1 John 4 -- Figuring Out "Him In Us, And Us In Him"

I remember years ago how hard it was for me to grasp the concept of all the “Him in us, us in Him” wording that John uses here.  After all, we don’t have that type of relationship with anyone but God. 

My commentary provided great examples to help me understand it all.  Verse 15 says, “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God has God living inside, and that person lives in God.”  My commentary said, “It is hard for us (Yea!  Not just me!) to visualize such a relationship, but we might compare it to a poker in the fire, a sponge in the water, or a balloon in the air.  In each case, the object is in the element and the element is in the object.”

Wow!  That’s so much easier to see.  I particularly like “the poker in the fire (and the fire in the poker).”

Father, help me, and others, to get around the “church talk” that we sometimes so freely use but which may stump not just unbelievers, but Christians as well.  Remind me often of this illustration so that I can see more clearly the very close relationship I am to maintain with You.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford