May 15, 2015

I John 2:26-29

(All scripture is from the New King James Version unless otherwise indicated.)

As we have pointed out in the last two blogs, there are dangers in following just one individual – his or her person and teachings.  Yes, that one can have a very winning personality.  But no one person – except the Lord God Himself – has a corner on the truth!  We have to be as were the Berean believers with Paul:  “…they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.” (Acts 17:11).

Who has a corner on the truth?  As stated above, the Lord God Himself!  Here is what is written in I John 2:26 through 29:

      These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you.  But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.  And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.  If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone that practices righteousness is born of Him.

It says in Hebrews 1:3 that Jesus is “…the brightness of His [God’s] glory and the express image of His person….”  He told His disciple Philip in John 14:9, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father….”  And in John 14:16 and 17 Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to be with and in His followers – that One being exactly like Himself, yet in spirit-form, according to the correct meaning of the Greek word for “another” in verse 16.

So, if Jesus is “…the truth…” (John 14:6), then so is the Holy Spirit!  Is it any wonder then that John has such confidence in the leading and teaching of the Spirit – called “the anointing” in verse 27 of our featured scripture?  His leading and teaching is what we are to follow, for He teaches the truth of God!

But what about where is says in verse 17 that “…you do not need that anyone teach you…“?  This must be taken in the context of the whole of what scripture says.  For instance Paul discussed in Ephesians 4:7 through 16 God’s gift to the Church of special offices and their purpose.  In verses 11 and 12 he wrote:

      And He gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equiping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ….

God gave us teachers, to build up the Body of Christ, the Church!  Paul also told Timothy in II Timothy 2:24, “…a servant of the Lord must…be…able to teach….”  In II Timothy 2:2, this is what Paul admonished his protege according to the New English Bible:  “You heard my teaching in the presence of many witnesses; put that teaching into the charge of men you can trust, such men as will be competent to teach others.”  Teach, teach, teach!

Just make sure any teaching you receive or give is in line with God’s Word, the Bible!  For Jesus said in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”  And John wrote in I John 2:10 and 11 concerning the one who…

      …abides in the light…there is no cause of stumbling in him.  But he who…is in darkness and walks in darkness…does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

So if you want to live your life in the light, if you want to know where you are going, and not stumble getting there – Follow Jesus!

What are some of The Blessings Of Following The One?  They are too numerous to list in this brief blog. But the chief blessings are:

• having our sins forgiven by the blood of the Lord’s sacrifice on the cross (see II Corinthians 5:21; I Peter 1:18, 19; 2:24).
• escaping hell, gaining eternal life and heaven (see John 5:24; 6:47; Ephesians 2:12, 13; I John 5:11-13)
• and the opportunity for living abunant life here and now (see John 1:10; Galatians 5:22, 23).

David wrote this in Psalm 68:19:  “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation.”

Jesus’ very first command recorded in the gospels is this:  “Follow Me…“ (Matthew 4:19).  Follow Him closely!  Follow Him every moment!  And you will find The Blessing Of Following The One!