The book of First John

A Verse by Verse Study
Text 1st John 2:20 – 27

 

A. Let’s refresh our minds to this point.

     1. The Lord has just told us of four stages of Christian maturity.

          a. Little Children or infants.

          b. Little Children or immature Christians or young boys or girls.

          c. Young men or adults under forty.

          d. Fathers or parents.   

      2. The Lord had just written to the second class as referred to as little children.

          a. He had warned them that anti-christ are here and will come.

          b. He said they went out from us but are not of us.

          c. He said if they were of us, that is truly Christians they would not have left us.

 

B. V. 20 “But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.”

     1. the word “unction” means anointing as we also see it in V. 27 “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.”

          a. Both times in Verse 20 and 27 the same Greek word “charisma” is used.

          b. In the New Testament the usage of this word is used metaphorically according to Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words.

          c. The anointing as it is referred to here is not an littoral anointing with oil but rather anointing (metaphorically used) of the Holy Spirit with knowledge.

     2. Let’s notice again how it is used in context.

          a. “But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.” You have an anointing that you know all things.

          b. First of all, no one just knows all things.

          c. Second, however we are qualified to know all things because we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

     3. Learning the truths of God are available to all of His children.

          a. Lets team V. 20 and V. 27 “and ye know all things” and ye need not that any man teach you:” but aren’t men teachers? Yes, however if you are going to understand the teaching the Holy Sprit must be the supplier of that understanding.

          b. This is not a special blessing to some who Gad has chosen to have special teaching powers, in context John is still talking to the young boys and girls in general.

          c. The metaphorical anointing of the Holy Spirit here is that since you are saved you have the Holy Spirit in you and He is your teacher. John 16:13 “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”

 

C. V. 21 “I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.”

     1. You know the truth, or you should.

          a. The truth is God’s word, in it is no error. If we believe it as written we will not error.

          b. If you are lead astray by the anti-christ, then you will not know the truth and you will error.

          c. Are we seeking truth or are we seeking to satisfy the flesh.

          d. Sometimes truth condemns us, sometimes it insults us, sometimes it thrashes us, but it always teaches us.

     2. The anti-christ have lead many astray because they have not seeked the teaching of the Holy One.

     3. Either we seek and follow truth or we do not and follow the anti-christ of our time.

 

D. V. 22 “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.”

     1. I believe this goes much deeper than just denying that Jesus is the Son of the Living God, I believe this is denying who they are.

          a. This indeed includes all who deny who Jesus is and that is God.

          b. But He is also sovereign, He is also gracious, He is also foreknowledge, He is also predestination, He is also the head of the church, and ECT.

          c. To doctrinally deny Jesus, is to deny who He truly is.  

     2. Some say that Jesus is God however they say He does not save sinners. This is denying Jesus.

     3. To accept Jesus for who He is, is to accept Him for who He truly is.

 

E.   V. 24 “Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.”

     1. That is if you have the Lord in you, you have all three and if you have the Lord in you then you will continue in the truth.

     2. I do not understand how someone who is truly saved can leave the truths of God’s word and deny the Lord His due. I must question their spiritual condition.

     3. Regardless, we do see here the importance of keeping the truths of God.

 

F. V. 25 “And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.”

     1. This is not the benefit of standing in the truths, but rather because He is in you. 

     2. We have the promise that if Christ be in us we have eternal life however walking in the truths and the ability of walking in the truths are ours because we have the Holy Spirit in us to teach us.

 

G. V. 26 “These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.”

     1. The word seduce means to lead astray, John is telling us to beware of their slick tongues, listen to God’s word and not man. God is truth, man is a liar. Romans 3:4 “God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.”

     2. This is the reason for verse 27 “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.”

     3. Again, God is not saying not to hear man, but to believe God over man.

     4. While man may teach us, the Holy Spirit is the true teacher. 1 Corinthians 2:10 “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”