Lesson 8: 1 John 2:20-27
1 John 2:20-23
But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 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. Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: [but] he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
Background Information
The word unction refers to a special endowment or an anointing. (Anointing was a ritual in which a small amount of oil was rubbed on someone’s head to indicate that God had chosen that one for something special such as official office. Later, the term came to refer to the Holy Spirit coming down on a person and empowering him or her.
The Greek word translated “denieth” (denies in modern English) also carries the ideas of contradiction, rejection, or disavowing. It is also translated “refuse”.
Related Scriptures
Luke 12:8-9
John 14:6
John 14:26 (Jesus is speaking.)
Ephesians 4:11-14 (“He” refers to God here.)
1 John 2:7
1 John 2:27
Questions
1. Why does John say he has written?
2. Who teaches us all about God, according to these Scriptures?
3. According to 1 John 2:20-23 what makes someone an antichrist?
4. Are truth and lies compatible?
5. Is it possible to know God without coming to Him through Jesus Christ?
1 John 2:24-25
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. And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
Related Scriptures
John 3:14-16 (Here is an example of the promise of eternal life.)
John 4:13-14 (Here is another example of the promise of eternal life.)
Romans 8:9-11 (The word “quicken” means to give life to.)
2 Corinthians 6:16
Galatians 1:6-12 (The Apostle Paul is writing.)
Ephesians 3:14-19
Questions
1. What had they heard from the beginning?
2. It is important that we keep the gospel message alive in our thoughts and hearts, but from the related Scriptures, we can see that there is more involved than just remembering words. Following our response to the message, Who comes to live in us?
3. Is there salvation without His presence?
4. a) Does our text from 1 John base continued salvation on acts of obedience or on continuing with the basic salvation message/experience? Please draw your answer from what you actually see in the text, noting the words “heard from the beginning”. b) From previous lessons, will continuing in the basic salvation message/experience continue to make us obedient? (This is a cause and effect situation. You’ll save yourself much confusion, if you know what the Bible actually says.)
1 John 2:26-27
These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. 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.
Background Information
In the Old Testament (e.g. Deuteronomy chapter 13) trying to lure someone away from God was punishable by death under the civil law that God gave to Israel. This fact shows us how severe of sin leading people away from God or Christ is; however, the Bible does not teach Christians living under the New Testament to use physical violence against those who would lead us astray. We are not to associate with them. We are to encourage them to repent, but the days when God’s people were called upon to use physical force to accomplish spiritual results ended when Jesus came and gave us a better way. It should be remembered, however, that God reserves the right to use violent judgment Himself. We as Christians don’t perform God’s sentences of judgment, but we do recognize His right both to pronounce and to carry out those sentences.
The word “seduce” in our text has a spiritual application rather than the very specific application we tend to give it today. The general idea of luring somebody into sin is the same either way.
Related Scriptures
Deuteronomy 13:6-9
Mark 13:21-23
Romans 8:14-16
1 Corinthians 12:1-3
Galatians 1:8-9
Galatians 5:22-25
Ephesians 5:1-18
Jude 24-25
Revelation 3:20
Questions
1. According to our text from 1 John, what is our number one defense against being led away from Jesus Christ?
2. Consider Ephesians 5:1-18. a) Are evil people going to Heaven? b) From verses 8-9 what has happened that we are no longer evil? c) From verse 18, what should be our controlling passion?
3. Is it normal for a Christian whose relationship with the Holy Spirit is intact to be tricked into rejecting Jesus?
4. Who is our ultimate teacher and our final authority? (Please note, that He also gave us the Bible and will never contradict its teachings.)
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