How Are Christians Anointed ?

 

You’ve undoubtedly heard of the ancient practice of someone being anointed with oil.  In the old testament, the word “oil” literally means “fat”.  Most of the time, when the old testament talks about oil, it’s talking about olive oil.  And the oil from the olive, is referred to as “the fat” of the olive. And when someone was anointed with oil, it was symbolic of being covered with the richness, and “fatness” of blessings from God.

Typically, the anointing of a person went hand-in-hand with that person being appointed and consecrated to a position of service to God.  That’s why the kings of Israel were typically anointed with oil.  To “anoint” literally means.. “to rub with oil”.

And so to be anointed, typically has reference to be chosen by God, and to be accepted by God, and to be appointed by God, and to be consecrated by God.   And it is symbolic of being covered with “the fatness” of God’s blessings.

Now, with all of that in mind, I’d like to talk about two ways in which  Christians are “anointed”.  The first way that I want to talk about, is specifically in regards to the idea of being “chosen”, and “accepted”, and “appointed” and “consecrated”.

 

The apostle Paul wrote, in  2 Corinthians 1:21 & 22;  “Now He who establishes us with you in Christ, and anointed us, is God. Who also sealed us, and gave us, the Spirit within our hearts, as a pledge.”  God establishes us, in Christ.  In other words, He gives us a secure standing with Christ.   1 Corinthians 15:1,  says;  “We stand in the gospel”,  and  Romans 5:2,  says;  “We stand in God’s grace.”

“He who establishes us..  and anoints us, is God.”   What that verse is saying, is that God has accepted us and chosen us, to be in good standing, along with Christ, and He’s appointed us to a position in the kingdom of Christ. Therefore, one of the ways in which a Christian is “anointed”, is by being given a standing, and a position in God’s kingdom.   We are chosen, by God and accepted by God, through our faith and obedience to  the gospel.  And we have been thus appointed to our position in the kingdom, and consecrated in that position.

Jesus was the first one to be given a position in the kingdom;  He was chosen by God, and appointed to be the head of the kingdom, the head of the body.  And Christians have been chosen and appointed as the various members of the body.  So then we’ve all been “anointed” into our position, in the body of Christ.  And that’s the first way in which we as Christians, are “anointed” by God.

 

A Second Way of Being Anointed

 

But here’s another way in which Christians are “anointed”.  Listen if you would, to  1 John chapter 2, verse 27..

“As for you, the anointing which you received from Him, abides in you.  And you have no need for anyone to teach you.  Indeed the anointing teaches you about all things, and it is true, and is not a lie.  And just as it has taught you, (just as the anointing has taught you) you shall abide in Him.”  

Now that verse is talking about something different from being “chosen”, or being “appointed” to a position in the kingdom.  That verse says that “the anointing which you received” is something that “abides in you”, and it’s something that “teaches you all things”, and it’s something that “is true and not a lie”, and it teaches us to “abide in Him.”   So then what is it, that abides in a Christian?  What is it that teaches us all things?  And what is it that is true, and is not a lie?  And what is it that teaches us to abide in Him?

 

Let’s hear that verse again;  “As for you, the anointing which you received from Him, abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you.  But just as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and it is true, and is not a lie; And just as it has taught you, abide in Him.”   I believe that we all know for a fact, what it is that teaches us all things;  And we know what it is which is true;  And we know what it is that teaches us, to abide in both the Father and the Son.  It’s the word of God, is it not?  

 

We’re told in  John 17, verse 17..  “Thy word is truth”   

We’re told in  2 John, verse 9..  “Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; The one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.”   

And we’re told in  Colossians 3, verse 16..  “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom..”  

And once again,  1 John 2:27  ends with these words..  “And just as it has taught you, (just as the anointing has taught you, just as the word of God has taught you) abide in Him.”   Abide in who?  Abide in Jesus Christ, the manifestation of the Word of God.   

Therefore, it is very word of God, which is “the anointing” that John speaks of.  And in this verse, the word “anointing” is being used in it’s original and most basic manner.  It’s being used in the sense of being “fattened” with the blessings of God.  

God “fattens us”, with the word of God.  God fattens OUR spirit, with the word of HIS Spirit.  And so I think we can all agree, that we have indeed been blessed and fattened spiritually, with the word of God.

 

Now don’t be confused, the scripture does not say anywhere, that we are anointed WITH the Holy Spirit.  Nor does it say that we are anointed with the “gift” of the Holy Spirit.  We might say that we are anointed BY the Holy Spirit, simply because it’s the Spirit of God who inspired the word of God.  But we’re not “anointed” WTH the holy Spirit, as a lot of people think.

What we ARE “anointed” with, is the word of God, which “teaches us all things”, and which “is true”, and which “abides in us”, IF we live in obedience to that word.

 

Anointed in Two Ways

 

So then, there’s two ways in which the Christian is  “anointed by God”.  The first way that God “anoints” us, is by “choosing” us to be saved, because WE have chosen, to believe and obey His word;  And thus God has “appointed” for us a position in the kingdom.

And the second way that God “anoints” us, is with His word, which “fattens us” with the knowledge and the blessings of God, and of Jesus Christ.

 

Our “anointing” isn’t some miraculous gift that God gives to us.  A lot of people believe that unless you’ve been given some miraculous “gift” from the Holy Spirit, that you haven’t even been saved.  They think that you haven’t even been fully “accepted” by God, unless you’ve received a miraculous “gift” of the Spirit.  But that’s NOT what the bible says!  As a matter of fact, that’s contrary to what the bible says!

The scriptures say that miraculous gifts have ceased!   1 Corinthians 13, verse 8  tells us;  “..As for prophecies, they will pass away; (that’s talking about miraculous prophecies)  ..as for tongues, they will cease; (again, referring to the miraculous ability to speak in languages that you’ve never learned)  ..as for knowledge,   (that’s talking about miraculous knowledge)  ..it shall be done away!”   

And listen to  verses 9 & 10..  “For we know, in part and we prophesy, in part, but when the complete shall have come, the part will be done away.”   In other words, those miraculous gifts, of prophecy and of knowledge, they revealed parts of God’s will to man.  But when the completely revealed word of God had come, when that perfect revelation had been consummated, then that which was simply done in part, would no longer be of any value, and thus it would cease.  

And so that’s exactly what we have now;  We have the “anointing”, of the complete and fully revealed word of God, which teaches all things, and which “abides in you”!  It’s not going to be “done away”.   

And just like John wrote in  1 John 2:27..  “..And you have no need for anyone to teach you.  But the same anointing teaches you about all things, and it is true, and is not a lie.”     “His divine power has granted to us all things, that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence.”  (2 Peter 1, verse 3)

Sometimes we may need to have some part of that teaching explained to us, but the teaching is there for everyone to know.  We have no need of anyone else teaching us, because God has already taught us!

 

When you study the scriptures, and when you study the true meaning of the words and phrases that the scriptures use, you come to understand that being “anointed by God” has nothing to do with anything miraculous.  But it has to do with us, being willing to be blessed, and “fattened”, with God’s word, by living in obedience to it, every day of our lives,

 

So let me reiterate again, the two ways in which we are anointed by God.  The first way in which God has “anointed” us, is by choosing us, and appointing us, to a position in the kingdom of Christ, which of course is the body of Christ.

And the second way that God has “anointed” us, is by giving us His inspired word to dwell within us, and thus “fatten us” with the “oil” of His word.

But consider how those two ways are interrelated, and how they are really, inseparable.  And in order to do that, let’s look back once again at the various meanings of the word “anoint”.  We looked at all these words and meanings in the very beginning of the lesson, but this will refresh our memory a little.

So then, the word “anoint” means..   To be chosen by God, To be accepted by God, To be appointed by God, To be consecrated by God, and to be blessed by God, in other words, to be “fattened” by God.

Now when we are “translated” or “transferred” into the kingdom of Christ, as it’s put in  Colossians 1, verse 13,  All of those things have occurred.  Let me go ahead and read that verse for you..  “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son.”  

And so when God “delivers us”, and adds us to the kingdom of Christ, it’s because He has “chosen” us right?  1 Peter 2:9  says..  “But you are a chosen people..”   

And it’s obvious that God has then “accepted” us as His children.  Again  1 Peter 2:9  says..  “a people for God’s own possession”.   We’re His children, we belong to Him.  

And God has then “appointed” us and “consecrated” us unto a very specific role.  Again, Peter says..  “you are a royal priesthood, a holy nation”..   ” that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

And as for being blessed,  2 Peter 1:3  says..  “His divine power has granted to us (he has blessed us) (with) all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,”  

So then every one of those things applies to how we are “anointed” by God.

 

And how about being “anointed” WITH the Word of God?  Does that have anything to do with being “chosen” and “accepted” by God?  Well, we know that the word of God has gone out to all people, right?  Titus 2:11..  “For the grace of God that brings salvation, hath appeared to all men,”   

So God’s word has gone out for everyone.  But when does that word actually result in salvation, or to say it more properly, when does the word result in the promise of salvation?  Remember  1 John 2:25..  “And this is the promise that He Himself has promised us, eternal life.”  That’s salvation!

So then when exactly does the word of God, that has gone out for everyone, actually result in the promise of salvation?  That promise is the result of our own obedience, to the word that God has sent out.  You all know Hebrews 5, verse 9,  which says.. “He has become the source of salvation to all who obey Him.”   

And you’re familiar with this verse too, aren’t you?  Mathew 22:14..  “For many are called, but few are chosen.”   Few are “chosen”.  That’s one of those meanings of the word “anointed”, to be “chosen” and “accepted”.  So then many are called, but few are actually “anointed”.  

And here’s another verse that I’m sure you’re familiar with..  John 1:12;  “But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.”   So often in the scriptures, the word “believe” is equated with obedience, to that which we believe to be true.  And that’s exactly the case with this verse here. 

When we believe and obey the word of God, we are then “anointed” with that word, and we are then “chosen” and “accepted” to be Children of God.

Now  Acts 2, verse 41  tells us this, speaking about the gospel that Peter had preached (the word of God he had just preached)  “So those who received his word (those who received God’s word)  were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.”   And what were they “added” to?  Well of course, they were “added” to the kingdom.  They were “appointed” and they were “consecrated” to a position in the kingdom of Christ.  They were “anointed” weren’t they?   Blessed thru the word of God.

 

And so it is even today.  No one is “anointed” with the holy Spirit, but rather, we are “anointed” with the WORDS, that the holy Spirit of God has given to us all.  And all we have to do is receive them into our hearts, and into our everyday life.

Hear the word, and believe the word, and thus acquire faith.  And then be always willing to confess that faith;  Repent of your sins, and be baptized for the forgiveness of those sins, and be “anointed” by God, with His word, and with His promise, of eternal life.