The Anointing
by Terry Wane Benton
"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" (I John 2:27 ESV).
The anointing his readers (first century Christians) had received would aid them to discern when someone was trying to deceive them (I John 2:26). So, they had John’s inspired writings from the Holy Spirit to help in their discernment, but additionally, they had the nine special gifts of the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 12). Among those gifts were “the word of wisdom” (I Corinthians 12:8 ) and to another the “word of knowledge” and “discerning of spirits” (I Corinthians 12:10). The miracles helped verify when the message was from God.
So, John speaks of these gifts that “anointed” the brethren with the resources (knowledge) to discern truth from error, God’s revelation from the trickery and deception of men. The anointing “teaches you,” and it teaches you about everything. In other words, the anointing of the Holy Spirit gave them “all truth” (John 16:13) through the apostles and partially through the nine gifts they were still using.
Everything pertaining to life and godliness came through “the knowledge of Him” (II Peter 1:3-5), and that knowledge base was the anointing given by the Holy Spirit. It has accumulated into the scriptures of our Bibles. We are “completely furnished” as the anointing delivered a complete resource (II Timothy 3:16-17).
Like the oil that dripped down the head of each anointed priest and king, and designated them as workers in God’s house, so the knowledge of Christ has dripped down over the heads of His church, His designated priests and kings (Revelation 1:6). It is this spiritual knowledge that anoints us and separates us from the world! With this knowledge, we should not be tossed around by every wind of doctrine (Ephesians 4:11-16).
With our divinely given knowledge that has anointed us, separating us from the world, we should hold onto it, let it abide in us, and utilize it when truth and error must clash. Your anointing has taught you! You need not easily be deceived! Use it!
