1 John 4:13,16 (NKJV) By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit….. And we have 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.
John 15:4-5 (NKJV) Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
The Apostle John being in Jesus’ inner circle of influence has grasped the importance of abiding in God. One of the fruits of the Holy Spirit is love. Therefore, he teaches us the importance of abiding in God just as Jesus emphasized that we cannot bear fruit unless we abide in Him. The KEY to producing the perfect love of God in our lives is through abiding in God and in love! Jesus said, we will bear much fruit when we choose to abide in Him.
It is a choice that we make to abide in God. This abiding or submitting must be done constantly or whenever we are given an opportunity to walk in the Spirit or yielding to the flesh.
Hebrews 8:12 (NKJV) For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”
God absolutely forgets when God forgives. He will never bring it up again in future. It will not be held against us or used to hold us hostage. He remembers it no more. It has been completely blotted out of His memory. Therefore, if we are to practice perfect love towards one another then one should not repeat a matter that will separate friends or loved ones. It is unhealthy to bring up the past because it will reopen old wounds and it will never heal. Most of the time whenever it is mentioned again is to use against the person and make them feel guilty. It is bad for every party emotionally.
Most of us would wait for the other party to apologize or initiate the peacemaking after a disagreement. We deem it is a loss of face if we are to initiate the peacemaking.
Matthew 5:9 (NKJV) Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.
God pursued us with His perfect love to restore the broken relationship and establish peace with us. He is the peacemaker. We should initiate the peacemaking since we have learnt and understood perfect love. We are the children of the living God who loves us with a perfect love so we should love each other with it too. Let us be the initiator of peacemaking. Let peace, love and joy dominate our family, home, office, and church.
Sermon Series: The Best Abode
常在我里面
约翰一书 4:13, 16因神将祂的灵赐给我们，我们就知道我们住在祂里面，祂也住在我们里面。。。。我们也知道并相信神对我们的爱。神就是爱。住在爱里的，就住在神里面，神也住在他里面。
约翰福音 15: 4–5你们要常在我里面，我也常在你们里面。枝子若不常在葡萄树上，自己就不能结果子；你们若不常在我里面，也是这样。 我是葡萄树，你们是枝子。常在我里面的，我也常在他里面，这人就多结果子；因为离了我，你们就不能做什么。
置身于耶稣影响的核心圈子里的使徒约翰已经领悟到住在神里面的重要性。 圣灵的果子之一就是爱。 因此，他教导我们常在神里面的重要性，正如耶稣强调我们若不常在祂里面就不能结果子一样。 在我们的生活中操练神的完美之爱的关键是通过住在上帝和爱中！ 耶稣说，当我们选择住在祂里面时，我们就会结出许多果子。
住在神里面是我们刻意做出的选择。这种在神里面的坚持或降服必须持续地进行，亦或每当我们有机会作抉择到底是要行在圣灵中还是屈从于肉体时。
希伯来书8:12我要宽恕他们的不义，不再记念他们的罪愆。
当神饶恕时，神是彻底地遗忘。祂以后也不会提起。 既然被饶恕，它便不会被用来对付我们或挟持我们。 它被从祂的记忆中彻底抹去，不复纪念。 因此，如果我们要对彼此操练完全的爱，就不应该重提会令朋友或所爱之人疏离的旧事。 提起该遗忘的过去是不健康的，因为旧伤口会重新被掀开，导致永远无法愈合。大多数的情况下，旧事重提都是用来对付对方，让他们感到内疚的，这对任何一方的情感都具破坏性。
出现纷争时，我们大多数人会等待对方道歉或主动和解。 我们认为主动提出和解是没面子的。
马太福音5:9使人和睦的人有福了！因为他们必称为 神的儿子。
神以完全的爱寻求我们，以修复破碎的关系并与我们和解。 祂是那使人和睦的。 既然我们已经学会并理解了完全的爱，我们应该主动与人和解。 我们是那以无条件的爱来爱我们的永生神的孩子，所以我们也应该以无条件的爱来彼此相爱。 让我们成为缔造和平的使者。 让和平、爱和喜乐主宰我们的家庭、居所、工作场所和教会。
讲章系列 – 最好的住所