II Corinthians 2:14

II Corinthians 1:21

“Christ, and Hath Anointed Us”

2 Corinthians 1:21 says, “Now He which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.”

The benefits of turning from your sins to Jesus are too many too ever be numbered in this life. Oh the benefits of the eternal grace of God through Christ Jesus. Do you know them? The Christians at Corinth were persecuted Christians. They suffered from sodomization, slander, being drugged against their will, cast into prison, raped, murdered, and many other unspeakable things. They faced the same dangers, the same sorrows, and sexual temptations that most Christians today face. In the comfort and consolation of Christian fellowship Paul finishes chapter 1 of 2 Corinthians by reminding these persecuted Christians of several important truths so as to encourage their joy in the LORD.

The truths are: stablisheth, anointed, sealed, and given the earnest of the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 1:21 says, “Now He which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.”

To be stablished means to be built up in the faith; to be like a tree planted by the rivers of water. Psalms 1:1-2 says, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in His law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” Hebrews 13:9 says, “Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines, For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.” Remember that being built up in the faith is done through Christ, not through the preacher, not through the strength of man, or the abilities of men but through the promises of God. This is the reason I John 2:12-14 says, “I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake. I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the Word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.”

Christ is the one who is the foundation. If you always stand on the foundation, the Holy Rock of Israel, then you will always have a foundation for your joy.

Not only has Christ established us but Christ has also anointed us through God. The word anointed is a word that is used in reference to Christ Jesus. Acts 10:38, “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” It should be no surprise to see the word anointed used in reference to Christ and to the followers of Christ. A Christian is a joint heir with Christ therefore a Christian is a king and priest. If anything, to see this word anointing used in reference to Christians should help Christians to have a joy in knowing the power of God is upon them in their lives as they do their work for the gospel of Jesus Christ and endure the trials of life. Christ was anointed. Those who turn from their sins to Jesus are anointed too by God. Psalms 23:5 says, “Thou prepares a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.”

One Christian is not more important than another. The preacher is not more important than the admistrator or the giver or the prayer warrior. All who turn from their sins to Jesus are anointed by God. This is why Ephesians 3:21 says, “In whom all the building fitly framed together growth unto an holy temple in the Lord.” We will never have the calling the Apostle Paul did but we all have a special calling of the LORD because we are anointed by God.

Established and anointed by Christ; who hath also sealed us. To be sealed is a way of saying that God keeps his promises. We don’t keep the promises of God; God keeps them. Sealed emphasizes the faithfulness of God, the truth that a Christian cannot lose his salvation; one saved always saved. This is why the word used here for sealed is the same word used in reference to Jesus being sealed in the tomb after dying on the cross. Matthew 27:66 says, “So they went, and made the sepulcher sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.” The stone on the grave of Jesus rolled away when He rose from the grave defeating sin and death. To be sealed by God, to know you are sealed by God is to have the joy of salvation, the joy of knowing that your sins are forgiven you and that you have eternal life and peace with God through Christ. No one can brake the seal. You cannot brake the seal because God has sealed you. To be sealed speaks of predestination. To be sealed emphasizes the eternal strength of the will of God from everlasting to everlasting. There is no greater joy amidst sorrow and persecution than to be established, anointed, and sealed.

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 “Now He which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our heart.” The word earnest means a down payment, a partial payment of which the rest will be received in due time. Ephesians 1:14, “Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” Of course the earnest of the Spirit and the inheritance are two truths that go together. The word earnest is actually a word from common speech in the days of the apostles and it was used in reference to an engagement ring. We know that once a person turns from their sins to Jesus they become part of the bride of Christ. When you think of an engagement however and the joy of romance that should be there in the way of a man with a maid, it becomes a vivid illustration of both the earnest of the Spirit given at salvation and that which is yet to be revealed at when Christ returns at the end of the great tribulation.

What mysteries of the joy of the kingdom of God that God’s children have yet to receive we can only marvel at with a sincere fear of God through Christ Jesus. Psalms 19:5-6 says, “Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.” The twinkling of an eye here at the end of the age of grace, then the great tribulation, then comes the bridegroom Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 1:23-24 says, “Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth. Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.” Sometimes things do not happen when we want because God wants to spare us. God’s timing is always perfect. We know that the twinkling of an eye and the timing of the end of the age of grace will be in God’s timing no one elses. It has not happened yet because just as Paul spared the Corinthians by not coming unto them Christ is sparing the world by leaving the Christians on the earth. With the earnest of the Spirit God’s children groan. What help of our joy it is to know Christ has established us, anointed us, sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

If you have never turned form your sins turn to Jesus and become a helper of the joy. 2 Corinthians 1:24, “Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.”

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