“I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.” (1 John 2:26-27 ESV)
Teaching others is an immense privilege—but also an immense responsibility (James 3:1). It can be profitable and instructive when it accords with the truth, or it can be detrimental and destructive when it does not. It is also true that not all teachers have good intentions. Some people instruct others with the express intent of misleading or deceiving. This was the case for the false teachers who had infiltrated the church in John’s day. He is writing to warn the believers about “those who are trying to deceive.”
These false teachers arrived with velvet words spoken from malicious mouths. They had no desire to benefit their hearers. This made their error significantly worse; they were not just teaching error out of ignorance but doing so intentionally, to the detriment of any who gave them a listening ear.
John includes a critical word in his warning: “trying.” Although they were trying to deceive the church, those who belong to Christ should recognize the error. Jesus also warned that “false christs and false prophets” would come and try to lead even the elect astray (Matthew 24:24). But as John continues, “the anointing that you received from him abides in you.” This anointing refers to the appointment to service that attends the indwelling of the Spirit. Believers have been called not only to Christ but into his service—a call for which the Spirit empowers the believer. By reminding them of their anointing, John is also reminding them that they are indwelt, and therefore preserved and secured, by the Spirit and cannot be led away from Christ.
This does not preclude the exhortation to abide in the truth, but it does give confidence that even the most charismatic false teacher cannot convince a Christian to abandon Christ. When false teachers offer enticements to forsake Jesus and pursue the gods of this world, those in whom the Spirit dwells can always reply back to their Lord, with Peter, “to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).
The best way to combat false teaching is with true teaching, which is why John continues, “you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie[.]” He is certainly not denying the usefulness or profit of God’s people teaching one another but is rather affirming that the same Spirit who indwells also illuminates.
We have the Word of God, and we also have the Spirit that opens our minds to understand it and our hearts to believe it. The Spirit enables Christ’s sheep to know and follow the voice of their Shepherd (John 10:27). When other shepherds come and call the sheep, they do not go because they do not recognize the voice that is calling. The Spirit who indwells and anoints believers gives them ears to hear and believe only that voice which is true.Jesus’ voice pierces through the deception and confusion sowed by false teachers to give his people a clear understanding of the truth. As the psalmist says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105), and that light dispels the darkness of error and allows the believer to walk safely in the truth.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for giving us your Spirit to make us alive in Christ and to give us an unwavering confidence in the truth. Help us to follow only the voice of Jesus and to reject any teachers who would seek to deceive us.
For Jesus’ sake, amen.
Prayer Requests:
- Tuesday: Pray for the Evangelical Church of Bermuda to have a faithful gospel witness in the community.
- Wednesday: Pray for missionaries serving through counseling as they promote spiritually healthy souls and flourishing, effective ministries.
- Thursday: Pray for medical missionaries working with International Healthcare Ministries to meet the physical and spiritual needs of the needy.
- Friday: Pray for missionaries in East Asia serving with Kerusso Media as they provide free resources for the local church and Bible institute.
- Saturday: Pray for the Center for Youth Ministry in Ukraine to have a profound impact on the younger generations.
- Sunday: Pray for missionaries in the Mediterranean and Middle East to serve with boldness.
- Monday: Pray for missionaries serving in women’s ministry to engage many with the truth.
Featured Opportunity to Serve:
Administrative Assistant
Location: Togo
Hospital of Hope, in northern Togo, is looking for a skilled administrative assistant to assume tasks in general office work and data entry for hospital administration. Other duties include scheduling the logistics of travelers and short-term volunteers coming to the hospital.
