"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT WHAT GOD DOES AND HAS DONE"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT WHAT GOD DOES AND HAS DONE"
2nd Cor 1:21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God,
2nd Cor 1:22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

Some explanatory thoughts, application, and a prayer:

1. In these two verses, Paul tells us 3 things about God. One of them has to do with the on-going work of God in our lives, and the other things have to do with what He has done already, (in the past tense) but a blessing to us in the present.

2. See if you can pick them out as you read these verses in the New Living Translation, or as it's often called, the NLT

2nd Cor 1:21 It is God who gives us, along with you, the ability to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us,
2nd Cor 1:22 and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment of everything he will give us.

3. Before we look at them, it's interesting to note, that Paul in the previous verses had been not only began to defend himself against the false accusations against his apostleship and character, but had also been talking about the fact that God is truthful, that God is true, and that when God makes a promise you can count on it. All of His Promises are yes and amen. God is faithful, truthful and does all that He promises to do.

4. But, here's what said in detail. There are five specific truths here.

(1) He establishes us, or He gives us the ability to stand firm for Christ. I.E to not waver, but be steady and firm.

(2) God also has anointed us. What does this mean? Literally, it carries the idea of contract; to smear or rub with oil, i.e by implication, to consecrate to an office or religious service. It's used of the consecrating of Jesus to the office of Messiah, and furnishing Him with the necessary powers for it's administration. And, for us, it's the Lord's giving us, or enduing us with the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

(3) God has sealed us. In Paul's culture, when you sealed something, it meant two things. It indicates possession, and security.
Or to put it another way, the fact of the Holy Spirit being in the Christians life, or the seal, is the believers guarantee of the security of his or her salvation. It's proof if you will that you belong to God, and can rest assured that You are saved.

(4) To go on with the idea of guarantee. As it's stated in 1:22, Paul says the Holy Spirit is in our hearts as a guarantee. Or a deposit, a down payment. The presence of the Spirit is God's pledge that our salvation will be consummated one day.

(5) In Paul's day, official seals pressed in wax secured information or property and authenticated ownership. God's seal of ownership for His people is the Holy Spirit, placed in believers hearts as a guarantee of their future riches in Christ. They are securely His, that's the idea here.

5. Lets' take one more quick look at these verses, and just read then over slowly, and enjoy seeing what God does in your life, and has done in your life.

2nd Cor 1:21 It is God who gives us, along with you, the ability to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us,
2nd Cor 1:22 and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment of everything he will give us.

A prayer:

Father, thank You for giving us the many, many blessings that You have. And, thank You that You by Your Holy Spirit, help us to stand firm in Christ. We need the Holy Spirit's help to stand firm, and we want to stand firm in Christ. We do not want to be wabble about, and be blown about by every wind of doctrine, and moved about by our own sinful desires. We want to stand strong in Jesus.
And, thank You for sealing us, and making, showing us that we not only belong to You, but, we are promised safe delivery in heaven. We are securely in Christ. Thank You for that. Finally, Lord, help us now to not just read these blessings, but to really let them sink into our hearts, and to live our lives in light of these truths.

We are saved, we belong to You, You help us to stand firm in Christ, ( go with Him, follow Him, stay with Him, obey Him, etc ) and we are heading for heaven, it's a guarantee, You have already made the first installment on what You intend to complete.

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia.