But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things, 1st John 2:20.
The word "unction" is one of those words used only once in your King James Bible. It is a word derived from Latin and there are many languages such as Spanish and Portuguese which have derived similar words from it. There are a couple of definitions in the Oxford English Dictionary that apply here. One of them is a throwback to Catholicism or ritualistic Protestantism; The action of anointing with oil as a religious rite or symbol.
For those of us familiar with such rituals we remember the process of confirmation. The very existence of confirmation as a sacrament or a ritual in a denomination is proof of the inevitable humanizing and degradation that takes place as a bible truth is slowly deformed into some mockery of the truth for which it once stood.
The Bible Dictionary that is often reprinted in a Cambridge Bible and adequately reflects the position of the Church of England says this of confirmation;
The name is not mentioned in the N.T., though the rite itself is mentioned in several places; (1) We are told, Apostles Peter and John prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Ghost; they then laid hands on them. (2) On Paul's arrival at Ephesus, Ac. 19: 1-6, he found men who had received only the Baptism of John. After Baptism in the Name of the Lord Jesus, the Apostle laid his hands on them, and they received the the Holy Ghost. The rite was distinct from Baptism, and preceded by prayer, and consisted in the laying on of hands, indicating the bestowal of a blessing.
The above passage certainly justifies one of Dr. Peter Ruckman's oft stated truisms when he taught that heresies are usually rooted in either Matthew, Acts or Hebrews. Those are each transition books which give us a picture of the church of Jesus Christ being formed and informed as the Mosaic structure of worship was supplanted.
The best analogy I know of to illustrate that process is to think of the time of betrothment when two people are engaged. It doesn't match their prior freedom to associate with whosoever they willed, but neither does it grant them bedroom privileges. It is a unique period of time in both of their lives wherein they cease from dating others, but they do not yet cohabit. Likewise, the Book of Acts is a transition period of time in the life of the church. It doesn't match the Mosaic system, and it does not fully match the church.
Consider for a moment how shocked Peter was when he realized that Cornelius had been given the Holy Ghost without the laying on of hands. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost, Acts 10:45. Never again will Gentiles need to have hands laid upon them to receive the Holy Ghost. Peter had unlocked that on earth in Acts chapter 8. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven, Matthew 16:19.
The men of Acts 19 by their own testimony believed prior to the time in which Jesus Christ was glorified. A person could not receive the Holy Ghost before Jesus was glorified. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.), John 7:39. People who were converted prior to the glorification of Jesus Christ could not receive the Holy Ghost because he was not yet given (in the sense that he is given today). After the day of Pentecost, they needed an apostle to lay hands on them. Any such person died out almost 2000 years ago.
Why is all of that important? It is important because we have that anointing that ritualistic Protestants and Catholics mimic in their sacraments and rituals. We have an unction from the Holy One. We have the other definition from the Oxford English Dictionary; A spiritual influence acting upon a person. Upon salvation, when a person is truly born again, there is born into them a new nature. It is a miracle in which after a sinful person is forgiven of all of their sins, a new creature is born within them.
This creature cannot sin. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God, 1st John 3:9. This creature by itself is eternal security. It cannot sin and therefore cannot sin willfully. If that was the only nature left to the new believer, life would be pretty easy. Instead, we are left with a competing sin nature which will seek to have the preeminence in the believer's life. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us, 1st John 1:8. We call this a carnal Christian.
There is a winning formula in 1st John 2:20; But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. A preacher recently taught my church this simple formula; (You + the Spirit of God + A King James Bible = you being as smart as any man on earth). You have an unction from the Holy One. Jesus Christ will teach you. The greatest hindrance to you being able to learn is the devilish army of scholars and clergy waving their rituals and false science in front of your face to keep you from ever really believing your King James Bible.
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