The Christian’s Anointing

Our Key Passage - 1 John 2:27 “As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.” –1 John 2:27

Descriptions of Two Groups John’s Description of The False Teachers –John warns about former members of the church who have denied that Jesus is the Christ and become false teachers. (1 John 2:18-19) John’s Description of The Faithful Christians He Is Writing To –John contrast his audience with the false teachers because his readers have all received and know the truth. (1 John 2:20-21)

The Choices of Two Groups The Actions & Effects of the False Teachers –He shows that those who deny Jesus are liars who have cut themselves off from the Father. (1 John 2:22-23) The Actions & Effects of Faithful Christians –He shows that those who let the truth which they heard abide in them will abide in the Son and the Father. (1 John 2:24)

John’s Desire For Christians The Reward & The Risk Being Faced –Those who abide in the Son & Father: Eternal Life (1 John 2:25) –Those who listen to the false teachers: Deception (1 John 2:26) The Actions To Take To Remain Faithful –Stick with the truth you have been taught and are being taught by the anointing. (vs. 27) –Abide in Jesus until He returns. (vs. 28) –Practice righteousness. (vs. 29)

So What Is This Anointing? 3 Primary Ideas Are Suggested: –The Holy Spirit Himself: Because the anointing “abides in you” and the similarity to Acts 10:38. –The Holy Spirit’s miraculous gift of knowledge and wisdom: Because it “teaches you about all things” –The word of God, given by the Holy Spirit: Because it has been “heard from the beginning” (vs. 24) I believe the Context, the Greek, and the History show the anointing to be the word of God, given by the Holy Spirit.

Understanding The Anointing Why not the Holy Spirit Himself? –Because He is not personally mentioned. –Because both He and the word abide within us. Why not the gift of knowledge and wisdom? –Because according to 1 John 2:20 they all had this anointing, and the gifts were for only a few as the Spirit willed and were given in more variety. And because the case for the anointing being the word of God is so strong.

The Case from the Context The phrase “Abide in You” is used to describe both the anointing and what they “heard.” –1 John 2:24,27 The anointing “teaches you about all things” and had “taught” them in the past. Yet, we know the apostles were their source of teaching. –1 John 1:1-4 When John elaborates on the anointing he describes their knowledge of the truth about Jesus, which they received through preaching. –1 John 2:20-23

The Case from History God’s Prophetic Promise –Hebrews 8:8-11 (Jeremiah 31:31-34) –A Covenant of Faith, not Family (vs. 8-9) –“I will put My laws into their minds and I will write them on their hearts.” (vs. 10) –“They shall not teach…Know the Lord…” (vs. 11) The Example of Other Churches –The Bereans Acts 17:10-11

The Case from the Greek Greek Word: Strong’s # “chrisma” –Used 2 Times: 1 John 2:20,27 Greek Root Word: Strong’s # “chrio” –Used 5 Times: Luke 4:18, Acts 4:27, Acts 10:38, 2 Corinthians 1:21, Hebrews 1:9 –Always refers to being equipped by God and the Spirit The Word of God was given by God and the Spirit to equip us. –2 Timothy 3:17

The Christian’s Anointing Summary: The anointing is the word of God, given from God, by the Holy Spirit. We Appreciate The Anointing –Because it was given by God –Because it abides within us –Because it teaches us all things –Because it is true –Because it equips us to abide in God The Point: Whatever teaching is from the Holy Spirit we need, and will always need. But other vain teachings of man are only foolishness, no matter how knowledgeable they appear.

The Christian’s Anointing