Abide is a wierd word, even a bit old-fashioned. I can’t remember the last time I heard this word in strange conversation. It seems we only use it when talking about abiding in Christ. This concept comes from a passage within the Book of John. I believed I knew what it meant to abide, but I used to be surprised after I began searching the Bible for its meaning.
What Does It Mean to Abide in God?
We’ll dive deeper into the definition later within the article, but let’s start with the thought that almost all of us are accustomed to. There is a study note in my Word Study Reference Bible NKJV that sums it up well:
“The word abide means greater than just hanging around like grapes on a vine. It carries the connotation of complete attachment. It’s related to ideas reminiscent of dwelling, staying, and settling in. It means sinking deep and growing roots. Jesus wasn’t describing a surface faith. He was talking a couple of sold-out commitment–a relationship where we rely completely on Him to perform His work through us.” (Page 1,378)
To abide is to be attached for the long haul. The cool thing is, not only are we instructed to abide with Christ (to hold on to Him). God also abides with us. That changes every little thing, doesn’t it?
The query is whether or not abiding in God is more complicated than we expect. To answer that, we want to contemplate among the other words the Bible uses for abiding.
What Other Words Does the Bible Use for Abiding in God?
Let’s take a better take a look at the biblical definition of abide by its associated words. When I looked the word up in The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, I discovered these words related to abide:
- Await
- Remain
- Lodge
- Sojourn
- Dwell
- Continue
- Endure
- Encamp
- Sit or Tarry
As I read these definitions, I spotted that abiding is way larger and richer than I ever imagined. It’s each restful and lively. It’s trusting and obeying. It’s holding on yet letting go. And it’s all the time trusting God for the long haul.
So, how will we do this? Now, we’ve to make use of a bit Bible study to contemplate the context, after which consider the nitty-gritty practicality of tips on how to abide in God each day.
What Bible Verses Talk about God Abiding?
We already learn about abiding in Christ. But how often will we take into consideration God abiding with us? Are there any verses that discuss God abiding? Yes! I’m using the New King James translation because after I looked for the word abide, I discovered 51 mentions in each the Old and New Testaments. I encourage you to do your word search; the outcomes are fascinating! But to get us began, I need to summarize some verses about God abiding.
- God talks several times about making His name abide in a certain place (Deuteronomy 12:11, 14:23, 16:6, 16:11, 26:2).
- In Psalm 55:19, we read concerning the God who “abides from of old.” John 3:35-36 states the tough reality for individuals who don’t imagine within the Son (Jesus).
- The consequence of a scarcity of belief is that “the wrath of God abides on him.” In John 14:16, Jesus tells His followers to hope and ask the Father to offer them the Holy Spirit (called a Helper on this verse) “that He may abide with you perpetually.”
- John 15 is the abiding chapter I discussed at this text’s starting. It talks about God abiding in us as we abide in Him and is the passage of Scripture that lots of us take into consideration after we hear the word abide. We’ll take a better take a look at this passage below.
- In 1 John 3:24, John writes, “Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we all know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.”
I don’t learn about you, however the considered God abiding with me is so powerful. But that’s only half the equation. What does the Bible tell us about abiding in God?
What Bible Verses Tell Us to Abide in God?
Several verses within the Bible state the advantages of abiding with God. Other verses are statements the author makes once they decide to abide by God. Then there are the verses that specifically tell us to abide in God (or Christ, who’s God). These are those we are going to take a look at next.
Jesus’ instructions to His followers in John 15 is the Scripture lots of us consider after we take into consideration abiding. Here, Jesus begins talking about vines and fruit. He equates Himself with the vine and His Father with the vinedresser who takes away the branches that don’t bear fruit and prunes people who do bear fruit (15:1-2). I encourage you to read this whole chapter for context, but here is the guts of the conversation. Jesus tells his audience:
“I’m the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you may do nothing. If anyone doesn’t abide in Me, he’s forged out as a branch and is withered; and so they gather them and throw them into the fireplace, and so they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you’ll ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you just bear much fruit; so that you will probably be My disciples. As the Father loved Me, I even have loved you; abide in My love. If you retain My commandments, you’ll abide in My love, just as I even have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” (John 15:5-10)
Another command to abide is present in 1 John 2:24. John tells His readers to “let that abide in you which ones you heard from the start.” Essentially, He’s saying they need to let the Gospel they first heard abide in them. He didn’t want them to be deceived by those attempting to turn them away from God’s truth. John writes, “If what you heard from the start abides in you, you furthermore may will abide within the Son and within the Father.”
John continues the thought of abiding in verse 28. “And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have faith and never be ashamed before Him at His coming.”
Does Abiding in God Mean to Let Go and Let God?
Whew, that’s quite a lot of abiding! We read a definition of abiding. We’ve just read a bunch of verses that discuss abiding, but what does it really mean to abide in God and have Him abide in us? Does it mean that we are able to just “let go and let God” as the favored saying goes? The easy answer isn’t any—and yes!
It’s clear from the primary verses we read that there are motion steps we must take for God to abide in us. We must keep His commandments.
We also must abide in Him for Him to abide in us. In only a minute, we’ll discuss tips on how to do this.
Lastly, the message we heard to start with should abide in us. What does that even mean? Do you remember the primary time someone told you about Jesus? Do you remember when you made the decision to place your faith in Him as your Lord and Savior? That gospel message should still live deep in our hearts and impact the way in which we live our lives. Our relationship with God should impact how we decide to spend our time and the choices we make.
But what about that letting go and letting God part? This statement sounds good and may even feel holy or religious, but when we’re being honest with ourselves, it’s often an excuse to do nothing.
Remember, abiding is each restful and lively. Waiting and letting go aren’t passive activities for the followers of Christ. As we wait and after we let go, we’re actively putting our faith in God as a substitute of ourselves. Even after we’re waiting for God to work and rest in Him, we must obey, abide, and imagine. What else? We can deal with our relationship with God by spending time with Him. We could be kind to our neighbors, provide food or clothing for those in need, get more involved in ministries at church, encourage weary hearts, and use our gifts to bless others. You get the thought!
All this motion is a component of the strain of being a follower of Christ. You see, we don’t do exactly to do. We don’t do it to earn favor or to look good. We work and minister out of gratitude and thru the facility of Jesus Christ. When we selected to follow Him, we were united with Him. Galatians 2:20 says, “I even have been crucified with Christ; it isn’t any longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live within the flesh I live by faith within the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
The person we once were, other than Christ, is dead. We’re now living a brand-new life by faith in Jesus. It’s a life empowered by the identical God who created the earth we live to tell the tale and who rose Jesus from the dead. We have a complete recent identity in Christ, and it’s incredible! If you ought to learn more about who you’re in Christ, I encourage you to read the short books of Ephesians and Colossians.
As we saw in John 15:5-10, once we were all branches that withered without Christ, but those that abide in Christ are actually fruit-bearers. Life flows through us not in our strength but as branches firmly attached to the vine. Jesus lives and works through us. He is the life source. We let go of who we were and let God transform us into His likeness. How? By keeping His commandments and abiding in His love.
How Do We Abide in God Today?
This is the last word query, isn’t it? I can hear you asking, “But how, Josie?” As we’ve seen in this text, it begins with placing our faith in God and continuing to imagine in Him. 2 John 1:9 says, “Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who stays within the teaching of Christ has a relationship with each the Father and the Son” (NLT). Believing in God is great, but a lifetime of faith is so way more than that. Abiding is all about relationship and the God of the Universe wants a relationship with us!
Like any relationship, we develop our relationship with God by spending time with Him. We get to know Him higher by reading (and obeying) His Words, talking to Him throughout our days, in search of ways in which He is working in our world and joining in, and asking Him to assist us see things and folks in our world as He sees them. As we get to know God higher, we turn into more like Christ. We start seeing the world through spiritual eyes and loving others as God loves them.
1 John 4:13-16 says:
“. . . If we love each other, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we all know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we’ve seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we’ve 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.”
Abiding comes right down to this. Love God and love others. Who will you share the love of God with today?
Photo Credit:©GettyImages/VictorTongdee
This article is a component of our Christian Terms catalog, exploring words and phrases of Christian theology and history. Here are a few of our hottest articles covering Christian terms to assist your journey of data and faith:
The Full Armor of God
The Meaning of “Selah”
What Is Grace? Bible Definition and Christian Quotes
What is Discernment? Bible Meaning and Importance
What Is Prophecy? Bible Meaning and Examples
