Jesus lives in the believer

The phrase "we live" is found many times in the Bible. Each reference in the New Testament is something that applies to all believers and is very relevant for life today. Here are a few scriptures to consider.

Acts 17:28, "For in him we live and move and have our being."

Jesus said he came to give "abundant life." Life complete in the Father, full in the Spirit. In Jesus Christ there is full life, plus, in him we move and have our being. Not only is the Christian spiritually complete in Christ but they find their place in Christ. Your talents, your gifts, your very being is found in the Lord. "We live" because he lives in us.

A second reference to "we live" adds to this abundant life.

Romans 6:2, "We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?"

We no longer live in sin because "we live" in Christ. Dead to the old nature, alive in the Spirit.

Our third reference to "we live."

1 Corinthians 8:6, "Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live."

Are you living for God and alive through Jesus? What does that mean? The context is idols, how some people were still bowing to idols, and others were tripped out about foods sacrificed to idols. Instead of being involved with such stuff " because you are born of the Spirit, "we live" for God. Jesus Christ is our mediator, he gives access to the Father.

2 Corinthians 5:7, "We live by faith, not by sight."

Does faith help you make the tough decisions of life? By faith we move out, by faith we make our decisions, by faith we look at this world and know that God will guide as we trust him.

One last "we live" reference.

1 John 4:13, "We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit."

"We live" in him, Jesus, and he lives in the believer. This is not something we hope for, but something we know. "We live," we really live in Jesus Christ. How do you know if you are accepted by God? It is by the Holy Spirit who abides in you and in whom you are keeping in step.

When a man or a woman begins to act differently then the world, when they react in love, and move in faith, that is a person whom the Holy Spirit is at work in their lives.

Acts 17:28, "For in him we live and move and have our being."

n Pastor Rich Lammay of High Sierra Fellowship is a member of Carson Valley Ministers' Association.