Episode Transcript
Week 6: Anointing: The Requirement for Knowledge
1 John 2:18-29
Let’s open our Bibles together
Imagine yourself in Ephesus and the Apostle John is speaking to you. He saw Jesus. He watched Him die, saw him buried, and saw him alive after the resurrection. He saw Him ascend. Now he is warning you about false teachers, those who abandoned the faith, and the end of days.” Pay attention…
18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. 20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. 21 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. 22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. 24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.
26 I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 27 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.
28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.
Prayer:
1. The Last Hour
- This phrase appears 2 times in the text.
- Same as “The Ladder Days” in the Old Testament and “Last Days” in the New Testament.
- Pentecost - The Holy Spirit fell and they accused the apostles of being drunk, but Peter says, “We are not drunk”… Acts 2:16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: 17 “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; 18 even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. 19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; 20 the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. 21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
2 Timothy 3:1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.
Hebrews 1:1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
Hebrews 1:18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
- When are the last days? The last days/times began with Jesus, The Apostles, The pouring out of the Holy Spirit, and we are living in them still.
- The culmination of the Last days/times is the Return of Christ!
Mark 13:24 “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
32 “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.
28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.
James 5:8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
2. The Antichrist(s)
18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. 20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. 21 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. 22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.
26 I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you.
- Antichrist(s) - In the text, they Deny Christ and the Father, Liars, Deceivers
They Teach False
- Doctrine: This is why John wrote this book.
The Antichrist - Against or instead of Christ
CONTRASTS BETWEEN CHRIST AND ANTICHRIST
CHRIST ANTICHRIST
called the Christ (Mat. 16:16) called the Antichrist (1Jn. 4:3)
the Man of Sorrows (Isa. 53:3) the Man of Sin (2Th. 2:3)
the Son of God (John 1:34) the Son of Perdition (2Th. 2:3)
the Seed of woman (Gen. 3:15) the seed of the Serpent (Gen. 3:15)
the Lamb (Isa. 53:7) the Beast (Rev. 11:7)
the Holy One (Mark 1:24) the Wicked One (2Th. 2:8)
the Truth (John 14:6) the Lie (John 8:44)
Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6) profane Prince (Eze. 21:25)
glorious Branch (Isa. 4:2) abominable Branch (Isa. 14:19)
the Mighty Angel (Rev. 10:1) the Angel of the Bottomless Pit (Rev. 9:11)
the Good Shepherd (Jn. 10:11) the Idol Shepherd (Zec. 11:17)
came down from heaven (Jn. 3:13) comes up out of the bottomless pit (Rev. 11:7)
came in Another’s Name (Jn. 5:43) comes in his own name (John 5:43)
came to do the Father’s will will do his own will (Dan. 11:36)
(Jn 6:38)
energized by the Holy Spirit energized by Satan (Rev. 13:4)
(Luke 4:14)
submitted Himself to God defies God (2Th. 2:4)
(Jn 5:30)
humbled Himself (Php. 2:8) exalts himself (Dan. 11:37)
honored the God of His fathers refuses to (Dan. 11:37)
(Luke 4:16)
cleansed the temple (Jn. 2:14, 16) defiles the temple (Mat. 24:15)
ministered to the needy (Isa. 53:7) robs the poor (Ps. 10:8, 9)
rejected of men (Isa. 53:7) accepted by men (Rev. 13:4)
leads the flock (John 10:3) leaves the flock (Zec. 11:17, cp Zech 11:15-16)
slain for the people (John 11:51) slays the people (Isa. 14:20)
glorified God on earth (John 17:4) blasphemes the name of God in heaven (Rev. 13:6)
received up into heaven goes down into the Lake of Fire (Rev. 19:20)
(Luke 24:51)
- Antichrists - Follow the wicked one by their beliefs, actions, and teachings.
This is demonstrated by their withdrawal from fellowship (1 John 2:18-19; 4:6), lack of love for the brethren (1 John 3:14, 17, 18, 23-24; 4:8, 20), deviation from apostolic teaching (2 John 9-11), and heretical views of the Person and work of Jesus Christ (1 John 2:22-23; 4:1-3).]
False gospels that preach a fake Jesus come in many different forms:
The Prosperity Gospel Jesus, who just wants you to be happy, healthy, and wealthy.
The Mormon Jesus, who is the half-brother of Satan.
The Political Jesus, who supports every item on our political agenda and opposes everything on the other side of our partisan aisle.
The Good Guy Jesus, who didn’t atone for our sins, but merely set a good example for the world to follow. [https://www.9marks.org/article/what-does-2-john-have-to-teach-us-about-partnering-with-false-teachers/]
T. D. Jakes says that God eternally exists in three manifestations, not three persons. Greg Boyd says God knows some aspects of the future, but that other future events are outside of his knowledge. Creflo Dollar says because we are created in the image of God, we are little gods. Mormonism says God revealed new scripture to Joseph Smith that supersedes the Bible. Roman Catholicism says we are justified by faith, but not by faith alone. Faith plus our works.
Tests of Sound Doctrine
Test 1: The Test of Origin: Sound doctrine originates with God; false doctrine originates with someone or something created by God.
Test 2: The Test of Authority: Sound doctrine grounds its authority within the Bible; false doctrine grounds its authority outside the Bible.
Test 3: The Test of Consistency: Sound doctrine is consistent with the whole of Scripture; false doctrine is inconsistent with some parts of Scripture.
Test 4: The Test of Spiritual Growth: Sound doctrine is beneficial for spiritual health; false doctrine leads to spiritual weakness.
Test 5: The Test of Godly Living: Sound doctrine has value for godly living, false doctrine leads to ungodly living.
[https://www.challies.com/articles/test-every-doctrine-test-every-teacher/]
3. The Deceived
19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.
- False Teachers who departed - Started well, but departed from sound doctrine and set out to lead others astray.
- Their followers - Deceived - Believed false teachers / Doctrine
- Can you lose your salvation? No. Not, according to this passage. John goes to great length to say they didn’t lose it because they never had it.
John 10:27-29 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
John 8:31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;
Hebrews 10:39 But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.
Philippians 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
John 6:39-40 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
- True Children of God can not lose their salvation.
- Some people think they are saved, but are not.
- Some people are deceivers who were placed by satan to deceive others.
- True Believers continue until the end. They love God and others. They live Godly lives. They know the truth.
4. The Anointed
20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. 21 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.
24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.
26 I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 27 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.
28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.
- "False Christians in John's day used two special words to describe their experience: "knowledge" and "unction." They claimed to have a special unction (anointing) from God which gave them a unique knowledge. They were "illuminated" and therefore living on a much higher level than anybody else. But John points out that all true Christians know God and have received the Spirit of God! And because they have believed the truth, they recognize a lie when they meet it". - Warren Wiersbe
"Acts 10:38 says that Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit. And 1 John 4:13 says that God has given us of his Spirit. So the anointing referred to in 1Jn 2:20 (see note) and 1Jn 2:27 is probably the pouring of the Holy Spirit into our hearts when we are born again. So we can go back and rephrase 1Jn 2:20 like this: “You have the Holy Spirit from God in you and so you know the truth.” And 1Jn 2:27 would go like this: “The Holy Spirit which you received from God abides in you and so you have no need that any one should teach you. That is, you don’t need these progressive prophets who claim to add new information about Christ beyond the truth you heard at the beginning.” What is plain from these two verses is that without the Holy Spirit we would not know the truth. Knowing the truth about Christ is a gift of the Holy Spirit."
- John Piper
Those who are anointed:
- Are Born Again
- Are Saved
- Know the Truth
- Continue in the Truth
- Reject Lies - False Teaching
- Abide in God - Father, Son, Spirit
- Have Eternal Life
- Will not be deceived
- Taught by the Holy Spirit about all truth (This doesn’t mean we know everything, now, but that we are protected from heresy that rejects Christ)
- Practice Righteousness
Application:
- Jesus is coming soon. (If John was in the last hour, where are we? The last seconds.
- True Believers must reject false teaching.
- We are secure in Christ.
- The Holy Spirit is Essential for Salvation and Sanctification.
