We live in him and he in us. How is this even possible? If you live in something or someone, how can that same thing or person live in you at the same time? The only way it is possible is because he has given us his Spirit. Thus he lives in us through his Spirit that he has given to use to live in us.

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;

(1 Corinthians 6:19, NIV)

This is the Holy Spirit that he has given us and resides in us. By this and through the Holy Spirit he lives in us. Proof of our living in him and he living in us is the Spirit he has given us.

Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

(1 John 3:24, NIV)

This is verse which is similar. Back in chapter three, John makes the same kind of statement, but it was with reference to us obeying his commands. However, in chapter four, John is talking about love in this section. This abiding in him and he in us is shown by those who obey his commands as was mentioned in chapter three. This is our part as an outpouring and result of God's saving power in us and not of our own strength. Looking to chapter four, God's love is part of this equation as well. We are to obey his commands and this is part of the abiding, but God's love for us and our reacting love for others is also part of this abiding relationship we have with him.

Stepping back for a second, it's pretty cool how it works. In chapter three, John talks about obeying his command. Jesus obeys the Father and we are to obey this command which Jesus gave us. In addition, this command was to love one another, which is what Jesus did for us. In chapter four when John talks about this abiding again, he is talking about God's love for us. His sending of his son is how he showed us what love is and his love for us. We are to love one another as a result or reaction from his love for us. It connects and relates and is really quite amazing. God is pretty cool and he amazes me all the time with little things like this all the time. Hopefully not to overshadow or outweigh the one and only gospel which is truly awesome. But, it's cool how God reveals himself in different ways.