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"But you have an anointing from the Holy One..."

Text: 1 John 2:20

A DISTURBING OBSERVATION

What John had written must have been quite disturbing for his readers. Let us attempt to reconstruct the scenario.

John represented the Lord Jesus as His apostle

a) He would proclaim the teachings of the Lord Jesus.

b) He would walk in the ways of the Lord.

2. Those who followed John and his teachings

a) There were true followers.

i) They remained faithful and true.

ii) They continued (“remained”) with John.

b) There were false followers

i) They were not faithful nor true.

ii) They did not continue with John but instead chose to leave.

3. The disturbing part

a) These erstwhile followers were “friends”.

b) But they had not remained true to the Lord and His word but had left.

A WORD OF COMFORT TO THE FAITHFUL

John wrote a comforting word to the faithful and true who remained steadfast.

But you have an anointing from the Holy One,
and you know all things.”
1 John 2:20

1) “But you have an anointing from the Holy One”

a) The word “anointing” is often associated with the Holy Spirit.

b) The Lord Jesus spoke of being anointed by the Lord (Luke 4:18).

c) All true believers have a wonderful anointing of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14).

2) “And you know all things”

a) The word “know” is better translated “you have known”.

b) This is a reference to knowledge that had been imparted.

c) The true followers of the Lord and of John would have known the truth.

d) They would have known what it means to be faithful and true to God and would never have left.