Abiding in Christ: Understanding Sin, Salvation, and Love

Devotional

Day 1: Abiding in Christ Means Focusing Your Life on Him

To abide in Christ, as John uses the term, is not simply about being saved or having a one-time belief, but about intentionally focusing your life, thoughts, and actions on Jesus every day. This abiding is a discipleship term, meaning to remain steadfast, to live a life of faith, love, obedience, prayer, and self-denial, keeping your attention on Christ in all things. When you focus on Him, you are less likely to be drawn into sin, and your life reflects His presence and power. The difference between believing and abiding is that belief brings salvation, but abiding brings transformation and daily freedom. [07:40]

John 8:31-32 (ESV)
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Reflection: What is one practical way you can intentionally focus your thoughts on Jesus throughout your day today, especially in moments when you feel distracted or tempted?

Day 2: The Privilege and Identity of Being a Child of God

Being called a child of God is an incredible privilege, not earned by our own efforts or goodness, but given freely through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. This identity is not something the world can understand or share in unless they know Him, and it is a source of deep security and hope. No matter your earthly background or experiences, you are adopted into God’s family, and your value and confidence come from being His beloved child. This truth should shape how you see yourself and how you face the challenges of life, knowing that your Father owns it all and loves you deeply. [10:06]

1 John 3:1 (ESV)
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

Reflection: When you face insecurity or doubt, how can you remind yourself today that you are a beloved child of God, and let that truth shape your words and actions?

Day 3: The Hope of Being Like Christ Purifies Us

Though we do not fully understand what we will become in eternity, we have the sure hope that when Christ appears, we will be like Him. This hope is not just for the future; it has a purifying effect on our lives right now. When you keep your eyes on the promise of seeing Jesus and being transformed, it motivates you to live rightly, to resist sin, and to persevere through trials. The hope of heaven and the reality of your future with Christ gives you strength to endure and inspires you to pursue holiness in your daily life. [15:26]

1 John 3:2-3 (ESV)
Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where the hope of seeing Jesus could help you make a different, more Christlike choice today?

Day 4: The New Nature in Christ Cannot Sin

When you are born again, God gives you a new nature—your spirit is joined with His Spirit and is sealed, incapable of sinning. While your flesh and mind may still struggle, your true identity is found in this new creation, and God sees you as righteous because of Christ. Sin is now a matter of the flesh, not your spirit, and the more you walk in your new nature and focus on Christ, the more victory you will experience over sin. Understanding this truth brings freedom from condemnation and empowers you to live out who you truly are in Christ. [22:01]

Romans 7:18-20 (ESV)
For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

Reflection: When you struggle with sin or failure, how can you remind yourself of your new nature in Christ and respond differently than you have in the past?

Day 5: Loving Others Is the Evidence of Abiding in Christ

The clearest evidence that you are abiding in Christ and have passed from death to life is your love for others, especially your brothers and sisters in Christ. Love is not just a feeling or words, but is shown in actions—meeting needs, forgiving, and laying down your life for others as Jesus did for you. When you love in deed and truth, you reflect God’s heart and assure your own heart before Him, overcoming condemnation and living with confidence. This kind of love is the mark of true discipleship and the fulfillment of Christ’s command. [41:34]

1 John 3:16-18 (ESV)
By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

Reflection: Who is one person you can show practical love to today—through a specific action, encouragement, or meeting a need—in a way that reflects Christ’s love for you?

Sermon Summary

Today, we dove deep into one of the most challenging and rewarding sections of John’s writings, exploring what it truly means to “abide in Him.” John’s use of language is unique—he uses words like “abide,” “believe,” and “see” in ways that differ from Paul and other New Testament writers. Understanding these differences is crucial for grasping the heart of his message.

To “abide in Him” is not simply to be saved or to have a one-time belief in Christ. Rather, it’s a call to focus our lives on Jesus, to remain steadfast in our devotion, and to let our daily actions be shaped by His presence. John distinguishes between believing (which is being convinced and saved) and abiding (which is remaining, continuing, and living out that faith). This is a discipleship term—a call to ongoing, intentional relationship and focus.

We are privileged to be called children of God, not because of anything we’ve done, but because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross. This identity is a gift, and it’s one the world cannot understand or share unless they know Him. Our hope in Christ purifies us, shaping our choices and keeping our hearts set on eternity, even when life is hard or circumstances are discouraging.

John also addresses the tension between our old and new natures. The old nature, marked by sin and lawlessness, is contrasted with the new nature we receive in Christ—a nature that cannot sin because it is born of God and sealed by the Holy Spirit. Yet, we still wrestle with our flesh and mind, which can lead us into sin when we lose focus on Christ. Paul’s clarity helps here: our spirit is made new and cannot sin, but our flesh is still in process.

John’s teaching on “seeing” and “knowing” God is about spiritual perception and understanding, not just physical sight or intellectual knowledge. When we sin, it’s because we’ve lost sight of Christ in that moment; when we abide, we see and know Him more deeply.

Finally, love is the evidence of our new life. We are called not just to love in words, but in actions and truth. Our confidence before God grows as we keep His commandments—believing in Jesus and loving one another. When our hearts condemn us, God is greater, inviting us to bring our struggles to Him and walk in the assurance of His love.

Key Takeaways

1. Abiding Means Focused, Ongoing Devotion Abiding in Christ is not a one-time event but a continual, intentional focus on Jesus. It’s about letting every part of our lives be shaped by His presence and truth. This kind of abiding leads to transformation, not just information, and is the foundation of true discipleship. [04:31]
2. The New Nature Cannot Sin Our spirit, made alive in Christ, is sealed and cannot sin. Sin arises from our flesh and mind when we lose focus on Christ. This distinction frees us from condemnation and helps us understand the ongoing battle between our old and new selves, encouraging us to walk in the Spirit. [22:01]
3. Spiritual Sight Leads to Victory Over Sin To “see” God is to perceive and understand Him spiritually. When we keep our focus on Christ, we are empowered to resist sin. Losing sight of Him leads to stumbling, but returning our gaze restores our strength and clarity. This is a call to cultivate spiritual awareness daily. [27:02]
4. Love in Action Reveals Our True Identity Loving others is the evidence of our new life in Christ. It’s not enough to speak love; we must demonstrate it through our actions. This kind of love is sacrificial, practical, and rooted in truth, showing the world—and ourselves—that we truly belong to God. [42:03]
5. Confidence Before God Comes from a Clear Heart When our hearts condemn us, God invites us to bring our struggles to Him. Confession and honesty before God restore our confidence and keep us walking in the light. This is not about earning God’s favor, but about living in the freedom and assurance He provides. [42:29]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:39] - Opening Prayer
[01:27] - Baptism Celebration and Review
[01:56] - Introduction to 1 John
[03:07] - The Meaning of “Abide”
[05:33] - Using Scripture to Interpret Scripture
[06:23] - Abiding as Discipleship
[08:13] - Believing vs. Abiding
[09:20] - The Privilege of Being God’s Children
[13:11] - Our Future in Christ
[16:08] - Sin: Noun vs. Verb
[18:45] - The Hardest Verses in 1 John
[21:15] - The New Nature and Sin
[27:02] - Spiritual Sight and Abiding
[36:24] - Children of God vs. Children of the Devil
[38:22] - Persecution and the Spirit of the World
[40:23] - Love as the Mark of New Life
[42:03] - Love in Deed and Truth
[42:29] - Confidence Before God
[43:48] - Closing Prayer and Blessing

Bible Study Guide

**Bible Study Discussion Guide: Abiding in Christ (1 John 2:28–3:24)**

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### Bible Reading

**1 John 2:28–3:24 (ESV)**
And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.
By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

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### Observation Questions

According to John, what does it mean to “abide in Him”? How is this different from simply believing in Jesus? ([04:31])
What does John say is the evidence that someone is a child of God? ([09:20])
How does John describe the difference between our old nature and our new nature in Christ? ([21:15])
What does John say is the mark of true love for others? ([42:03])

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### Interpretation Questions

Why does John make a distinction between “believing” and “abiding”? How might this change the way someone thinks about their relationship with Jesus? ([08:13])
John says that our new nature “cannot sin” because it is born of God. What does this mean for how we view our struggles with sin in daily life? ([22:01])
The sermon explains that “seeing” and “knowing” God is about spiritual perception, not just physical sight or information. How does this understanding affect the way we approach our faith? ([27:02])
John says that love should be shown “in deed and in truth.” Why is it important that our love is active and not just words? ([42:03])

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### Application Questions

The sermon said that abiding in Christ is about focused, ongoing devotion, not just a one-time decision. What is one area of your life where you struggle to keep your focus on Jesus? What practical step could you take this week to shift your focus back to Him? ([04:31])
John teaches that our spirit is made new and cannot sin, but our flesh still struggles. When you find yourself falling into old habits or sinful patterns, what helps you remember your new identity in Christ? Is there a specific reminder or practice you could use? ([22:01])
The message said that when we lose sight of Christ, we are more likely to stumble into sin. Can you think of a recent time when you lost focus on Jesus and made a choice you regret? What could you do differently next time to keep your spiritual “sight” clear? ([27:02])
John says that love is the evidence of our new life in Christ, and it must be shown in action. Who is someone in your life right now that needs to see love from you in a practical way? What is one thing you can do for them this week? ([42:03])
The sermon talked about confidence before God coming from a clear heart, and that when our hearts condemn us, God is greater. Is there something on your heart right now that makes you feel distant from God? What would it look like to bring that honestly to Him in prayer? ([42:29])
The world may not understand or accept our identity as children of God. Have you ever felt misunderstood or rejected because of your faith? How did you respond, and what encouragement can you draw from John’s words? ([09:20])
The hope of seeing Jesus “as He is” is meant to purify us and shape our choices. How does thinking about eternity and your future with Christ affect the way you live today? Is there a decision you need to make with eternity in mind? ([15:26])

Sermon Clips

If you have the hope that Jesus Christ died for you and that you're going to see him again, then you know that you should be living right. You know you're going to purify yourself. You know you're going to want to do something and you're not going to do it. Why? Because that hope on the inside purifies you. So you should always stir up hope of heaven on the inside of you. Always. It'll keep you living right. It'll keep your head straight. Keep you doing right. [00:15:18] (25 seconds) #HopePurifiesLife

Some people are like, oh my goodness, my marriage is so bad and my kids are so awful. Hey, listen, I don't know how bad it is and I don't know how awful it is. Here's what I can tell you. Everything on this planet 150 years from now won't matter. Because you're going to see him face to face and as he is, so are you. Praise God and you're going to be everything that God has called you to be at that point in time. Amen? Amen. So no matter how bad it is, you can make it. [00:15:43] (24 seconds) #FaithOvercomesStruggles

Your old nature, before you got saved, was lawless on the inside. Would you agree with that? Had no rules and no boundaries. The only boundaries and rules you had is if you got caught. Come on, am I right? Right? If you didn't get caught, it was all good. All right? But you know, once you got saved, that nature left, and now even if you don't get caught, it bothers you. Like, uh-uh. Why? The Holy Spirit will get you. And he's with you forever and always and right now, and you're like, uh-oh. [00:17:04] (30 seconds) #HolySpiritConviction

When you're born again, your spirit is sealed. You forever belong to God. You're born again. You're alive in Christ. The spirit is unified with your spirit. Am I making sense, everybody? This is the new creation. Nothing can stop this new creation. When you get to heaven, the new creation you are now is gonna be the same except it's gonna take over your mind, will, and emotions and your body. But until you get that, you gotta deal with your flesh and your mind, okay? [00:21:55] (31 seconds) #SealedInChrist

The key to not sinning is keeping your focus on Christ. While you keep your focus on him, you're abiding in him. When you're abiding in him, you're seeing him. Okay? If you're not, watch this. If you're not focused on him, then you're not abiding in him. I'm not talking about salvation. If you're not focused on him, you're not abiding in him. And if you're not abiding in him, you're not seeing him do what he said he would do in your life. [00:28:15] (32 seconds) #FallenNatureRevealed

For his seed, the seed of the Holy Spirit and the word of God, let me give you 1 Peter. It says, you were born again not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible seed by the word of the living God. Does that make sense to everybody? So the seed he's talking about there is the word of God on the inside of you. With the presence of the Holy Spirit living on the inside of you. So the Holy Spirit and the word of God abiding in your spirit allows that spirit to be completely full, and there's nothing that causes it to sin. [00:32:09] (32 seconds) #SpiritSeesSinless

God sees you by the Spirit, and he sees you sinless. But your flesh and your body, but guess what? When you get to heaven, guess what you're getting? Brand spanking new. Let me just translate it this way, and I'll say it this way. You don't want, God wouldn't let you anyway, but you don't want to take that old baggy flesh with you, and you don't want to take that old mind with you, praise God. You're going to get new ones, praise God. Amen. Amen. [00:32:46] (36 seconds) #SinIsAFleshIssue

If the world hates you, we know that we have passed from death to life. We have passed from death to life already. If you are born again, when you breathe your last breath, God, heaven. That's how it is. Death has no sting over you. You're going to be amazed whenever you get to heaven. Tell me whenever we get there. But you're going to be amazed that whenever you get there, how you resisted it so much, and I think you should resist it for the record, how you resisted it and were fearful for it your whole life. [00:39:15] (42 seconds) #GodIsGreater

If a heart condemns us, God is greater than our hearts and we condemn ourselves. Can I tell you this? And I've never said this from the platform, but I believe this verse right here is the reason my dad ran to drugs. Because his heart was always condemning him. He was the most condemned person ever. And he was a good man. But he condemned himself. And his heart was always against himself. All right? Nevertheless, here it goes. [00:42:57] (25 seconds) #BelieveAndLove

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