Good Tree, Good Fruit

In verse 26, John writes his reason for his teaching on antichrists. John has just warned his readers about antichrists and false teachers who were trying to infiltrate the church to deceive the brethren then he says:

1 John 2:26 I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray.

As you read the Bible you will discover that God pulls no punches when it comes to exposing false teachers. In many cases the Bible records for posterity the names of those who are “sheep in wolves clothing.”

Acts 13:6 Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus,

Acts 13:7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God.

Acts 13:8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

Acts 13:9 Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him

Acts 13:10 and said, "O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord?

1 Tim 1:18 This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare,

1 Tim 1:19 having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck,

1 Tim 1:20 of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

2 Tim 4:10 for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica;

Later in 2 Timothy Paul instructs Timothy, a pastor, to “mark” or make note of people who do not submit to the authority of the Word; he also tells them not even to keep company with them.

2 Th 3:14 And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed.

In verse 27 John deals again with what he calls “the anointing.”

1 John 2:27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit--just as it has taught you, remain in him.

John tells his readers that the anointing of the Holy Spirit will give them discernment concerning truth and error.

When you trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior He sends His Holy Spirit to take up permanent residence in your life. Thus John writes in verse 27, “, the anointing you received from him remains in you …”

If you are a Christian you have the Holy Spirit resident in you all the time and if you are abiding in Christ, John says, “you do not need anyone to teach you.”

This means that your pastor doesn’t have to hang with you every minute and every hour and point out to you what is truth and what is error.

This means that Pastor Jim or your Sunday school or Bible Study teacher doesn’t have to follow you around to make sure that you don’t fall prey to false teachers.

If you abide in Christ and His Word abides in you, the anointing that is in you will teach you to tell the difference between truth and error.

A missionary to the American Indians was in Los Angeles with an Indian friend who was a new Christian. As they walked down the street, they passed a man on the corner who was preaching with a Bible in his hand.

The missionary knew the man represented a cult, but the Indian saw only the Bible. He stopped to listen to the sermon.

“I hope my friend doesn’t get confused,” the missionary thought to himself, and he began to pray. In a few minutes the Indian turned away from the meeting and joined his missionary friend.

“What did you think of the preacher?” the missionary asked.

“All the time he was talking,” the Indian said excitedly, “something in my heart kept saying, ‘Liar! Liar!’”

That “something” in his heart was actually a “Someone”—the Holy Spirit of God! The Spirit guides us into the truth and helps us to recognize error.

Have you ever been watching TV and a TV preacher says something and the anointing says, “That was not the Bible.”

You are listening to the radio and that radio pastor says something and the anointing says, “Hold up; that’s not the Word of God.”