PROVISION FOR PROTECTION "But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth" (1 John 2:20-21). -- Tomorrow:
"But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things . . . But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him." (1 John 2:20,27-29)
Devotion 9 of 30
Although a flood of false christs and antichrists have dispersed among men, a way has been provided for our protection. The saints of God are NOT at the mercy of Satan's most crafty and seemingly effective teachers. Nor, indeed, have they been provided with a mere manual that enables them to detect wolves in sheep's clothing. They have received an "unction," or "anointing." – something intensely personal and effective.
This word is not addressed to the Apostles, most of whom had died at the time this Epistle was written. Nor do we have any indication that it was written to especially gifted believers who possessed peculiar benefits not given to all of the children of God. Just as the danger of false teachers was not confined to the first century, so the provision for protection from their devices is not restricted to that time.
The "unction," or "anointing" to which he refers is the Holy Spirit of God. The word used here is a significant one. It is the very word from which the word "Christ" ("anointed One") comes. For those who are interested, it comes from the Greek word kris-ma. John uses this word three times in this Epistle: once in this verse, and twice in verse twenty-seven.
The same word is used one other time in Second Corinthians 1:21. There, it is in the verb form. "Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has ANOINTED us is God" (NKJV). That passage has a great deal of relevance in this discussion. There, the ones "anointed" include both the Apostles and those who believed on Christ through their word.
This is NOT the word used for the majority of references to anointing. When Jesus read from the sixty-first chapter of Isaiah, it was announced that He had been "anointed" to preach the Gospel to the poor, etc. (Lk 4:18). The word used there was a different one. It does come from the same root word, but there it means to dedicate or set apart. It is used in the same way in Acts 10:38 and Hebrews 1:9. These three texts pertain to the Lord Jesus Himself, speaking of His uniqueness as the Savior of men.
In our text "anointing," or "unction" is a noun, and not a verb. It speaks of WHAT we have been anointed with, as distinguished from the act of anointing itself. This is confirmed by the elaboration of the Spirit in Second Corinthians. "Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee" (2 Cor 1:21-22). Everywhere this particular form of "anointing" is used, it is an anointing accomplished by Deity, and does not refer to an external action (Lk 4:18; Acts 4:27; 10:38; 2 Cor 1:21; Heb 1:9).
Other uses of the English term "anointing" are taken from different words, and apply to outward activities. These include anointing the sick (Mark 6:13; James 5:14), the woman who anointed Jesus (Lk 7:38,46; John 11:6), and Jesus anointing the eyes of the blind man (John 9:6,11). In each of those cases, "anointing" was a physical action. But this is not the case with our text, which is the same as the previously stated text (2 Cor 1:21-22). That rules out the idea that what is referenced occurred by the laying on of Apostolic hands. The anointing the believers received was the same one the Apostles received. It is something common to all believers, although it is given in differing measures. It is the Holy Spirit Himself.
WHAT DISTINGUISHES GOD'S CHILDREN?
One might ask, "Just what is it that distinguishes the children of God from the children of the wicked one?" Just as there are two different progenitors, so there are two differing progeny. Later, John will speak of the manifestation, or revelation, of "the children of God" and the "children of the devil" (3:10). Jesus spoke of "the children of the Kingdom," and the "children of the wicked one" (Matt 13:38). Obviously, there is something that distinguishes the two.
You might be surprised at the answers given to such a question. Some would affirm the distinction is found in the religious habits of the people, or the way they worship God, or their morality, or the creed to which they subscribe. While many such distinctions do have a place, it is not the primary place.
It is the possession of the Holy Spirit Himself that marks us as the children of God. He is the "Seal" that uniquely identifies us (Eph 1:13; 4:30). The Word of God is very strong on this point. "Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His" (Rom 8:9). Elsewhere it is written, "And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, 'Abba, Father!'" (Gal 4:6). The cry "Abba, Father," is the cry of a begotten Son. It was sanctified in Jesus Himself, Who also cried out with these words (Mark 14:36). Romans 8:15 states the case with unusual clarity. "For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father.' The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God" (Rom 8:15-16).
The presence of the Holy Spirit is our proof that we belong to God. As it is written, "And by this we know that He abides in us, BY THE SPIRIT whom He has given us . . . By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because HE HAS GIVEN US OF HIS SPIRIT" (1 John 3:24; 4:13). The Holy Spirit, therefore, is "the anointing" to which our text refers. That "anointing" is common to all believers, and is the appointed means or protecting us from the deluding influence of antichrists.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for giving Your Holy Spirit to Your children.