1 John 2: 27, "Now as for you, the anointing that you received from him resides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things, it is true and is not a lie. Just as it has taught you, you reside~~ in him."
Since the beginning of time, and especially the age of the church, the evil one has sought to lead God’s people astray. Jesus warned the disciples that “many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and deceive many” (Matt 24:4-5). John’s readers were not deceived yet, but apparently, deceivers were active.
The readers are assured that the “anointing that [they] received from him resides in [them].” Believers have already received the “anointing,” that is, the Holy Spirit, at the time of their conversion (Rom 8:9). This is clear from 2 Cor 1:21-22, “And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”
One of the results of the “anointing” is a capacity to recognize or know the truth, not in the sense of a new revelation, but simply knowing the difference between what is “true” and what is a “lie.” In 1 John 4:1 John wrote to “test the spirits” in order to discern the true from the false teachings. All believers have the same capability, and only need to recognize when He is clarifying whether the teaching under question is true or a lie. A key test is whether the new teaching contradicts the inspired Word of God as already revealed elsewhere.
The power of the gospel (Rom 1:16), as it is preached, is the ability of the Holy Spirit to “convict” or “convince” the world of sin. The Spirit can teach even the unsaved of their need of a Savior as they hear the gospel message proclaimed.
The believer is told not to “quench the Spirit” (1 Thess 5:19), that is, do not ignore the conviction He gives when we have disobeyed the commands. He will teach us when we are disobedient to His instructions. Have you ever had this experience? How do you respond?
False teachers will become more prevalent in the end times according to 1 Tim 4:1-2, “Now, the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils, speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” Demons can whisper into a receptive mind ideas that appear to be new insights or revelations, but in fact, are doctrines of devils. Persons who want to receive a newer revelation than the Scriptures, can quench the Spirit’s conviction of what is true and, therefore are in danger of developing a “seared” conscience.
Following the declaration that the “anointing abides in you” comes the command to “continually or habitually always be residing in him [or it].” The latter pronoun could be rendered “it,” that is, as the Spirit convinces you of what is true, abide in it. Do you consciously decide to live by what you learn in His Word?
Psalm 91:1, “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”
For a year's daily devotional of these Bible studies, order a copy of the book Truths to Live By at Branches Publications for your copy.
Since the beginning of time, and especially the age of the church, the evil one has sought to lead God’s people astray. Jesus warned the disciples that “many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and deceive many” (Matt 24:4-5). John’s readers were not deceived yet, but apparently, deceivers were active.
The readers are assured that the “anointing that [they] received from him resides in [them].” Believers have already received the “anointing,” that is, the Holy Spirit, at the time of their conversion (Rom 8:9). This is clear from 2 Cor 1:21-22, “And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”
One of the results of the “anointing” is a capacity to recognize or know the truth, not in the sense of a new revelation, but simply knowing the difference between what is “true” and what is a “lie.” In 1 John 4:1 John wrote to “test the spirits” in order to discern the true from the false teachings. All believers have the same capability, and only need to recognize when He is clarifying whether the teaching under question is true or a lie. A key test is whether the new teaching contradicts the inspired Word of God as already revealed elsewhere.
The power of the gospel (Rom 1:16), as it is preached, is the ability of the Holy Spirit to “convict” or “convince” the world of sin. The Spirit can teach even the unsaved of their need of a Savior as they hear the gospel message proclaimed.
The believer is told not to “quench the Spirit” (1 Thess 5:19), that is, do not ignore the conviction He gives when we have disobeyed the commands. He will teach us when we are disobedient to His instructions. Have you ever had this experience? How do you respond?
False teachers will become more prevalent in the end times according to 1 Tim 4:1-2, “Now, the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils, speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” Demons can whisper into a receptive mind ideas that appear to be new insights or revelations, but in fact, are doctrines of devils. Persons who want to receive a newer revelation than the Scriptures, can quench the Spirit’s conviction of what is true and, therefore are in danger of developing a “seared” conscience.
Following the declaration that the “anointing abides in you” comes the command to “continually or habitually always be residing in him [or it].” The latter pronoun could be rendered “it,” that is, as the Spirit convinces you of what is true, abide in it. Do you consciously decide to live by what you learn in His Word?
Psalm 91:1, “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”
For a year's daily devotional of these Bible studies, order a copy of the book Truths to Live By at Branches Publications for your copy.
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