Make our abode

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
(John 14:23)

Some people interpret this to say that our divine indwelling is incompatible with demonic presence, arguing that God's presence would not coexist with demonic entities. However, this verse is not even talking about demons.

This is an example of inserting presuppositions into the interpretation of the verse. When someone uses this verse to make a broader theological claim about Christians and demons, they are bringing their own assumptions or theological beliefs into the interpretation rather than deriving that conclusion directly from the text.

This kind of interpretation is known as eisegesis—the act of reading one's own ideas or presuppositions into the text—rather than exegesis, which is drawing out the meaning that is actually present in the text. To properly interpret the bible, it's important to let the text speak for itself and to avoid imposing external ideas that are not clearly stated or supported by the passage.

The verse speaks about the indwelling presence of Jesus and the Father in the life of a believer. It emphasizes that those who love Jesus and obey His teachings will have a special relationship with God, where God makes His home with them. No where in the bible does it say that evil can not be in the presence God. In fact we see the opposite.

Job 1:6-7 – Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

Satan was in the presence of God himself. When the holy spirit came to earth, was Satan not allowed to dwell on earth anymore because the Holy Spirit was here?

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Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

- The Christian King