How do you stay anchored when everything around you seems to shift? In an age of spiritual confusion and constant change, 1 John 2:20–27 offers a powerful promise: true believers are not left to drift. They have an anointing. They have truth. And they can abide in it.
This post will explore how transparent Christians live in unwavering truth—because truth isn’t just something we believe. It’s Someone we know. And abiding in Him guards us from deception.
📖 1 John 2:20–27 (ESV)
“But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.
I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.
Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.
No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.
Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father.
And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.
I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you.
But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything—and is true and is no lie, just as it has taught you—abide in him.”
🕊️ The Anointing: Truth Given, Not Earned (v.20)
John opens this section with reassurance: “You have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.”
The word “anointed” (Greek: chrisma) refers to the work of the Holy Spirit who indwells every true believer. This isn’t mystical or elite. It’s foundational. Every Christian receives this anointing at salvation—it’s how we know truth, discern lies, and remain in Christ.
🧠 Key Insight: This doesn’t mean we never need teaching from others (see Ephesians 4:11–12). Rather, it affirms that the Holy Spirit is our ultimate Teacher, guiding us in truth and guarding us from deception.
❌ Lies That Attack the Core (v.21–23)
John says he’s not writing because his readers are ignorant—but precisely because they do know the truth. He then lays down a line in the sand:
“Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist…”
The most dangerous lies aren’t just moral deviations—they’re doctrinal distortions. In John’s time, false teachers denied Jesus’ full identity. They attacked the incarnation, the Messiahship, and the relationship between the Father and the Son.
🧨 Today’s false teachings may not use the same words, but they often deny the same truths:
- That Jesus is fully God and fully man
- That salvation is through Him alone
- That faith requires repentance, not just affirmation
Transparent Christianity doesn’t entertain half-truths. It confesses Jesus boldly and holds fast to the full gospel.
📥 Let Truth Abide in You (v.24–25)
John calls us to guard what we’ve heard “from the beginning.” This refers to the apostolic teaching of the gospel—the unchanging truth passed down from Christ to His followers.
“If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father.”
💡 Abiding means staying. Remaining. Dwelling in the truth without drifting. John connects this to a promise that every believer treasures:
“And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.”
🔒 You can’t separate eternal life from abiding in Jesus. And you can’t abide in Jesus without clinging to the truth about who He is.
🛑 Spiritual Deception Is Always a Threat (v.26)
John is brutally honest: “I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you.”
False teachers don’t usually announce themselves. Deception often wears the clothing of enlightenment, progress, or deeper knowledge. That’s why spiritual transparency must include truth discernment.
👁️🗨️ Reflect: Am I discerning truth by Scripture and the Spirit—or just echoing cultural trends?
Jesus warned: “For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect” (Mark 13:22).
📖 The Anointing Teaches Truth (v.27)
John concludes with a reiteration:
“The anointing that you received from him abides in you… as his anointing teaches you about everything—and is true and is no lie, just as it has taught you—abide in him.”
This isn’t anti-intellectualism. It’s a call to Spirit-led conviction. The Holy Spirit will never teach something that contradicts Scripture. He anchors us in Christ. And when we abide in Him, we remain steady in truth—even when the world shakes.
🧭 Word Study: “Abide” (Greek: menō) is used over 20 times in 1 John. It’s the heartbeat of discipleship. To abide is to stay planted, unmoved, fully connected to Jesus.
🧠 Reflect and Apply
In a culture flooded with voices, opinions, and spiritual counterfeits, John’s words shine a clear light:
- 📌 Abide in what you’ve heard from the beginning
- 🕊️ Trust the anointing—the Holy Spirit
- 📖 Confess Jesus fully and faithfully
- 🔒 Guard against deception by anchoring to God’s Word
Questions for Reflection:
- Do I know the core truths of the gospel clearly?
- Am I being shaped more by culture or by Scripture?
- How am I remaining anchored in Christ this week?
📌 Coming Next: “Victory Looks Like Faith, Not Flash”
Our final post in the Transparent Christianity series will explore 1 John 5:1–5 and the victorious life of the believer. Transparent Christians are not perfect—they’re victorious through faith in Jesus Christ.
Until then, keep abiding in truth. The world may shift, but the Word never does. 🙌
