Sermons on 1 John 2:20
The various sermons below interpret 1 John 2:20 by emphasizing the anointing as a universal gift from the Holy Spirit to all believers, rather than a special status. They collectively highlight the Holy Spirit's role in helping believers discern truth from falsehood, using analogies such as anointing with oil and being "smeared" or "coated" with the Holy Spirit. A common theme is the rejection of the idea of special or secret knowledge, asserting that all believers have access to truth through the Holy Spirit. The sermons also emphasize the Holy Spirit's indwelling presence as a permanent guide, contrasting it with the Old Testament's temporary visitations. Additionally, the anointing is described as a divine communication system that provides believers with heavenly insights for earthly living, directly connecting to the believer's purpose and mission.
While the sermons share common themes, they also present unique perspectives. One sermon focuses on the Greek term for "know," suggesting a divine intuition rather than mere intellectual knowledge, contrasting this with the false teachings of antichrists. Another sermon emphasizes the perseverance of the saints, highlighting the danger of separating the physical and spiritual aspects of Jesus. A different approach presents the anointing as a means of receiving divine data for life transformation, while another sermon ties the anointing directly to the believer's mission and purpose, emphasizing empowerment for effective ministry.
1 John 2:20 Interpretation:
Abiding in Christ: The Foundation of Our Faith (Impact Church FXBG) interprets 1 John 2:20 by emphasizing the anointing as a universal gift from the Holy Spirit to all believers, not a special or elite status. The sermon uses the analogy of anointing with oil, a practice familiar to first-century believers, to illustrate the Holy Spirit's role in helping believers discern truth from lies. The sermon also highlights the Greek term for "anointing" as a covering, which signifies the Holy Spirit's presence and guidance in understanding truth.
Discerning Truth: The Nature of Christ and Antichrist (Woodland Heights Baptist Church) offers a unique perspective by focusing on the Greek word for "know" in 1 John 2:20, which implies a divine intuition rather than mere intellectual knowledge. The sermon explains that this intuition is a grace gift from the Holy Spirit, allowing believers to discern truth. The sermon also contrasts this divine intuition with the false teachings of the antichrists, who offer a different salvation.
Abiding in Truth: Discernment in the Last Hour (Calvary Chapel Ontario) interprets 1 John 2:20 by emphasizing the anointing as the presence of the Holy Spirit, which provides believers with the knowledge needed to discern truth. The sermon refutes the idea of special or secret knowledge, asserting that all believers have access to the truth through the Holy Spirit. The sermon also highlights the danger of false teachers who claim to have special insights, urging believers to rely on the Holy Spirit and the Word of God for truth.
Empowered by the Anointing: The Holy Spirit's Role (Tony Evans) interprets 1 John 2:20 as emphasizing the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit in every believer, which is described as an "anointing." This anointing is not merely an emotional experience but a divine messaging system that provides believers with heavenly insights for earthly living. Dr. Evans uses a detailed analogy of the Holy Spirit entering the human spirit, which then communicates with the soul and body, transforming the believer's life. He emphasizes that the anointing is a permanent resident in the believer's life, unlike in the Old Testament where the Spirit came and went.
Empowered by the Anointing: Living Out Our Purpose (Freedom Centre Tauranga) interprets 1 John 2:20 by emphasizing that every believer is anointed by God and that this anointing is not something mystical but the manifest presence of God's power. The sermon highlights that the anointing is directly connected to the believer's assignment and purpose, and it remains with the believer, teaching them how to live and minister effectively. The pastor uses the metaphor of being "smeared" or "coated" with the Holy Spirit to describe the anointing.
1 John 2:20 Theological Themes:
Abiding in Christ: The Foundation of Our Faith (Impact Church FXBG) presents the theme of abiding in Christ as essential for discerning truth. The sermon emphasizes that true followers of Jesus remain connected to the church and know who Jesus is, which is foundational for resisting false teachings.
Discerning Truth: The Nature of Christ and Antichrist (Woodland Heights Baptist Church) introduces the theme of the perseverance of the saints, explaining that true believers will not abandon the faith despite false teachings. The sermon also highlights the danger of separating the physical and spiritual aspects of Jesus, a common tactic of false teachers.
Abiding in Truth: Discernment in the Last Hour (Calvary Chapel Ontario) emphasizes the theme of the Holy Spirit as the source of truth and guidance for believers. The sermon warns against the allure of special knowledge and urges believers to abide in the truth revealed by the Holy Spirit.
Empowered by the Anointing: The Holy Spirit's Role (Tony Evans) presents the theme that the anointing is a divine communication system that allows believers to receive and understand God's will and insights. This theme is distinct in its focus on the anointing as a means of receiving divine data for life transformation.
Empowered by the Anointing: Living Out Our Purpose (Freedom Centre Tauranga) introduces the theme that the anointing is not just for personal edification but is directly tied to the believer's mission and purpose in life. The sermon emphasizes that the anointing empowers believers to make a difference in the world and fulfill their God-given assignments.
1 John 2:20 Historical and Contextual Insights:
Discerning Truth: The Nature of Christ and Antichrist (Woodland Heights Baptist Church) provides historical context by explaining the rise of Gnosticism in John's time, which separated the physical and spiritual aspects of Jesus. The sermon also references the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24, where Jesus warns of false prophets and the spirit of the antichrist.
Abiding in Truth: Discernment in the Last Hour (Calvary Chapel Ontario) offers historical insights into the early church's struggle with false teachings and the development of Gnosticism. The sermon explains that John's letter addresses these issues by affirming the truth of Jesus' nature and the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
1 John 2:20 Cross-References in the Bible:
Discerning Truth: The Nature of Christ and Antichrist (Woodland Heights Baptist Church) references Matthew 24, where Jesus warns of false prophets and the spirit of the antichrist. The sermon also cites 2 Thessalonians, where Paul warns of the man of lawlessness and the great falling away before Christ's return.
Abiding in Truth: Discernment in the Last Hour (Calvary Chapel Ontario) references Colossians 1:15 and Hebrews 1:3 to emphasize Jesus as the image of the invisible God and the exact imprint of God's nature. The sermon also cites John 17:3 to define eternal life as knowing God and Jesus Christ.
Empowered by the Anointing: The Holy Spirit's Role (Tony Evans) references several Bible passages to support the interpretation of 1 John 2:20. Acts 10:38 and Luke 4:18-19 are cited to show that Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit, illustrating the work of the Spirit in a believer's life. 1 Corinthians 6:19 is used to explain the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in believers. Additionally, 1 Corinthians 2:9-16 is referenced to describe how the Spirit reveals God's wisdom and insights to believers, likening the Spirit's role to a divine search engine that accesses the deep things of God.
Empowered by the Anointing: Living Out Our Purpose (Freedom Centre Tauranga) references Luke 4:18-19 to illustrate Jesus' mission and how the anointing empowered Him to fulfill it. The sermon also references Hebrews 8 to explain the new covenant promise that believers have a personal relationship with God through the anointing.
1 John 2:20 Christian References outside the Bible:
Abiding in Christ: The Foundation of Our Faith (Impact Church FXBG) references C.S. Lewis, who described Jesus as either a liar, a lunatic, or Lord, emphasizing the importance of knowing who Jesus is. The sermon also cites Herman Bavinck, who stated that Christ is Christianity itself, highlighting the centrality of Jesus in the faith.
Discerning Truth: The Nature of Christ and Antichrist (Woodland Heights Baptist Church) references Charles Haddon Spurgeon, who emphasized the importance of discerning between right and almost right. The sermon also mentions Richard Rohr as a popular New Age false teacher who promotes a Christ consciousness separate from the historical Jesus.
1 John 2:20 Illustrations from Secular Sources:
Abiding in Christ: The Foundation of Our Faith (Impact Church FXBG) uses the analogy of a shared family calendar to illustrate how time-oriented society is, contrasting it with the biblical concept of the last hour. The sermon also references the Y2K scare and the Left Behind series to highlight cultural fascination with the end times.
Discerning Truth: The Nature of Christ and Antichrist (Woodland Heights Baptist Church) uses the example of Rob Bell, a former evangelical pastor who abandoned traditional Christian beliefs, to illustrate the danger of false teachings. The sermon also references the concept of ex-evangelicals, people who have left the evangelical faith, to highlight the current trend of abandoning biblical teachings.
Empowered by the Anointing: The Holy Spirit's Role (Tony Evans) uses the analogy of a search engine, likening the Holy Spirit's role to that of Google, which searches the deep things of God and transfers divine insights to believers. This metaphor helps illustrate the concept of the anointing as a means of accessing heavenly wisdom and knowledge.