Anointed - Our Identity in Christ

​Subject: Your Identity as anointed
Subject: A deeper look at what it means to be anointed

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“But you have been anointed by the Holy One... But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him” (1 John 2:20, 27).

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In order to understand our identity as anointed, I want to tell you about my recent promotion. I recently just received a promotion at my pest control job. I am still working the same career. I am still in pest control. But my new position has imposed two significant challenges. Firstly, I have had to completely shift my mindset. I have needed to completely shift my overarching perspective of pest control. While it is still the same business, I cannot view the job anymore as a tech. I have to change my thinking to that of a manager. BIG SHIFT!

Secondly, I have been challenged with new insight to the inner workings of the business. It is like the curtain has been rolled back, and I have been allowed to see what goes on behind the scenes. This insight, or revelation, would not have come without my new position. This promotion has granted me to see things that I would not have otherwise seen.

This little story about my new position is helpful for two reasons: 1) it demonstrates how my new position requires a change of mind, thinking, and overarching perspective shift. And 2) it illustrates how my understanding of the "inner workings" has been enlightened. You see, too often, we have made teachings about our new position in Christ – our identity – nothing more than positive, biblical confessions or declarations that point to who we are. (And I understand this because, after all, our identity is OUR IDENTITY, Right!?) it seems, though, that a Biblical teaching on identity should offer the same insight as my analogy. Our new position in Christ requires the same two challenges. It would be better, more theologically appropriate, if paused for long enough to ask the question, "what does this gift of identity say, first, about the Giver of the gift? And what responsibility, or demand, does our identity place on us?” In the same way I experienced those two changes, a Biblical understanding of our identity as anointed requires the same. When we seek to ascertain who we are in Christ and everything pertaining to our new spiritual position, we must ask “what does our identity say about God, and what does this new position require of me?” Answering this question will be the focus of our study, today.

(reference work from Douglas Buckwalter about the Bible’s identity statements being a compendium of early Christian belief. The Bible’s presentation of Christian identity is clearly given to illustrate a revelation about God, His actions toward mankind, and His expectations for how believers are to live.)

Before we can answer our questions, we really need to start with “What is anointing? And what was the historical and cultural understanding of anointing with oil?” Anointing (χρῖσμα [chrisma] and χρίω [chriō]) simply means to smear, daub, or rub.

In the ancient middle east, in both pagan and Hebraic practice, anointing was used as a toiletry. “The fierce protracted heat and biting lime dust of Palestine made the oil very soothing to the skin, and it was applied freely to exposed parts of the body, especially to the face” (George B. Eager). In line with this, it was used as a perfuming agent to cover bad odors. The heat and manual labor encouraged the use of anointing as perfume, especially for celebrations and social events (Jacob W. Kapp). The ordinary usage, in short, was that of covering foul odors and perfuming. Also, people would abstain from anointing with these fragrant oils as a form of the morning. All these practices can be seen in the Bible: Deut. 28:40; Ruth 3:3; 2 Sam. 12:20 and 14:2; 2 Chron. 28:15; Ezekiel 16:9; Micah 6:15; Daniel 10: 3. It is very clear from Exodus 30:23-25 that the anointing oil was intentionally made to be fragrant and pleasing to the senses.

As pertains to its religious usage, it was especially used to consecrate “an individual or object... for divine use” (Louis Goldberg). This is evident throughout the Bible. It can be specially noted of the consecration of the tabernacle, and the items therein (Exodus 40:9-11). It was, also, used to consecrate people for divine use. This can be witnessed of Aron and his sons in Exodus 40:12-15. Anointing with oil was used as a symbol of God’s choice to consecrate (or “set apart” for a particular purpose). It is a wonderful and exciting revelation of a God who chooses to use His people for His sacred work. ​

Similarly to the concept of consecration, Anointing with oil was also used as a symbol of inauguration. Anointing in the Old Testament was used to demonstrate God’s choice to elect people to a special office. This sacred practice can be seen in electing kings (1 Samuel 9:16 and 10:1, 1 Kings 1:34, 1 Kings 1:39), prophets (1 Kings 19:16, 1 Chron. 16:22, Psalms 105:15), and priests (Exodus 40:15, Numbers 3:3, Exodus 29:29, Leviticus 16:32, Leviticus 4:3). The anointing of the priests - the high priest especially - was the most common religious practice among the Jews (William Smith). It was a very sacred symbol. It conveyed the revelation of God’s choice for electing a people or individual to an office. This was not just a profound revelation of God choosing to use His people for His soteriological agenda, but it was also understood as endowing people with power. George B. Eager states, “Among the Hebrews, it was believed not only that it effected a transference to the anointed one of something of the holiness and virtue of the deity in whose name and by whose representative the rite was performed, but also that it imparted a special endowment of the spirit of Yahweh.” This understanding can be seen in 1 Samuel 16:13 and Isaiah 61:1.

When John was inspired to write this Passage in 1 John 2, He knew the people receiving this revelation would have had these things in mind. Anointing was familiar to them. Very familiar. They would have had the above concepts and practices ingrained upon their hearts and minds, because the act of anointing was very culturally relevant to this audience. And, in relation to the date of writing, it is difficult to discern. While most believe it was written toward the end of the 1st century, “It is called ‘general,’ because it was not written and sent to any particular church, or person, and not because it was for the general use of the churches, for so are all the particular epistles but because it was written to the Christians in general, or to the believing Jews in general wherever they were” (John Gill).

The reader’s ancestral and cultural understanding of anointing with oil, and their understanding of the broad (non-specific) target audience, would have had great impact on their minds and hearts. Firstly, before answering our main question, it is important to note that John would not have known all of those which would have received this Epistle. Whoah! He did not know all of those that would read this inspired Text. It makes one wonder how he could have so confidently declared, “you have been anointed!” He did not know them! But he did know the reality was the Believers’ new identity was established upon their conversion. Upon placing faith in Jesus Christ, the Christian is made new (ref. Eph. 1:13-14 and 2 Cor. 5:17). They are given an entirely new identity in Christ. No exceptions. Every single believer is a recipient of a new anointed identity.
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How incredible is it to know that you have been anointed. God has covered you with His Spirit. He has poured over you the oil of empowering so that you may walk as Jesus walked, live as Jesus lived, die as Jesus died, give as Jesus gave. “You have been anointed.” You are just as anointed as any other believer in the Body of Christ. No one is more or less anointed than anyone else. We are equals in the Kingdom of God. We are anointed for His glory!

{The “anointing that you have received,” is written in the Aorist Indicative Active. This demonstrates a single, effective, one-time action. It “states an action that occurs without regard to its duration. It is analogous to a snapshot which captures action at a specific point in time. In the indicative mood, aorist can indicate punctiliar action (happens at a specific point in time) in past” (Precept Austin). This only further intensifies the dramatic work of God, upon salvation, to anoint His people with the Holy Spirit. Reference Isaiah 61:1, Luke 4:18, and Acts 10:38 }
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With the cultural, historical, and grammatical information given above, we can answer our question. “what does this say about God, and what does this require of us?”

What does this identity statement say about God?

​First, it should be obvious that it reveals a God that covers His people. He is present. He is near. He covers us. God gives the Holy Spirit to his people. Being identified as anointed reveals an Anointer who cares.

The readers of John’s letter would have, no doubt, understood this in terms of the common use for anointing. They would have connected the fact of anointing was used to cover foul odors. They more than likely would have seen this to reveal a God who beautifies. Moreover, this conjures to mind the idea that the Holy Spirit covers the foul stench of our sin. This is incredible! How amazing is it to know that we are covered, not with a temporary anointing that can be washed off with water. Rather, we are covered with God Himself. God permanently covers those who place their faith in Him. What a good God.

Also, in line with its historical and cultural context, it reveals something about the choice of God. It shows how the Almighty chose to elect us to a particular office. All believers. All those anointed by the Holy Spirit. It highlights the choice of God for the election. It was God’s Choice. It was His desire. It is the plan to elect you to participate with Him in His redemptive plan. Heaven’s prerogative was to partner with the Redeemed to extend the invitation for salvation, hope, life, and love to the world. This reveals a God who calls and qualifies all Believers to a sacred calling. He is not waiting for you to qualify yourself. He is not waiting for you to know your Bible better. He is not waiting for you to get your master’s degree. He is not waiting for you to feel qualified. He chose you! He elected you to be a part of His royal priesthood. The moment you gave your life to the Lord, He anointed you. He chose to ordain you to His great and glorious purposes. ​

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“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy” (1 Peter 2:9-10)

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

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Going deeper, it shows a God who consecrated you. Is demonstrates a God who set you apart for divine use. He made you holy unto Himself. Like when God chose to consecrate the tabernacle with anointing oil, He also consecrated you for sacred use. You have been set apart for service to God. He chose you!

It also presents a God who chose to empower you. It shows that God not only qualifies you to serve Him, it promulgates how God also equips you. In the same way as Jesus was “anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power,” so are you (Acts 10:38). Being that our identity is that of anointed, and being in Christ (in the Anointed One), God chose to place “the The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound” (Isaiah 61:1-4). And again, this choice is seen in Jesus’s statement to the disciples. He declared, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). He chose to call, elect, and empower you.

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“for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” ( 2 Tim. 1:7).

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Lastly, this reveals another facet of our God. He chose you to take ownership of a particular calling and purpose. He chose to elect you to the office of priestly ambassador, and He chose to give you ownership over it. He places the responsibility upon us to steward our calling. The Old Testament and the New Testament are full of examples of men and women who succeeded and/or failed to steward what God had given them. This includes king Saul, Deborah, king David, Samson, king Ahaz, Eli, Eli’s sons, Peter, Paul, and many others. God chose to elect many priests, kings, judges, and prophets who failed to steward the office to which they were called. Many others succeeded. This demonstrates, further, how our identity as anointed reveals the fact of God’s choice to give us ownership of our calling and purpose. God gave us the freedom and responsibility to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling” (Eph. 4:1-7).
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This leads us perfectly into our next question...

What does this require of me?

First, it requires the refreshing revelation of the fact that God chose you! Understanding our new identity as anointed from a proper cultural framework, we can identify a heavenly expectation. Being anointed of the Holy Spirit, this tells us that God’s expects us “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.” God requires us to “live up to what we have already attained” (Phil. 3:16). Being anointed. Being elected to a special office. Being given a high calling and sacred purpose. Being anointed of God shows us that we are called to serve God and minister God’s love to others. God’s exceptionless expectation for us is that of priestly ambassadors. ​

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“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age’” (Matt. 28:18-20).

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore,we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us...” (2 Cor. 5:17-20)

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Second, it requires you to take ownership of that to which God has called you. No matter where life has brought you. Wherever you are. mountain top or valley. Stream or desert. You have been anointed. You have been entrusted by God. Convenient or not, God has elected you and appointed you to an important office. You are called to serve God by sharing Jesus with the world around you. You have been set apart for divine use. No exceptions. Your new identity demonstrates the potent reality of responsibility. God asks that you take ownership of that to which you have been called!

You are anointed wherever you are. You carry the Presence of God with you. Where you are in life is where you have been sent as a priestly ambassador. To your family. To your co-workers. To your boss. To your wife. To your children. To your barista. To your waiter. To your social media following. To your kids. You are to minister the love, grace, and mercy of Jesus Christ everywhere we are.

It doesn’t have to be scary. It doesn’t have to be complicated. This is simply doing good. Sharing your faith. Explaining your hope in the face of trial. Going “out of your way” to pray from someone. Dying to self. Loving as Jesus loved. Living as Jesus lived. Giving as Jesus gave. ​

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“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Gal. 6:9-10).