Quietly Through 1st John (Week 7) :: Let Truth Abide in You (1 John 2:24-27)

It’s Tuesday! Which means we’re taking another look at 1st John. We are in week seven. If you missed any of the previous weeks of this online Bible study I encourage you to go back and take a look. Even if you just read the previous passages and skim over the earlier content, it will help you to better understand today’s and future studies.

Let Truth Abide in You

²⁴Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. ²⁵And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.

²⁶These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. ²⁷But 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. (1 John 2:24-27)

Ideas to Consider

Why is John writing this (v26)?
What are Believers to abide in (v24)?
What promise do Believers have from God (v25)?
Who abides in Believers (v27)?

COMMENTARY

(This is just a little bit of what I took away from the passage. Remember, I’m human and severely flawed. Don’t just take my words as God’s truth. Be sure to be led by the Spirit, not me.)

“Therefore…” it’s a transition word that connects what has already been said or written with what is about to said or written. Remember, John had just finished warning the church about the antichrists. The people who had departed from the simple truth of the Gospel and were offering some sort of junk opposing Jesus as Christ.

With this in mind John begins to tell them to simply steep themselves in the truth which they “heard from the beginning.”

This truth? That Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). And putting our faith in Him for salvation from sin leads to the promise of eternal life — eternal togetherness with the Son and the Father.

The word abide is used quite a bit in this passage. It simply means not to depart (Strong’s G3306). In other words, John is telling the church, “Do not depart from the sweet simplicity of the Gospel — that grace through faith brings us into unity with Christ” (Ephesians 2:8).

Yes, doctrine and theology and religion can get confusing, but the truth which we heard from the beginning– the truth that made us each a Believer in the first place– the truth that the Holy Spirit teaches us– is simple. It’s the truth that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Verse 27 tells us that the anointing of the Holy Spirit abides in us. This smearing, coating, slathering, messy-in-a-good-way, get-in-all-your-nooks-and-crankies anointing of the Holy Spirit will not depart from us. It abides. It lasts.

The anointing of the Holy Spirit will not depart from us. It abides. It lasts. #quietlythrough #1stJohn Click To Tweet

This anointing is what gave us revelation of the truth in the beginning and continues to speak the truth to us today. The International Children’s Bible translates the verse this way:

Christ gave you a special gift. You still have this gift in you. So you do not need any other teacher. The gift he gave you teaches you about everything. This gift is true, not false. So continue to live in Christ, as his gift taught you. (1 John 2:27)

Believer, you and I have a special gift. Whether a little child, a young person, or a mature Christian we can discern right from wrong — truth from lie. No matter what we hear or read or see, we will know whether it is true or not, if it glorifies God or opposes Him. We have the anointing of the Holy Spirit. He will not depart from us. Let’s continue to abide in Him.

We have the anointing of the Holy Spirit. He will not depart from us. Let’s continue to abide in Him. #quietlythrough #1stJohn Click To Tweet

PRAYER

Lord in Heaven, thank you for anointing us with the Holy Spirit. You have given us what we need to discern the difference between truth and lie. Remind us of us this gift and teach us not ignore your Spirit. Help us to abide in what we heard from the beginning and to be aware of and on guard against those who oppose your Son as the Christ. In the name of your Son. Amen.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

How do you personally abide daily in what you heard from the beginning?
If someone asked you to define the Gospel, would your response be simple or complicated?
Put into your own words the truth that made you a Believer in the first place.

FURTHER STUDY IDEAS

Here are a few study ideas to do between now and next Tuesday. I suggest doing one or two a day in order to keep you thinking about the passage all week long.

Start or continue a double entry journal.
Hand write the passage.
Did this passage make you think of other passages in the Bible? Share those passages with the rest of us in the comments.
Read Matthew 13:24-30, the parables of the wheat and weeds. How does this apply to abiding in the anointing of the Holy Spirit?
Write a summary of what you’ve learned from this passage. If you are a blogger, write a post and share it in the next #QuietlyThroughThursday LINK UP.
Read 1 John 1-5. Yes, ma’am, the whole thing.