When the Apostle John wrote that Jesus Christ “has come in the flesh” he was bearing witness that He has come to stay in the true saint in the form of the Holy Spirit.  He was proclaiming that the Lord takes up residence in a believer in order to manifest (reproduce) Himself in the life of a true saint.  This manifestation of Christ in the saint is called Christ’s “walk” which the believer must manifest (1 Jn. 2:6) in order to receive salvation at Christ’s return which will follow the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord.  These two signs (opening of seals) will cast the world into the greatest display of God’s wrath upon sinners that mankind will have ever experienced.

In 1 John 2:6 we are told that in order to walk with Christ we must “abide in” Him.  Elsewhere we are told that to abide in Christ is to abide in God, and that to abide in Them means that They abide in us.  This is the true meaning of the word “atonement”–at one ment–meaning to be one with the Godhead.  Atonement is necessary in order for a person to “walk as He (Jesus) walked.”  Jesus “walked” as God “walked” because He was at one with Him by having His Holy Spirit living within Him.  Without the Holy Spirit Jesus could not have walked with God by obeying Him.  Christ’s obedience enabled Him to walk together with His heavenly Father in perfect agreement.  The Prophet Amos (3:3) spoke to this Truth when he asked, “Can two walk together unless they agree?”  The Lord walks only with the one who agrees with Him and obeys Him.  Having the Holy Spirit within one’s heart (mind) means that the godhead “abides” in the believer.  Jesus speaks to this arrangement in John 14:21,23, saying that He and the Father will make their abode (spiritual home) IN the one “… who has My commandments and keeps them,” which proves that the commandment keeper loves Jesus.  “He who loves Me keeps My commandments and I will (then) love him.  And My Father will (then) love him.  And (then) We will come and make our abode in him.”  Does this mean that God does not love those who do not obey His Law?

At this point an important distinction must be made between God’s love for His physical children and His love for His spiritual children.  Mankind is God’s children because He created them in His image and likeness.  Man’s physical attributes reflect God’s spiritual attributes.  GOD LOVES MAN (THE WORLD) BECAUSE HE CREATED MAN.  However, His love for those who love Him and obey Him is love of a much higher sort called “agape.”  Man shows his agape love for God by obeying His commandments, including #4.  To break His Sabbath Law shows that one does not agape Him.  In turn God does not agape the worker of iniquity (Lawlessness), does not “abide in” him and is not “one with” him.  They do not “walk together,” do not “agree” and are “enemies” (Rom. 5:10/Phil. 3:18).  One’s religiosity has no effect on these Bible Truths.  GOD CREATED MAN THROUGH WHOM TO MANIFEST HIMSELF.  If a man does not obey Him He cannot manifest Himself in and through that man.  God’s love for him differs greatly from the love (agape) He has for the man who obeys Him.

Jesus of Nazareth was the physical manifestation of the spirit God.  He (Jesus) obeyed God’s Holy Spirit that abode in Him and relayed His (God’s) Words to Him.  As He said, He could do nothing through His own power or ability.  Even His words were given to Him by His Father.  THIS IS THE SAME RELATIONSHIP THE SAINT MUST HAVE WITH THE FATHER IN ORDER TO SPEND ETERNITY WITH HIM.  It is on this point that scoffers rise up within professing Christendom and show their true spiritual colors.  It is through this point that megachurch preachers and evangelists become famous and their words are sought and believed.  It is on this point that man’s eternity rests.    L.J.