Daily Devotional #22 (1 John 2:26-27)

Today, we come to 1 John 2:26-27. In these two verses we learn more about the Spirit of God who has made the dead spirit of the Believer in Christ alive to God.

According to Ephesians 2:1-2 we read, "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient."

According to these verses all mankind was born in the condition of being dead to God.

But according to Ephesians 2:4-5, we read, "4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved."

Because of God's great love for man, it is now possible for all to be forgiven of our sinful condition. The Bible consistently teaches that the only thing that makes us right before God is the payment that the Lord Jesus made on the behalf of anyone who is humble enough to receive the free gift of God of forgiveness.

Having been made right with God, the Believer in Christ has been given the Holy Spirit who keeps us from being deceived by those who would try to lead us astray.

1 John 2:26-27, we read, "26 I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. 27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him."

As we have considered before, the anointing is the Holy Spirit who helps the Believer gain His insight on how to live. That is why at this level no human being can help you, although the Holy Spirit will often base his teaching upon the word which the human teacher brings.

John is not saying that the anointing of the Spirit enables us to know the truth of Christ by giving additional information beyond what they heard from the beginning. On the contrary John is intent on telling them they have enough revelation in what they heard from the beginning. He does not want to set them off in pursuit of something new. Remember 1 John 2:7?, "Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment which you had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard."

In this long text there are two imperatives. The first is in 1 John 2:24: "Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you." And the other is in 1 John 2:27 at the end: "As his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie, just as it has taught you, abide in him."

Let the Word abide in you, and abide in the Spirit, as god through Him, the Holy Spirit speaks to you and leads you to do His bidding!