Are You Truly Born of Him?: Gospel Today Devotional - 21st April, 2022

Glory to God who has been our help. In today's study, we shall be concluding our series on the second chapter of the book of 1 John with three more chapters to go. It has been an amazing journey, hasn't it? It is however my sincere prayer that the Lord would speak to you and bless you through this study like he did in previous studies. Amen. It is good we watch against false teachers and their teachings. It is also good that we know what we have been taught in the truth and of whom we have learnt such truth. Most importantly, it is important for us to know the word of God for ourselves and let the Holy Spirit guide us into that which is truth indeed. Praise God.

The apostle John wrote the things that were seen in this chapter so as to warn believers against seducers of the gospel, that is, people who deceive others by the reason of what they preach contrary to the truth contained in scripture. They are termed seducers. Their aim is to lure people into believing that which is not the truth and against such we are to be vigilant. While it is true that these people exist, the scripture gives to us that assurance that we can stand firm not by our strength but by the reason of the anointing which we have received of him. Hallelujah.

It is as a result of this we are able to stand against every form of heresy, that is, teachers and teachings that deny Jesus as the Christ, and deny him as the very Son of God. This however does not mean we should be slack in study and in prayer. If you do not know what the word of God says, how would you discern that which is true or false? It is your knowledge of Christ by the reason of study and prayer that gives you the ability to discern. How much of his word do you know? How often do you pray for light to be shed on that which you do not understand in his word? The Lord help us in Jesus' name. Amen. Let's see the passage of scripture below,

"These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. [27] 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. [28] And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. [29] If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him" (1 John 2:26-29).

The word of God has come to us that we may know of a truth that there are people who are out there walking contrary to the truth with many being deceived by them but you have anointing by which you are taught and need not that any man teaches you but this same anointing teaches you all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it has taught you, you must do well to abide in him. This anointing is the Holy Spirit. God has anointed us not with oil but with his Spirit so we can discern that which is truth and that which is false and this anointing, the Holy Spirit, abides in us and teaches us all things with regards to the truth.

It says we need that no man teaches us, right? Does that mean we are no longer to listen to people? No. That was not what the apostle John was trying to communicate but rather the fact that we can always know that which a person teaches as truth or false by the reason of the anointing we have such that no man's teaching has a grip on us unless it has been approved by the Spirit of God to be true. Also, in these concluding verses, we are admonished to continue in Christ and stay in him that we may have confidence before him at his coming that we did not err neither did we give heed to seducing doctrines. Praise God.

Finally, the proof that you are born of him is that you practice righteousness since he is righteous, that is, God. Do not let anyone deceive you. Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not born of him cause if you know that he is righteous and believe that he is, then you should also know that everyone who does righteousness is of him. The question you should ask yourself is this, am I truly born of him? The Lord cause his word to dwell richly in our hearts. Amen.

Thought for the day: Do not let anyone deceive you. He who is born of God practices righteousness even as he is righteous. Are you truly born of him?

Gospel Today is a comforting, exhorting, edifying and inspiring devotional published by the Delightsome Land Christian Ministry. For questions, enquiries/testimonies, please call/WhatsApp: 08174915361, 08053662272 or Email: [email protected].