The Basis For Christian Faith and Practice

When a person is born again by believing in Jesus Christ, as Jesus described in John 3, he becomes a new person, according to II Coringhians 5:17.  “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”  We receive a whole new attitude or spirit, as I Corinthians 2:12 describes.  “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. “  It is the same spirit or mind set Christ had, according to I Corinthians 2:16.  “…But we have the mind of Christ.”

Because we have the mind of Christ as a result of our faith it is possible for us to keep all God’s commandments, without fear or undue struggle.  I John 5:3-5 tells us, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”  Everyone who has believed in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God who came to save mankind receives the power to overcome the temptations and sin of this world. 

“This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.” (I John 5:6)

Jesus Christ came to earth in the form of a human baby, growing in his mothers womb, surrounded by amniotic fluid traditionally called the water, until his birth just like any other baby.  Eventually he was expelled lfrom his mother’s womb like any other baby, in the process we call birth.  It is the natural birth process.  Later he was crucified, and buried, rising from the grave three days later, almost as if he had been reborn through the blood of his death.   Both his birth and his resurrection were miraculous, and fulfilled the prophecies about the messiah’s coming.

“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” (I John 5:7)

As proof that Jesus is the son of God, there are three beings in heaven that testify to that fact.  All three appeared at Jesus’ baptism, in Matthew 3:16-17.  “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”  There was no question that God, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus himself accepted Jesus as the Son of God.  They are equals.    

There are also three things on earth that give evidence Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, as I John 5:8 tells us.  “And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.”  The Holy Spirit shows Jesus to be the Messiah in numerous signs and through the scriptures.  Jesus’ miraculous birth, fulfilling hundreds of prophecies, clearly demonstrated that he was the Messiah God had promised.   That he was then crucified and resurrected fulfilling every prophecy about that event as well provides incontrovertible proof Jesus had to be the Messiah.  The evidence from all three is in full agreement.

Based on the evidence, refusing to believe Jesus is the Messiah is very much like those who still insist the earth is flat despite the number of ships and planes that circumvent the earth every day, the obvious visual evidence of a ship slowly dipping below the horizon, and many other evidences.  It is a deliberate refusal to believe the truth, regardless how much evidence is presented.  I John 5:9-10 tells us, “If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.  He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.”  What greater testimony could you get than God’s own statement that Jesus is His Son.  By refusing to believe it a person is essentially calling God a liar.  It also means they have deliberately ignored the evidence of the Holy Spirit’s working in the lives of those who believe. 

By their refusal to Believe God, they have rejected what he promised if they would believe,  I John 5:11-12 makes it very clear.  “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”  Eternal life is to be found only in faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God.  Refusal to believe in him brings only eternal damnation.  John 3:18 says, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. “  John 3:36 reiterates the statement.  “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

Many times Christians are accused of blindly following traditions without any evidence.  As we have seen, we are not blindly following some tradition,  I John 5:13 states, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”  We have a great deal of evidence supporting our beliefs.  Those who do not believe have deliberately chosen to ignore the evidence, just like those who still cling to the belief the world is flat.  

Why We Love Others

In John 3:16, Jesus said, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  This is the ultimate demonstration of love, that God loved us enough to give his life for us even when we had no interest in him, as John 4:9-10 tells us.  “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”  He loved us so much that he gave his life to pay off the penalty for our sin, knowing we might never return that love. 

If we have received God’s spirit into our heart, and understand that he loves us we ought to love other people, as I John 4:11-tells us.  “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.   No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.“  Man was created in the image of God, according to Genesis 1:27.  “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”  As a result of sin, that Image was seriously damaged, but when people becomes Christians, that godly image is restored. according to Colossians 3:10, Christians “…have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.”  While we have never seen God himself, every Christian should remind us of him.  As a result, we ought to love them. 

Romans 10:9-10 tells us.  “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.   For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”  I John 4:14-17 Makes it very clear that Jesus is in fact the Son of God who came to save the world.  “And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.  Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.  And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.”  Because we have believed, we have received God’s spirit to produce the same kind of love in us.  That love is perfected or demonstrated by our love for others, giving us assurance that we have been made like God again and need have no fear when the judgement comes. 

When we are living in fear of losing our salvation or not making it to heaven, our love for God is not fully developed, as I John 4:18-21tells us.  “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.  We love him, because he first loved us.  If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?  And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.” 

If we are afraid of losing our salvation, we do not understand how much God loves us.   Our love for him is based on how much he loved us even before we cared about him and is shown by our attitude toward those around us.  If we don’t love others who have an attitude somewhat like God, how can we really love God?  If we really love God we will love others simply because he told us to. 

I John 5:1-2 summarizes what John has said.  “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.“  Everyone who has accepted Jesus as the son of God who came to pay for man’s sins is saved, and if they have truly been born into God’s family, they will love his other children as well.  All of the commandment relate to how we treat others, and our attitude about obeying him shows whether we love him or not.  

Identifying False Teachers

Both Peter and John warned that there would be false teachers who would try to mislead the Christians.   They were concerned that the Christians might fall for their teachings.  In the church at Galatia, Paul had observed how easily this could happen, as we see in Galatians 1:6-9.  “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”  He had been amazed at how easily they had accepted perversions of the gospel and warned them that it didn’t matter if it was one of the apostles themselves, or one of the angels, if they were teaching contrary to the scriptures they were cursed by God. 

Shortly before his arrest. In Acts 20:29-30, he warned  the church at Ephesus, “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.”  While some of the false teachers would be from other groups, some of the most dangerous would come from their own ranks, just as Peter warned, in II Peter 2:1.  “…There shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.”

In II Corinthians 11:13-15, Paul warned, “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”  Like Satan, they pass themselves off as ministers of the gospel.  Frequently, like Judas Iscariot, they are the most respected and trusted in the entire group, and no one ever questions their love for God until after they have betrayed the Lord.

Aware of the danger, John gives some specific things to look for to identify false teachers and those who are motivated by the wrong spirit.  In I John 4:1, he instructs, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. “  We should not blindly accept what the experts tell us, but check out what they say.  The People of Berea were greater Christians than others, because they checked out what they were being taught, according to Acts 17:11.   “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”  If we are going to be strong Christians, we need to learn to check out what we are taught. 

The first thing John tells us to look for is in I John 4:2-3.  “Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”  The first thing to look for is what they believe about Jesus Christ.   If they do not believe he is God come in the flesh, that he was executed and raised from the dead as propitiation for our sins, they are teaching another Jesus or another gospel, and are inspired by the same satanic spirit that will inspire the Antichrist during the Tribulation.    It doesn’t matter whether they are famous theologian, or the head of some great religion, they are cursed of God and will be cast into hell. 

I John 4:4 instructs us to examine their lifestyle.  “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”  Because we have been given the Holy Spirit to teach and guide us, we are no longer enslaved by sin.  An examination of those teachers lifestyle gives good indication as to whether they are led by the Holy Spirit or by some other spirit. 

According to I John 4:5 we next need to examine their focus.  “They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.”   If they are primarily focused on earthly things such as the health, or wealth, or social problems or politics, for example, they are of the world, rather than of God.   checking out who they associate with and the kinds of crowds they dray makes it easy to tell where the focus is.  The things they focus on may e important, but they should not be the primary focus. 

The fourth thing to be considered is the attitude toward God’s church and the scriptures.   I John 4:6 tells us, “We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.”  If they are from God, they will be interested in strengthening  the church and learning what God has said.  If they are trying to tear down the church, or reject God’s word it is a clear indication they are inspired by a satanic spirit rather than a godly one. 

We have already looked at the final test, John gives in I John 4:7-8.  “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.  He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”  Jesus said that our love for others would be the most important evidence that we know Christ.   Love is an automatic result of the Holy Spirit in our lives, and as we have seen before if we do not have the Holy Spirit, we are not God’s children.  Thus a person who does not have a deep love for others cannot be led by God’s Spirit, since God is love personified.

When we apply these principles we can identify most false teachers rather easily.  Unfortunately, we find that many of the most popular religious figures throughout history fall into that category.    Take the trouble to check out those around you.  Some of them are false teachers as well.

Don’t Fake Love

An old rock song says, “I didn’t know what else to say, so I said ‘I love you’.”  Unfortunately, in modern society many people use those same words with no more sincerity than the song writer.   They use the same words about a food they like or a style of music, a clothing fad or any number of other things, when, in reality they mean they just think it is attractive at the moment.  Sadly this often carries over into our attitudes toward other Christians.   Godly spiritual love goes much deeper than just the words, as I John 3:11-12 makes very clear.  “For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.  Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.” 

Abel had done what God commanded while Cain did not.  Cain got jealous because God blessed his obedience, and did not do the same for Cain.  Rather than admit it was his own fault God did not bless him, Cain hated and murdered Abel.  We frequently see that same attitude, with people running down someone else’s accomplishments rather than admitting they have not earned the same rewards.  Had he loved Abel, he would have been pleased that God blessed him, rather than jealous.   Cain’s attitude is rather typical of the unsaved world, as I John 3:13-15 tells us.  “Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.  We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.  Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.” 

That attitude of competition and hating those who outdo us is a satanic attitude.  When a person is willing to destroy someone who is trying to do right, they are not walking in the Spirit.  In fact they are living as if they didn’t know God at all.  As we saw in 2:8-11, the lack of love for other Christians clearly indicates a person is not saved.  That we love other Christians indicates we have the Holy Spirit in us, and are saved.  That the world hates Christians demonstrates that they do not know God.    

God is love, and Christ demonstrated it by giving his life for us.  If we have that same attitude of love, wo ought to willing to do the same for others, as I John 3:16-18 explains.  “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.  But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?  My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”  If we are not willing to share the things we have with others, it clearly indicates we do not have God’s love in our hearts.   Godly love requires more than just words. 

The fact that we have a deep concern for other’s welfare should reassure us of our own salvation.  I John 3:19-22 advises, “And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.  For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.  Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.  And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.” Sometimes we don’t feel like we are able to do as much as we should or aren’t good enough.  When we feel that way, we need to remember God is far more powerful than our feelings and knows we are still his child.  Those feelings do not change the fact.  When we feel good about our relationship with God, we have the confidence to pray, trusting God to supply what we ask because we love and obey him. 

God’s commands are actually fairly simple, as I John 3:23-24 tells us.  “And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.  And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.”   He simply asks that we place our trust in Jesus Christ as savior, and that we love other people.  If we will do so, the Holy Spirit will be obvious in our lives, giving us the assurance of our salvation.  Romans 8:16-17 tells us, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”  When we accept Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to take control, he provides all the assurance we will ever need that we have been saved.   Sincere love will be a natural part of our life.  

Identifying The Fruit

Because he loved us, God has adopted us as his children, and there is nothing that can ever take that love away.  Understanding how much he loves us will have a tremendous effect on how we live our lives.  I John 3:2-3 tells us that if we really believe in his love and forgiveness, we will make the effort to live a proper life.  “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”  We are not trying to earn our way into heaven, but to live up to our position as God’s children. 

Because we know he loves us, we make a special effort to obey him.  I John 3;4-6 tells us, “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.  And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.  Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.”  People who blithely practice sin with no concern for what God commands have no understanding of who he is or what his love means.  Christ came to take away our sin, and if we appreciate his doing so, we will not go back to it as a way of life.   As a result, the type of lifestyle a person lives indicates whether they are truly Christians or not. 

I John 3:7-10 makes this very clear.  “Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.  He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.  Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.  In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.” 

Because those who have truly believed have received the Holy Spirit, and he gives them a whole new mind, it will be impossible for them to be content living a sinful lifestyle.  If a person can happily live a lifestyle where they consistently violate God’s commands, as expressed in the law, it indicates the Holy Spirit is not in their lives, and as Romans 8:9 tells us, “…if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”  Thus, a person’s lifestyle gives a very clear indication of whether they are Christians or not. 

Many say we have no right to judge their way of life, quoting Matthew 7:1-2, “Judge not, that ye be not judged.  For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”  In Matthew 7:15-20, Jesus warned, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.  Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?  Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.  Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”    We may not be able to judge whether an apple has the ideal shape and for its variety, but we can easily tell it is not a banana.  Similarly, we may not be able to judge whether a person is living at the peak of their potential, but we can easily tell whether they are living an evil lifestyle or not.  We don’t have to judge the fruit to identify it. 

Consistent or deliberate violation of God’s commands clearly identifies the lifestyle as wicked, and indicate the person is not truly a Christian.  One very important factor in identifying the lifestyle is whether they love other Christians, as we saw in I John 2:6-11.  

Understanding How Much God Loves Us

Many people go through life afraid that they will never be good enough to satisfy God, even if Jesus did pay for their sins.  When things go well they are on top of the world, excited about God’s blessings but when something goes wrong, they are in the dumps, wondering what they did wrong to make him upset.  Satan plays on these emotions, making people doubt their salvation and false teachers convince them they need to rededicate their lives or get saved all over again.  Some go to the altar every week as a result, not realizing that their emotions are a result of a lack of faith. 

The cure for such emotional instability is to take the time to really understand how much God loves us.  I John 3:1 tells us to examine his love more closely.  “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.”   God has shown his love for us by adopting us as his children, as Galatians 4:4-5 tells us.  “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”  Titus 3:5-7 makes it very clear that adoption as his children was not based on anything we had done.   “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” 

Romans 5:8-10 expands on this point, stressing that God loved us even whem we were his enemies.  “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”  We were not just reconciled so that we don’t have to face God’s wrath at the judgment.  We have also received a new life in which we are no longer under sin’s power, according to Romans 6:3-6.  “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.”

As we saw in I John 2:1-2 it is not God’s will that we sin, but he has made provision if we do.    “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” 

God has invested a great deal into us, and will allow nothing to wipe out his investment.  Romans 8:32-39 reminds us, “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?  Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.  Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”    

Since Christ is our advocate, and he was the one who gave his life to justify and cleanse us, making full payment for our sin, so that we could be adopted, there is no one who has the power to successfully challenge our adoption.  There is nothing that can weaken or destroy his love for us.  He knows the worst things about us and still loves us. 

While he may find it necessary to chasten us, he is never arbitrary, but always acts with our good in mind, as Hebrews 12:6-10 tells us.  “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.  Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?  For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.”  Even the chastening we receive is proof of his love, and is for the purpose of teaching us to understand and do what is right.  When we understand how much he loves us, we will no longer struggle with the fear and doubt. 

Allow The Holy Spirit to Teach

I John 2:19 says that many turn to other religions or sin because they were never really believers to begin with.   “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.”   Others stay faithful to Lord, because as I John 2:20 tells us, “But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.”  The Greek word translated unction is ‘charisma’ which literally refers to being smeared with an anointing oil as a sign of acceptance or endorsement.  This is what Jesus was referring to in John 14: 15-17, when he said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”  As Romans 8:9 tells us, “…if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”  The people turn away because they do not have the Holy Spirit. 

Because they have the Holy Spirit, believers have the ability to understand God and his word in ways others cannot.   I Corinthians 2:14 tells us, But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”  John 16:13-14 promises, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.  He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.”  The ability to understand God’s word fully is a more meaningful evidence of the Holy Spirit’s power than any so-called spiritual gift or sign. 

Because they have the Holy Spirit to enable them to know what is true, John is able to explain how they can identify false teachers in I John 2:21-23.  “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.”

God and Jesus are like a father and son who do almost everything together.  Anyone who doesn’t believe Jesus is God’s son clearly cannot know either one of them personally, because if they knew them well at all, they would have seen them together and would see the family resemblance.  They would also have heard God talking about his son and his accomplishments.  If they claim to know God or Jesus, they are like a person trying to crash a party by claiming to know the host. 

Don’t shut the Holy Spirit up in a corner of your life like an untrained puppy that might make a mess on the floor, but give him access to your whole life, as I John 2:24-5 tells us.  “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.”  If the Holy Spirit has control of our life, we will continue to follow the Lord, and ultimately receive eternal life. 

“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.” (I John 2:26-27)

Because the Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth, we do not have to depend on what others tell us, but can depend on him to show us what is right.  We need to take the time to check out those who are trying to tell us what God wants.  You have the same Holy Spirit to teach you as the most famous Bible expositor or scholar.  Stay with what he shows is true, knowing that it will pay off in the end.   I John 2:28-29 advises, “And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.  If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.”