1 John 2:27

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.

John is not telling believers to throw away teachers, shut down Bible study, or live as though the church has no need for instruction. He cannot mean that, because the same Lord who gave the Spirit also gave teachers to the church. Paul says in Ephesians 4:11 that God gave pastors and teachers. In Acts 19:9, Paul taught daily in the school of Tyrannus. In Acts 2:42, the early church continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine.

So John is not denying the necessity of true teaching.

He is denying the validity of false teaching.

That is the point. The anointing of the Holy Spirit abides in the believer, and because He is truth and is no lie, there is something within the child of God that recognizes when a voice is off, when a message is twisted, when a teacher is clever but wrong. John is saying, in essence, “If you listen to the Holy Spirit, you will recognize false teaching as foolishness.”

I like that.

Not because it makes us proud, but because it makes us secure. The Lord has not left His people defenseless in a room full of smooth talkers. He has given us His Spirit. And when falsehood comes wrapped in religious language, polished arguments, and impressive words, the Spirit quietly says, “That is not Me. That is not truth. Do not follow that voice.”

It is a little like hearing a familiar voice on the phone. You may not know every detail of what will be said, but you know the voice. And when an imitator tries to copy it, something in you says, “No, that is not right.” In the same way, the believer who is walking with the Lord begins to recognize the tone of truth.

That does not make teachers unnecessary.

It makes discernment possible.

So the answer is not to reject Bible study. The answer is to sit under true teaching while listening carefully to the Holy Spirit. Good teachers open the Scriptures and point you to Christ. False teachers draw attention to novelty, ego, or error. True teaching and the Spirit of truth never fight one another. They work together.

Beloved, be thankful for faithful teachers. Open the Bible gladly. Gather with the saints eagerly. But do not be gullible. The Holy Spirit who abides in you is not confused, and He is not impressed by deception.

As He teaches you, stay with Christ.

As He steadies you, abide in Him.