How did Augustine help you to understand John's epistle?
Abiding is a two fold street just as prayer, salvation, etc. God remains faithful. Man is more iffy but when we are faithless, He remains faithful cause He cannot deny Himself.
I can agree with those words, but we no doubt understand them differently!
Regards
You’re asking me to summarize a rather lengthy reasoning process. I’m not trying to hedge but at the moment I’m a little busy. It has to do with God commanding and granting what He commands. God abides in us and He commands us to abide in Him. We cannot abide in God unless He has granted it.