You have been anointed by the Holy One.
1 john 2:20
There is a special ministry of the Holy Spirit to assure us that we are children of God, and here are three observations about His ministry:
1. The Holy Spirit is sent by Jesus
“You have been anointed by the Holy One” (2:20). Christians are anointed with the Holy Spirit, and “the Holy One” who sends this anointing is Jesus Christ. He said, “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you…” (Jn. 15:26). Jesus is the Holy One of God, and He sends the Holy Spirit.
2. The Holy Spirit is given to all who are in Christ
“You have been anointed…” (1 Jn. 2:20). John refers to the gift of the Holy Spirit as an anointing. In the Old Testament, prophets, priests, and kings were anointed for service to God. It was a sign that the Holy Spirit would give the needed gifts, wisdom, and power for the work they were called to do. So, John is pointing to the wonderful reality that the Holy Spirit will give you all that you need to do and all that God calls you to do.
3. The Holy Spirit remains in all who believe
“The anointing that you received from him abides in you” (2:27). You don’t need to worry about the Holy Spirit being taken from you. The Holy Spirit is given to all of Christ’s people, and the Holy Spirit remains in all of Christ’s people. To those who believe, John says, you will remain in Christ because the Holy Spirit will remain in you.
What assurance do you find in knowing that Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to you? That the Spirit provides all you need for the work God has called you to? That the Holy Spirit cannot be taken from you?
