The Father Has Sent the Son as the Savior of the World VS The Father Has
Given Us His Spirit
1 John 4:13–14 “By this we know that we abide in
Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.
And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior
of the world.”
|
Aspect |
The
Father Has Sent the Son as the Savior of the World |
The
Father Has Given Us His Spirit |
|
Meaning |
The Father sent
His Son Jesus Christ to become flesh, die, and rise again, making Him the
Savior of mankind, accomplishing redemption and imparting life (John
3:16; 1 John 4:14). |
The Father has
given us His Spirit—the all-inclusive, life-giving, and reality-imparting Spirit—so that we may abide in God and He in us, becoming one spirit
with Him (1 Cor. 6:17). |
|
Efficacy |
Enables sinners to be forgiven, justified, and regenerated, thus entering into fellowship with God (1
John 4:9–10; Rom. 5:10). |
Enables
believers to experience God’s indwelling reality; the Spirit operates as the element of fellowship, union, and
transformation, assuring us that we abide in God (1 John 4:13; Rom.
8:9–11). |
|
Explanation |
The sending of
the Son is the outward action of the Triune God, expressing the Father’s
love. Through incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection, the Son brings
divine life to man, making us children of God (John 1:14, 12–13). |
“Of
His Spirit” (literally, “out of His Spirit”)
indicates that what God gives is the Spirit Himself—full, unlimited, and all-sufficient
(John 3:34). This Spirit is the reality of the
Triune God for our experience (Phil. 1:19). |
|
|
|
|
|
Distinction |
The outward
work of God—the Son’s sending and redemption—brings man objectively to God. |
The inward work
of God—the giving of the Spirit—brings
God subjectively into man for inner experience and transformation. |
|
Example |
Jesus’ birth (Matt. 1:21), ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension; the
apostles testified that He is the Savior of the world (1 John 4:14). |
The outpouring
of the Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2:1–4); Paul’s experience of the
indwelling, transforming, and anointing Spirit (2 Cor. 3:17–18). |
|
Application |
Preach the
gospel and testify that Jesus is the Savior; confess the Son to glorify the
Father (1
John 4:15). |
Walk according
to the Spirit (Gal. 5:16); pray in the Spirit (Eph.
6:18); experience mutual abiding and live out divine
love (1 John 4:16). |
|
Mutual Relationship |
The outward
sending of the Son brings redemption and qualifies man to receive
the Spirit. |
The inward
giving of the Spirit enables believers to experience, enjoy, and express the accomplished redemption. Both are two sides of one Triune
God’s operation—to unite God and man in mutual indwelling. |
|
Related Scriptures |
1 John 4:14 – “The Father has sent the Son as the Savior
of the world.” |
1 John 4:13 – “By this we know that we abide in Him and He
in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.” |
🔑 Key Points
1. The Sent Son — the
outward act of redemption bringing life to man.
2. The Given
Spirit — the
inward impartation enabling man to live out that life.
3. The Triune
God’s dual operation: externally in the Son’s redemption, internally
in the Spirit’s indwelling — both to unite God
and man in love and life.
Conclusion:
The Father’s sending of the Son is
the outward manifestation of divine love;
the Father’s giving of the Spirit is the inward realization of
divine life.
Together, they complete the divine economy—God’s plan to bring man into oneness with Himself, that He
may dwell in us and we in Him.
*Please refer to the June
2025 Summer Training, General Topic: Experiencing, Enjoying, and Manifesting
Christ (Part 3), Chapter 12: The True One
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