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“Co-heirs with Christ” No. 15 by Rev. Toru Asai
We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit (1 John 4:13).
While “believing” is for what is not seen yet, “knowing” is for what is already seen. We have already seen and “know” that we live in God, and he lives in us. The reciprocal “living”—“we live in him and he in us”—is one of John’s favorite expressions to mean oneness in the fellowship that believers now have with God (2:24, 4:15). As Jesus was one with God when he was on earth, we are one with him. It is important to realize that God himself desires to be one with us more that we seek him and desire to be close to him. We can be one with the Creator, and God’s word says that we are one with him through Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit who has been given to us is the proof of that. And if we are one with him who is love, we need to put love as the center and the foundation of our life by loving each other. Paul speaks of this truth in his letter to the Colossians:
13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him (Col 3:13-17).
I want you to pay attention to the underlined clauses/sentence. The last one is the conclusion: “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus (v. 17).” And the first two are the conditions necessary for that conclusion: 1) to “bear with each other and forgive whatever … (vv. 13-15),“ and 2) to “let the peace of Christ dwell in you richly (v. 17).”
The condition 1) is the same as to love each other—the new command Jesus gave to his disciples. We believers, though our sins were, once for all, forgiven through the death and resurrection of Jesus, are still in the process of being purified, and some of the sinful nature we had obtained from this world before we believed still remain in us, causing “grievances” against one another sometimes. That is why we must bear with each other and forgive each other. Otherwise, it would be impossible to have unity among us. Thus, Jesus set an example for us and said, “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet (John 13:14).”
Speaking of the same truth, Jesus has given us a new command:
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another (John 13:34).
Note that this was given as a command, not as a recommendation or a suggestion. It is a must for us who are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ if we desire to remain in him and his love.
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love (15:9-10).
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By Davar Kingdom of GodWe know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit (1 John 4:13).
While “believing” is for what is not seen yet, “knowing” is for what is already seen. We have already seen and “know” that we live in God, and he lives in us. The reciprocal “living”—“we live in him and he in us”—is one of John’s favorite expressions to mean oneness in the fellowship that believers now have with God (2:24, 4:15). As Jesus was one with God when he was on earth, we are one with him. It is important to realize that God himself desires to be one with us more that we seek him and desire to be close to him. We can be one with the Creator, and God’s word says that we are one with him through Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit who has been given to us is the proof of that. And if we are one with him who is love, we need to put love as the center and the foundation of our life by loving each other. Paul speaks of this truth in his letter to the Colossians:
13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him (Col 3:13-17).
I want you to pay attention to the underlined clauses/sentence. The last one is the conclusion: “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus (v. 17).” And the first two are the conditions necessary for that conclusion: 1) to “bear with each other and forgive whatever … (vv. 13-15),“ and 2) to “let the peace of Christ dwell in you richly (v. 17).”
The condition 1) is the same as to love each other—the new command Jesus gave to his disciples. We believers, though our sins were, once for all, forgiven through the death and resurrection of Jesus, are still in the process of being purified, and some of the sinful nature we had obtained from this world before we believed still remain in us, causing “grievances” against one another sometimes. That is why we must bear with each other and forgive each other. Otherwise, it would be impossible to have unity among us. Thus, Jesus set an example for us and said, “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet (John 13:14).”
Speaking of the same truth, Jesus has given us a new command:
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another (John 13:34).
Note that this was given as a command, not as a recommendation or a suggestion. It is a must for us who are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ if we desire to remain in him and his love.
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love (15:9-10).