“By this we come to know (perceive, recognize, and understand) that we abide (live and remain) in Him and He in us: because He has given (imparted) to us of His [Holy] Spirit. And [besides] we ourselves have seen (have deliberately and steadfastly contemplated) and bear witness that the Father has sent the Son [as the] Savior of the world. Anyone who confesses (acknowledges, owns) that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides (lives, makes His home) in him and he [abides, lives, makes his home] in God. And we know (understand, recognize, are conscious of, by observation and by experience) and believe (adhere to and put faith in and rely on) the love God cherishes for us. God is love, and he who dwells and continues in love dwells and continues in God, and God dwells and continues in him. In this [union and communion with Him] love is brought to completion and attains perfection with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him], because as He is, so are we in this world” – 1John 4:13-17 (AMPC)
LIGHT FOR NOW: An attempt to know Jesus outside the revelation of himself that has been put to writing in a written document called the bible will end you in error.
It is clearly established in our previous studies that the written word (the bible) reveals the living word to us (that is, Jesus to us). In essence, you will know Jesus to the degree to which you know the written word. Trying to know the living word outside the written word will only end you in error. There is no greater revelation of Jesus elsewhere outside the written word of God. The revelation of Jesus has been committed to documentation; the revelation of Jesus has been committed to writing.
Again, the person of Jesus is the revelation of the written word. The written word reveals the living word to us. So, you are in contact with the person when you are in contact with the bible. In Christ, realities are things that ought to be real to us. If they are real to God, they ought to be real to the believer.
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new”. The word “therefore” here means “because of this”. That means we need to read the previous verse. 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 “Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new”. The word “behold” is an instruction. It means to look at it and pay attention. That is, these are things that you ought to see. If you don’t see it, you may not know you have it. How can you see it? We see it in the world. Why? It is because he says if any man is in Christ. Christ is the living word – Christ Jesus! Glory!
INSTRUCTION: Behold God’s word daily.
CONFESSION: I acknowledge that the word of God is a person of Jesus Christ, and I heed the instructions to behold him in the scriptures, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
QUOTE: The written word is the final authority where the revelation of the living word is concerned.
DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: 2CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 5; EVENING: JOHN CHAPTER 1
LIGHT FROM THE WORD 