“But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.” (1 John 2:20-21 ESV)
The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee of salvation for the believer (Ephesians 1:13-14). There is nothing that provides greater assurance of salvation than the Spirit’s indwelling. The Apostle John, therefore, after addressing the issue of apostasy and those who had gone out from the midst of the church into outright unbelief, immediately continues his teaching with a description of the surety and security of a true faith.
In contrast to the apostates, John says of true believers, “But you have been anointed by the Holy One.” Biblical anointing generally relates to a commission to a formal task. Not only are believers regenerated, called, and indwelt by the Spirit, but they are also appointed to the task of service. Commentators have noted the parallel between Christ’s fulfillment of the offices of prophet, priest, and king and his commanding and equipping of the redeemed to fulfill those roles in a subordinate manner.
Matthew Henry says it this way,
They are anointed into a similitude of their Lord’s offices, as subordinate prophets, priests, and kings, unto God. The Holy Spirit is compared to oil, as well as to fire and water; and the communication of his salvific grace is our anointing.
When a person is saved, his salvation—though important—is not his ultimate end. Rather, as the Westminster Shorter Catechism says, he is to “glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” This is the chief end of all mankind, but believers pursue it as we are empowered by the Spirit. The anointing of the Spirit sets us apart, not only for the glorification that awaits us as our heavenly inheritance but in the here and now as servants of God.
John also says that those anointed by the Spirit “have knowledge.” He is not referring to knowing mere intellectual information or even affirming the truth of that information (James 2:19). Bare knowledge does not save, but faith that personally trusts in that knowledge does save.
Knowledge also exposes error. This is an especially important aspect of John’s encouragement because one of his purposes in writing is to expose false teachings. His readers may be ignorant of some of the intricacies of the heretical teachings by which they are assailed—which is why John felt it necessary to write the letter—but they are not ignorant of the gospel. They “know the truth.”
Knowing the truth is the best way to identify falsehoods. Those who know Christ personally and intimately will be able to discern when someone comes preaching another gospel. Lies are incompatible with the truth. People cannot, at the same time, be followers of Christ and followers of false teachers because the two messages are mutually exclusive. Those who know and believe the truth will not be drawn away from their Savior by the lies of false teachers.
So it is with us. When we have been captivated by the beauty and sufficiency of Christ, the siren’s call of heresy will land on deaf ears. Like Peter, we will reply, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God” (John 6:68-69).
If you are Christ’s and Christ is yours, error will never entice you away from him because you know that he is the only surety of redemption and the only mediator between God and men (1 Timothy 2:5).
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
You have revealed the truth of Christ to us through your Spirit. You have called us into your service and have bound us fast to Christ. Lead us more deeply into the truth that we may grow ever stronger in our resistance against the evil one and all his attempts to snatch us out of your hand.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Prayer Requests:
- Tuesday: Pray for missionaries serving in camp ministry with Goroka Baptist Bible College as they minister to approximately 500 teenagers each year.
- 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.
- 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.
- Sunday: Pray for missionaries in the Mediterranean and Middle East.
- Monday: Pray for missionaries serving in women’s ministry.
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.
