21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God,
21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ
God sovereignly brought Paul’s team to Corinth to establish a relationship of unity with the church there. The word “establishes” is a legal term indicating a guarantee; there is the trustworthiness of what is said (Ro 4:16). The term means make unwavering or constant (present, active participle). The idea is that the contract is guaranteed to be fulfilled, insurance by the seller to the buyer. The Holy Spirit is that guarantee, as we will see in the next verse. Paul firmly established the Corinthian church in the “demonstration of the Spirit and power” (1 Co 2:4). God Himself establishes our eternal security.
and has anointed us is God,
A person anointed is someone set apart for ministry or commissioned for service. God anointed only priests, prophets, and kings in the Old Testament, and it was for service. In the New Testament, God equips believers with discernment for service (1 Jn 2:20, 27).
PRINCIPLE:
God’s work in the life of a believer guarantees his or her salvation.
APPLICATION:
Christians have unshakable constancy in Christ. Hebrews says that the Lord’s Word was confirmed by supernatural dynamics (He 2:3-4). Christ “confirmed” His ministry by miracles (Mark 16:20). However, the wonder of our salvation is that God confirms, guarantees our salvation in Christ.
