Slides: The Spirit’s Anointing (1 John 2:12-29)

Anointing

^2:20 You have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth... ^2:27 The anointing you received from him remains in you… his anointing teaches you about all things…

 

What is anointing?

In Old Testament times, special oil was poured on someone’s head to set them apart and consecrate them for office: priest, king, or prophet.

 

Christ’s anointing
Messiah = Christ = anointed

The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me. (Luke 4:18)

God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. (Acts 10:38)

 

Christians’ anointing

God anointed us, put his seal on us and gave us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)

You have an anointing from the Holy One... The anointing you received from him remains in you. (1 John 2:20,27)

 

Heidelberg Catechism Lord’s Day 12

Q. 31 Why is he called “Christ,” meaning “anointed”?

A. Because he has been ordained by God the Father and has been anointed with the Holy Spirit to be our chief prophet and teacher who fully reveals to us the secret counsel and will of God concerning our deliverance; our only high priest who has delivered us by the one sacrifice of his body, and who continually pleads our cause with the Father; and our eternal king who governs us by his Word and Spirit, and who guards us and keeps us in the freedom he has won for us.
Christ: anointed prophet, priest, king

Q 32 But why are you called a Christian?

A. Because by faith I am a member of Christ and so I share in his anointing. I am anointed to confess his name [prophet], to present myself to him as a living sacrifice of thanks [priest], to strive with a free conscience against sin and the devil in this life, and afterward to reign with Christ over all creation for eternity [king].

 

The Spirit’s Anointing

• You live and grow up.
• You resist the world.
• You reject antichrists.
• You know the truth.
• You abide in Son & Father.

 

Live and grow up
Stages of spiritual maturity

• Children: forgiven for Jesus’ sake, trust God as Father.
• Youth: strong in the Lord, defeat Satan with God’s Word within
• Fathers: know Jesus deeply, are eager to see his face

 

Resist the world

Three meanings of "world"

• Physical universe: enjoy and tend
• Human beings: honor and love
• Evil system: resist its pleasures and its pressures.

 

Resist the world

• Lust of the flesh: inner urges without God
• Lust of the eyes: outer attractions without God
• Pride of life: success without God, living to impress others

He proffered to give him that crown for his muckrake; but the man did neither look up nor regard, but raked to himself the straws, the small sticks, and the dust of the floor. (Pilgrim’s Progress)

A Christian is like a scuba diver underwater. Living in a foreign element, we need a constant air supply, or our souls perish. We have our spiritual “air supply” when the Spirit keeps breathing the breath of heaven into us.

Reject antichrists

• Christ launched new covenant era, anointed believers with the Spirit.
• Christ will return, defeat Antichrist, end fallen world, and bring heaven to earth.
• Between Pentecost and Jesus’ return is “last hour,” “last days,” “last times.” Christians advance; antichrists attack.
• There are many antichrists, not just one.
• They seem Christian at first but abandon apostolic truth.
• They deny the real Jesus.
• They lose. Last, worst one will lose. So will all others.

Know the truth

^2:20 You have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth... ^2:27 The anointing you received from him remains in you… his anointing teaches you about all things…

Abide in Son, Father

• Spirit, Son, and Father are one.
• Spirit is in you, and you in Him.
• Fake spirituality lacks real God.
• Abiding in God is eternal life.
• Abiding prepares for Jesus’ return.

The Spirit’s Anointing

• You live and grow up.
• You resist the world.
• You reject antichrists.
• You know the truth.
• You abide in Son & Father.