NT Promise 128: Given His Spirit

1 John 4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

We have a mutually indwelling relationship with God: He lives in us and we live in Him. This is glorious, even more glorious than we realize. The Almighty God of the universe deigns to want and to create an intimate relationship with each of His lowly creatures. Such a unity between Christ and the Christian is a mystery. It is hard to see and explain and understand. Nevertheless, we know that ”we dwell in Him and He in us.” We can visualize dwelling in a house, in a land, in a country, in the earth, but we can’t picture in our minds two living beings ”dwelling in” each other.

But we know. How do we know? We know because of this promise: He has given us His Spirit. God Himself shares His own Life with us. Though it is a past tense fact that has happened, it is still a promise to be believed in the present. The Holy Spirit has come to live in us, and also to teach us the Word, to guide us in all Truth, to direct our Path, to reveal God’s Love, to convict of sin and forgiveness, and to create Faith in Jesus Christ. By the power of the Spirit through the Word we know.

For our lives, it is as the little girl once said, ”If God is everywhere and God is in us, wouldn’t He stick out?” He will indeed.