Thoughts from The Bible

Thoughts from the Bible

Wednesday, 27 March 2024 09:24

The Teaching of the Spirit
by Sarah Wootten Corinth Missionary Baptist Church

Last week, we looked at an interesting verse in 1 John. It says, “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,” (2:27, ESV). John isn’t telling the believers that they don’t need teachers. The New Testament is very clear that teachers are an integral part of the life of a local congregation. Instead, he is telling them that they don’t need the false gospel taught by the teachers that have emerged among them. They already have the truth.
However, there is another aspect of this verse that we should consider. John says that there is an anointing that the believers have received that is true, and this stands in contrast to the lies of the false teachers. What is this anointing that John is talking about? Verse 20 helps us understand. The anointing that John is discussing is from the “Holy One.” This is a reference to Jesus sending the Holy Spirit. The Spirit was sent to be with the believers after Jesus ascended to the Father (see John 14:25-26, 16:12-14). Jesus told His disciples that the coming Spirit would lead them in the truth and teach them about Christ. In 1 John 2:20, we see that the anointing that the believers have received actually produces the same result that Jesus was talking about – that is, knowledge of the truth.

This same sentiment is true throughout the Bible. It’s always been God who opens the eyes of people to understand His Word. The psalmist so eloquently writes, “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law,” (Psalm 119:18, ESV). It is quite arrogant to think we can understand the glorious mysteries and knowledge of the infinite God with our limited minds. The truth of the gospel is so simple that a child can understand it, and yet, so awesome that all men are blind to it unless the Lord gives understanding (see 2 Corinthians 4:1-6).

So back to 1 John 2:27, it appears that John is telling the believers that they have no need for people to teach them. But that’s not actually what he is talking about. Instead, he’s saying that the gospel that they have been taught is sufficient. They don’t need this new teaching that has crept in. The truth that they have been taught was complete. It was right. It was the good news that explains God’s salvation. Therefore, they should stand firm in that truth. John’s calling them to abide in Christ and in the true gospel, and not to sway from it.

Sometimes, this is easier said than done. Some of the lies are obvious, such as the one saying that Jesus isn’t God. But other lies are more subtle. We desperately need to humbly sit before the Word and ask God to lead us in the truth, give us discernment, guard us from heresies, and teach us. And oftentimes, God teaching us looks like pastors, elders, and other people explaining the Word. But it’s never the devices of men that bring forth fruit. Only God can open the eyes of the blind to see and understand the gospel. Only God can take a believer’s mind and help him understand more of His great love. Only God can work in Christians and cause us to grow in righteousness. He is the greatest Teacher. It is all of God, so to Him be all the glory and honor for His work in us.