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Sermon #56 — 1st John Series

 

            Title:                           The Unction

 

      Text:                                  1 John 2:20-27

            Subject:                     The Unction — God’s Gift to His Elect

      Date:                                Tuesday Evening — March 11, 2014

      Readings:           Lindsay Campbell and Allen Kibby

      Introduction:

 

Sometimes God’s servants are here for only a very short time. Robert Murray M’Cheyne was greatly used of God, and his labors for Christ continue to yield fruit around the world to this day, though he lived 250 years ago. And M’Cheyne only lived to be 29 years old. Henry Scrougal only lived 27 years. But he lived long enough to write “The Life of God in the Soul of Man” in 1677, the little booklet by which God revealed himself to George Whitefield 100 years later.

 

Other servants of God are preserved in their life and service until they are old men. The Apostle John was one of those who lived to be an old man, faithfully serving the cause of Christ to the end of his days. He was over 90 years old when his labors ended. In his great wisdom and goodness to his people, the Lord God preserved John all those years, that he might be a standing bulwark against the errors and heresies which overflowed the early Church.

 

Satan in a Rage

 

When the Lord Jesus was upon earth all the bent of Satan’s malice was against him; but once the Savior finished his work on earth, once he had brought in everlasting righteousness, accomplished redemption, and ascended up to Glory, entering in once into the holy place with his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption for us, then all the power of hell was turned against the Lord’s disciples, his Church. The fiend of hell, being cast out by the mighty Captain of our Salvation, the Lord Jesus, is in a rage, “because he knoweth that he hath but a short time” (Revelation 12:12).

 

No sooner did the Lord Jesus pour out upon his Church the gift of the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost, than Satan immediately began to introduce countless errors and heresies to harass the Church. But this, too, was and is according to the good will and purpose of our God (1 Corinthians 11:19).

 

(1 Corinthians 11:19) For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

 

By the kind providence of God, John’s life was prolonged to bear testimony against these errors and heresies. He who was best known for his love was best known for his clear, firm, distinguishing dogmatism. He was, to the end of his long ministry, a standing testimony against the heresies that came in like a flood, by which Satan would destroy the Church of God.

 

In the midst of darkness, in the midst of heresy, with the influence of antichrists prevailing on every side, how are God’s elect preserved, how do the Lord’s redeemed ones persevere in the faith, what keeps God’s saints from falling for the delusions of the many antichrists of this reprobate age?

 

The answer to that question is my subject tonight. — The Unction. — My text is 1st John 2:20-27.

 

Proposition: The unction we have from the Holy One is that which preserves God’s elect from the overwhelming, powerful, hellish influence of antichrist. It is the unction we have from the Holy One that keeps us from falling away from the Gospel and abandoning it for the lie of Satan.

  • Ritualism
  • Legalism
  • Self-righteousness
  • Will Worship
  • Works Religion

 

Have you found my text — 1st John 2:20-27? Our text will be verses 20-27; but I want you to see the context. So let’s begin reading in verse 18 — 1st John 2:18.

 

(1 John 2:18-19) (18) Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. (19) 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.

 

What has preserved you faithful when others have proved unfaithful? What has kept you leaning on and looking to Christ crucified, when others trample his blood underfoot as a common, unholy thing, and turn after idols? Is it your own wisdom, your own ability, your own righteousness, your own strength? — You know better!

 

(1 John 2:20-27) (20) But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. (21) 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. (22) Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. (23) Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. (24) 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. (25) And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. (26) These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. (27) 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.

 

The Words

 

The title of my message is The Unction. The word “unction” in verse twenty and the word “anointing” in verse twenty-seven are translated from the very same word (xrisma). That’s a bit puzzling. Isn’t it? Why did our translators translate the same word “unction” in verse twenty that they translated “anointing” in verse twenty-seven? The answer is really obvious. — In verse twenty the “unction” refers to the thing we have. In verse twenty-seven the “anointing” refers to the experience of it.

  • Unction” refers to the anointing oil of the Old Testament, prescribed by the law of God given to Moses for the anointing of kings, priests, and prophets, the Tabernacle, and all instruments of service in the house of God.
  • Anointing” refers to the experience of being anointed.

 

The “Unction” we have from the Holy One is God the Holy Spirit given to us by Christ our Redeemer, the Holy One. When John says, “ye have an unction from the Holy One,” he is saying, “You are the Lord’s anointed ones. You are true believers. You are the wise virgins who have oil in your vessels with your lamps” (Matthew 25:3).

 

This “Unction” in verse 20 refers to God the Holy Spirit typified in the ointment, or anointing oil prescribed by the law of God (Exodus 30:22-33).

 

(Exodus 30:22-33)  Moreover the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, (23) Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels, (24) And of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil olive an hin: (25) And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil. (26) And thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the congregation therewith, and the ark of the testimony, (27) And the table and all his vessels, and the candlestick and his vessels, and the altar of incense, (28) And the altar of burnt offering with all his vessels, and the laver and his foot. (29) And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy: whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy. (30) And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office. (31) And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, This shall be an holy anointing oil unto me throughout your generations. (32) Upon man's flesh shall it not be poured, neither shall ye make any other like it, after the composition of it: it is holy, and it shall be holy unto you. (33) Whosoever compoundeth any like it, or whosoever putteth any of it upon a stranger, shall even be cut off from his people.

 

The Doctrine

 

The Tabernacle, the Sanctuary of the Lord would have been utterly unacceptable without the Holy Anointing Oil described in this passage. Without the Holy Oil the blood of the Paschal Lamb would have been meaningless.

 

In other words, the message of the Holy Anointing Oil, the doctrine of the Unction is this: —— The sanctifying work of God the Holy Spirit in us in regeneration, making us new creatures in Christ, making us partakers of the divine nature, forming Christ in us, is just as necessary to the everlasting salvation of our souls as the work of Christ for us in his obedience unto death as our Substitute. —— The righteousness of God imparted to us in the new birth is just as necessary and blessed as the righteousness of God imputed to us in free justification.

·      Ye must be born again!

·      The Unction you have from Christ is the seal of the covenant, God’s seal in you (Ephesians 1:13-14).

 

(Ephesians 1:3-14) (3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (4) According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (5) Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, (6) To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (7) In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (8) Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; (9) Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: (10) That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: (11) In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: (12) That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. (13) In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (14) Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

 

In the Old Testament, priests, kings, the tabernacle, vessels of the sanctuary, and prophets were anointed with oil (Exodus 28-30; 1 Samuel 16; 1 Kings 19). This anointing was a matter of great honor and dignity, identifying a person or an instrument of service as that which distinctly belonged to God, was used by God, and was under the special care of God.

 

Typical

 

The anointings of the Old Testament were typical of the gift of God the Holy Ghost in regeneration. Only those who have the Spirit of God can know God and serve God. — “If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” So the Unction of the Holy One, the Unction of Christ is the gift of his quickening, life-giving Spirit in the new birth.

 

***The unction bestowed upon us by Christ, the anointing of his Spirit is the beginning of new life in Christ by which every heaven-born soul is given faith in Christ and God’s elect are made to be…

·      Prophets, having God’s Revelation.

·      Priests, serving God continually in the holy place.

·      Kings, ruling themselves and the world by his grace.

 

Consecration

 

The anointing of the Spirit is not only quickening, it is also consecrating. In the Old Testament, those things and those people anointed with holy oil were ceremonially consecrated to God. Their only reason for existence was the service of God, his house, and his people.

 

So it is with the heaven born soul. We are by God the Holy Spirit consecrated to God. Yes, we must and do consecrate ourselves to God. We are admonished to present our bodies a living sacrifice unto God, as our reasonable service. But this we cannot do and will not do, except as God the Holy Ghost graciously enables us, giving us faith in Christ, and sweetly forces us to give ourselves to him. O Holy Ghost, ever compel us to consecrate ourselves to God our Savior to live only for him!

 

Protection

 

That which was anointed of God in the Old Testament was peculiarly and distinctly under God’s care and protection. — Touch not mine anointed” is God’s word to all men, angels, devils, and creatures, indeed, to all creation, and providence.

 

God’s elect, being born again by omnipotent grace, are given faith in Christ, and are sealed by “an Unction from the Holy One” (Ephesians 1:13-14). By the gift of his Holy Spirit to us, by whom we trust the Lord Jesus, God our Savior seals to us all the blessings of covenant grace and salvation, assuring us of preservation in life and resurrection glory with him who loved us and gave himself for us (Ephesians 4:30).

 

Illustration: Salt and Seal

 

Enlightening

 

This “Unction from the Holy One” is quickening, consecrating, and sealing. And “an Unction of the Holy One” is the gift of “the mind of Christ” to all who are “made partakers of the Divine nature” in the new birth. All who have this “Unction” “know all things.” This “Unction form the Holy One” is the Divine Comforter, God the Holy Ghost, who takes the things of Christ and shows them to his people.

 

The gift of God the Holy Ghost, this “Unction” of God, brings to every heaven born soul the wonderful, God-given capacity to receive and understand the things of God. The natural man has no such capacity. He cannot know the things of the Spirit of God. Indeed, to him they are foolishness (1 Corinthians 2:14). Carnal intelligence will not enlighten fallen man’s spiritual darkness. All the learning in the world and all the wisdom of the world are impotent to help. — “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

 

Yet, the least experienced believer, the most unlearned, most illiterate child of heaven, being indwelt by God the Spirit, having “an Unction from the Holy One” has a capacity by which he knows even the deep things of God.

 

Ye know all things” does not mean saved sinners know all things without limit. That omniscience God alone possess. John is addressing the matter of saving knowledge, which the reprobate cannot possess, no matter how religious they may be, and no matter how learned they may be in religious things.

  • We know God.
  • We know the Gospel.
  • We know how God saves sinners.
  • We know the mystery of God (1 Corinthians 1:30-31).

 

Discernment

 

John here tells us that every heaven-born soul possesses a power of discernment that enables him to discern all things (1 Corinthians 2:15).

  • We know all things necessary for our salvation.
  • We know all that we need to know to secure our souls from the delusions of antichrist.

 

We have all saving knowledge, such as none but the Spirit of God can give. This is an intuitive knowledge. It is not acquired by deep learning, constant study, or precise logic. It comes to us by Divine revelation. It is the result of a living union of faith with Jesus Christ. This is an inward, assured, undoubted knowledge. — Wonderful, blessed provision of grace! — The Lord’s Parable of the Foolish and Wise Virgins (Matthew 25)

·      The foolish virgins are content with the lamp of a religious profession.

·      Wise virgins, sinners made wise by grace, have oil in their vessels, “an unction from the Holy One.

 

Four Qualities

 

Let me show you four things, four distinct qualities about oil, and I will send you home. Here are four things “an unction from the Holy One” always does, four things the oil of grace always does.

 

1.    Oil sinks in. — It penetrates beneath the surface. Religion lies on the surface. Grace sinks into the heart and penetrates the soul. — “With the heart man believeth unto righteousness!

 

2.    Oil softens. — As oil softens the skin “an Unction from the Holy One,” the oil of the Spirit makes the conscience tender. Wherever that unction comes, it takes away the heart of stone and gives a heart of flesh.

 

3.    Oil soothes. — Rub oil on dry, itchy skin and it soothes. Spiritually, the “Unction” of God, the oil of grace, sprinkling the blood of Christ upon the heart, soothes and heals the broken hearted sinner, soothes and quietens the guilty, screaming conscience, and that is peace that “passeth understanding!

 

4.    Oil spreads. — Oil simply will not stay where you put it. That’s just not the nature of oil. A drop will spread immediately in all directions. So it is with the oil of grace, the “Unction from the Holy One.” Let the “Unction” of God once touch a person’s heart, and it spreads through the whole man. — As the blood of consecration had to be placed upon the tip of Aaron’s right ear, the thumb of his right hand, and the great toe of his right foot (Exodus 28), so the oil of consecration poured on his head covered his entire body (Psalm 133:2).

 

(Psalm 133:2) It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;

 

This is God’s work, God’s work alone. Any attempt to imitate it is deadly. No imitations of the holy anointing were to be tolerated. — “Whosoever compoundeth any like it shall be cut off’’ (v. 33). Any who dared presume to imitate God’s holy anointing were to be put to death.

 

(2 Corinthians 1:21-22) (21) Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; (22) Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

 

(1 John 2:18-19) (18) Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. (19) 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.

 

Multitudes are deceived by those antichrists who deny the Gospel. The delusion of this age is so great that our Savior said, “If it were possible the very elect of God would be deceived.” But, blessed be his name forever, that is not possible, for…

 

(1 John 2:20-27) (20) Ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. (21) 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. (22) Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. (23) Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. (24) 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. (25) And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. (26) These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. (27) 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.

 

Only by Divine anointing,

Ransomed sinners know the Lord;

Gospel truths, to Jesus pointing,

Strength, delight, and joy afford!

By Your Unction, blessed Unction,

We now know our God the Lord!

 

(Philippians 3:1-3) (1) Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. (2) Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. (3) For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

 

Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning.” — Let nothing move you away from Christ, away from the Gospel.

 

Amen.

 

 

Don Fortner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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