Ques. What does "an Unction" mean? (1 John 2:20.) N. C. D.
Ans. Unction is the same word as anointing. (27th verse.) The Lord Jesus as a man was anointed with the Holy Ghost and with power. (Acts 4:27; 10:38; Heb. 1:9; Matt. 3:16.) Believers, as redeemed by the blood, of Christ, are given the Holy Spirit, and are thus anointed, sealed, and have the earnest of the Spirit in their hearts. (2 Cor. 1:21, 22.) He is our power for worship, and service, and for discerning the truth. He is our teacher, and puts us on our guard to receive nothing but what honors the person and work of Christ.
Ques. 1 Peter 2:11. C. W.
Ans. The Old Testament saints were strangers and sojourners with God. Ever since sin came in, this world was only the temporary abode of God's people. (Gen. 23:4; Heb. 11:13; Lev. 25:23; 1 Chron. 29:15; Psa. 35:12.)
Now in a more definite way these converted Jews to whom Peter wrote were strangers and pilgrims or sojourners, scattered out of Palestine because of the nation's sins. This epistle tells them of new heavenly blessing with a risen Christ, and taught them to look forward to an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved for them in heaven, and they kept by faith for it, and now waiting for the salvation to be revealed in the last time. In this verse they are warned to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, and showing to us by this the danger of settling down in a world like this. We need to keep our eye on Christ in glory to endure what we have to pass through. (See also 2 Cor. 4:17. and L. F. Hymn Bk. 139.)
Ques. Who is the Lord referring to when He says, "There be some standing here which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom? (Matt. 16:28.)
S. F. W.
Ans. The Lord speaks of Peter, James, and John, whom He selected to accompany Him into an high mountain apart where He was transfigured before them. This scene is a sample of the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom, or as in Mark 9:1. "The Kingdom of God come with power.”
In it we see the heavenly saints represented by Moses who died and was buried, and Elias who was ruptured to heaven without dying. And there we see the Lord Jesus in His glory. In Peter, James, and John, we see the earthly saints represented.
This gave the disciples to know who was there manifested in His glory. 2 Peter 1:16 reads, "For we have riot followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to Him from the excellent glory, 'This is, My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.' And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with Him on the holy mount." This to their minds made the prophetic word surer.
It was but a foreshadowing of the Kingdom, but the King was there in His real personal glory.