THE SPIRIT AND THE SOUL

"For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Heb 4:12).

Devotion 16 of 16

THE ANOINTING

John bore remarkable witness to the nature of spiritual religion. "But ye have an unction (anointing) from the Holy One, and ye know all things . . . 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" (1 John 2:20,27).

This was not a promise of omniscience. Nor, indeed, was it a guarantee of being able to be independent of all human influence. John was warning believers about false teachers. They were coming in the name of Christ, claiming to be in alliance with the Apostles themselves. Their presentations were shrewd and challenging. They brought spiritual jeopardy with them, endangering all who heard them. How would believers be able to survive this Satanic assault? The Holy Spirit (Unction or Anointing) had been given to them to enable them to detect what was true and false. They would be required to employ their thoughts, as well as God's Word. They were promised success, however, because of the Anointing.

What kind of promise is this? Would they be able to compile an official false doctrine list, circulating it along the less learned? The point was to "abide in Him!" -- to stay in the Son. Satan's sole objective is to move us from the Son, by causing unbelief. The "spiritual" person cannot be moved from the safety zone! To put it another way, those abiding in Christ cannot be plucked from His hand (John 10:28,29). Of course, the issue is abiding -- and God has made provision for this to be accomplished by giving us "the Anointing." The objective of this anointing is stated wonderfully: "just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him" (NKJV).

CONCLUSION

Complexity can be a source of debilitating frustration, but it need not be so for the child of God. Jesus died to redeem every aspect of our persons. What we have now are the first fruits of that salvation, and the rest is going to come. We will soon have a soul incapable of despair or lust. It will not be long, and we will inhabit the body for which salvation is readying us. It is a "building of God," and it is currently reserved for us in heaven (2 Cor 5:1-8).

Until we obtain that redeemed body, and are animated by a soul incapable of anything unpleasant to our Master or us, the better part of us has been saved. It is the part that has been "washed," "sanctified," and "justified." It is the part that God receives, and with which He has fellowship.

Our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit, but only because of our justified and renewed spirit. You had to be "washed," "justified," and "sanctified" before you could receive God's Holy Spirit. It is as true with you as it was with Jesus, "The flesh profiteth nothing; it is the spirit that giveth life" (John 6:63). May your spirit be an ever-increasing source of life and joy to you.

PRAYER POINT: Father, Thank You through Jesus for such an extensive and effective salvation!

-- TOMORROW: New series, THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL --