John 14:22-25

²²Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "But, Lord, why do You intend to show Yourself to us and not to the world?" ²³Jesus replied, "If anyone loves Me, he will obey My teaching. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. ²⁴He who does not love Me will not obey My teaching. These words you hear are not My own; they belong to the Father who sent Me. ²⁵All this I have spoken while still with you."

What a great question we get in v22! Judas asks, “Why are you going to show Yourself to us but not to the world?” Do you ever wonder about that? I think it’s a question that has to do with election. This disciple is a quiet, intellectual type who soaks it all in and processes everything and only speaks when the timing is just right. And here we have it. Why us and not the world? Prior to our receiving Christ, we look like the world. Why pick us out of the world? And Jesus’ response is great. “If anyone loves Me, he will obey, and My Father and I will live in him. But if anyone doesn’t love Me, he won’t obey,” and thus, the Father and Son will not dwell in the unbeliever. How do we answer a question about election? By talking about man’s accountability to repent and believe. How do we answer a question about man’s accountability? By appealing to the sovereignty of God in election. Both stand firm and true; there is no contradiction.

Of course, the logical extension of this promise of the Spirit’s ministry is this: if the Spirit does not indwell and change a person, then that person is not a true believer. If the Spirit changes hearts and makes them desire to obey Jesus (and Jesus commands us to love one another as He loved us), then we will be changed and will desire to obey (more and more as we are sanctified) and will produce fruit in keeping with repentance (Matthew 3:8; Luke 3:8). Let us ask ourselves with this truth in mind: If God’s Spirit is not at work in our hearts, producing faith, love for Christ, and love for those who belong to Christ, then how can we say that we belong to Him (Romans 8:1-11)?

Finally, in v23 we learn that the Father and Son will make Their home or their abode with the believer by Their Spirit. This Greek word for “home” is “mone” (mo-neigh`). It’s only used twice in all of Scripture (here and in v2 of this chapter, where it is translated “rooms,” or “mansions” in other versions). The word conveys an intimate and permanent abiding and staying. It’s something only the Holy Spirit can do. Notice in v2, He’s making a place for you to be near the Father and the Son; and in v23, He’s making a place for the Father and the Son to be near you. How does that make you feel? Ephesians 2:22