Suppose you ask any believer what role the Holy Spirit plays in the believer’s life. In that case, you will undoubtedly get a variety of answers. Some will be pretty exciting. In response to the Pentecostal excesses, many Christians swing to the other end of the spectrum and ignore the Holy Spirit. Yet, the Apostle John informs us that the Holy Spirit’s evident work in the believer’s life is a sign of spiritual life. In 1 John 2:20, John states, But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. He further elaborates on this statement in verse 27, where he states, 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.

To understand the Holy Spirit’s work, we must first understand what this anointing means. John here is not speaking about something that happens in the future after salvation, but rather what has already happened. Scripture teaches us that at redemption, you are anointed, indwelled, and sealed by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 12:4, 13; 6:19; 2 Cor. 1:20-21).

What then does John state happens as a result of this anointing? Let’s begin with the phrase to which your eyes were probably naturally drawn. John here states that they (and we) do not need anyone to teach us. What in the world is he saying? After all, is teaching not what John has been doing throughout the book and even now with this statement? So what could this possibly mean? Danny Akin comments, “John is not denying the importance in place of human teachers. The mere fact that he wrote this letter is sufficient proof. This claim that they have no need of someone to teach them echoes the promises that Jesus made in the gospel that the Paraclete would lead them into all truth (John 14:16-17, 26; 16:13). The ministry of the Spirit works through the apostles (not the heretics) to bring the message of salvation that is found in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Here was the reliable truth that they were taught. Additional revelation was not needed; indeed, it could be deadly.”[1]

If someone comes claiming special revelation from God, they are to be rejected. We have the Holy Spirit who illuminates us. The Baptist concepts of the Priesthood of the Believers and Individual Soul Liberty relate to the idea that we don’t need anyone to teach us. The idea of the Priesthood of the believer is that all believers have equal access to God. We do not need to go through a human priest to approach God. When Jesus died, the temple’s veil was torn so that, according to Hebrews 4:16, all believers may come boldly into the Holy Place. The idea of individual soul liberty is that every person has the right in matters of religion to choose what his conscience says is right, and he answers only to God. In other words, you do not need some person with secret knowledge. You need the Bible. The sufficiency of Scripture builds on the concept that we looked at last week that any authority a pastor, preacher, or teacher has is derived from the Word of God.

John then says that the anointing means the Holy Spirit teaches us. This is the concept of the illumination of the Spirit. What the Spirit caused to be written, he will inform us as to what it means (Jn 14:16, 26; Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 6:19). Jesus promised to send another (the Spirit) who would help us remember what God has taught us. He would illumine us and bring the Word of God to our minds when we need it (Jn. 16:13-14). However, not only does the Spirit bring the Word to mind, but he also teaches what the Word means and how it applies to us. He guides us in all truth. When we need to speak the gospel and defend our Christian beliefs, the Holy Spirit will help us know what we have to say (Lk. 12:12; 1 Cor. 2:12-15; Eph. 1:17-19).

John further expounds that the Spirit taught us that we abide in him. I believe that this is referring to the Spirit’s sealing work. When you are saved and place your faith and trust in Christ alone for salvation, the Holy Spirit seals you. The concept is that of an ancient letter. The seal of the sender or the ruler was placed on the letter and only the one authorized to open it could. Today we might relate this to the idea of branding cattle. Scripture writers use this to illustrate what the Holy Spirit does for us. The Holy Spirit marks us out for God so that we cannot lose our salvation but are guaranteed to persevere to the end (Eph 1:13-14; 4:30; 2 Cor 1:20-22). This sealing is God’s authentic mark on the believer. It means that we are genuinely his, and nothing can change that. Nothing can separate us from God’s love (Rom. 8:35-39).

We have been challenged to abide in Christ for the past two weeks. First, we must remember that truth matters. We must value Biblical beliefs. Unfortunately, there is a tendency in some Christian circles to minimize truth and to substitute it for either ethical demands or subjective experiences or simply the obligation to love in place of truth. We must know why we believe what we believe and why we do what we do. And it must be founded in the Word. This takes work and effort.

Second, we must rejoice and dwell in the fact that we have the Holy Spirit. This Spirit teaches us what we need to know from the Word. And the Spirit seals us so we can never lose our salvation but keeps us until Christ returns.

Finally, there are the means by which every Christian should achieve victory over any error in life: the Word of God and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Both are necessary. Without the Spirit, knowledge of the Word becomes but empty religion. Without the Word, the experience of the Spirit can lead to the most unjustified and damaging of excesses. A love for the Word and evidence of the Spirit’s work marks the true believer’s life. 

[1] Daniel L. Akin, 1, 2, 3 John. The New American Commentary. vol. 38. (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holdman Publishers, 2001), 125.