Being the Lord’s Anointed

In yesterday’s post we looked at 1 Samuel 24 where David models Jesus’ command to love our enemies and do good to them in his sparing of Saul. Just as importantly, he gives us his motivation for treating Saul with such mind-boggling grace: He would not harm him because Saul had been anointed by the Lord as king. The truth I take from this passage is that as Christians, we are the Lord’s anointed; therefore we should not harm each other.

Christians are the anointed of the Lord. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 (NIV), Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. John writes in 1 John 2:20 (NIV), But you have an anointing from the Holy One. And he says in just a few verses later in verse 27, As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him. Christians are the Lord’s anointed.

What does that mean? From these verses we see that as the Lord’s anointed…

We are made Christ’s. We have been marked as belonging to the Lord. Paul says God has set His seal of ownership on us. John reaffirms this assuring us that this anointing is not counterfeit, but genuine. This anointing makes us sons and heirs, who will reign with Christ. Paul fleshes out what it means to belong to the Lord in Romans 8:15-17 (NIV), For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co–heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. And he says in Ephesians 1:13-14 (NIV), And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
We have the Lord’s Spirit in our hearts. The seal of our anointing is the presence of the Holy Spirit in us. Romans 5:5 (NIV), God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Galatians 4:6-7 (NIV), Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.
His anointing remains in us. It is not something that can be lost or taken away. Once God unites His Spirit to us in Christ, He will not take it away. For as Paul wrote in Philippians 1:6 (NIV), He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
The goal of our anointing is guaranteed. We do not need to wonder if God’s grace will prove ineffective. 1 Peter 1:3-5 (NIV), Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
Last, as the Lord’s anointed we have reason for persevering. John says that because we have been anointed we should remain in Him. We do that by striving with the Holy Spirit to live in grace and truth. The pursuit of personal holiness directed inwardly sets our standards for our behavior towards others. That is truth. The pursuit of holiness directed outwardly sets our standards for our behavior in response to others. That is grace. Paul says in Galatians 5:22-25 (NIV), But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self–control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Keeping in step with the Spirit means living in grace and truth even when it is tempting not to.