2 Corinthians 1:21-22

2 Corinthians 1:21‑22  •  3 min. read  •  grade level: 9
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This is in many ways a remarkable scripture. Everything, as is the case in this epistle, is traced up to God. (Compare chapter 5:18) It is “He who establisheth us with you in Christ” (βεβαιῶν εἰς, “attaches firmly to,” “connects firmly with”—see note in New Translation); and He who “hath anointed us is God; who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” We have thus three characters of the Holy Spirit as dwelling in the believer. First, as the anointing. The sons of Aaron were anointed, after being sprinkled with the blood, in association with Aaron, who, as type of Christ, had been anointed, without blood, alone. So our blessed Lord was anointed at His baptism. (Matthew 3, compare Acts 10:3838How 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. (Acts 10:38)) Then, after His death, resurrection, and ascension, “having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost,” He “shed forth” the Spirit on His own on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 2:3333Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. (Acts 2:33)) The precious ointment on the Head ran down to the skirts of His garments (Psalms 133:22It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; (Psalm 133:2)); and thus, His followers were anointed of God. The effect of the anointing is to give intelligence (1 Corinthians 2:1212Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. (1 Corinthians 2:12); 1 John 2:20,2720But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. (1 John 2:20)
27But 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. (1 John 2:27)) and power. (Acts 10:3838How 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. (Acts 10:38)) The very name which God has permitted to be attached to believers—that of Christians—indicates this character of the Holy Spirit. The meaning of “Christ” is “the Anointed One,” and hence that of “Christians” is “anointed ones;” and it also points clearly to their association (not to say union) with Christ in the anointing, explaining doubtless the reason of our being reminded in this scripture that God has connected us with Christ.
We are also sealed by God. It should be borne in mind that, whether as anointing or sealing, it is the same Spirit, and takes place at the same time, though the character is different. When God seals the believer—and He seals every believer who has the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; 10:43, 4438Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38)
43To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. 44While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. (Acts 10:43‑44); Ephesians 1:1313In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (Ephesians 1:13), &c)—He marks them out as belonging to Christ (Romans 8: 9), and He secures them until the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:3030And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30)) The Spirit as the seal thus points to ownership and security, God in His grace impressing His stamp upon, us, and making it at the same time inviolable. The Holy Spirit as dwelling in us is likewise the earnest; that is, He is the pledge and guarantee that we shall be put into possession of all that God has promised, the bestowment of a part which ensures the whole. In Ephesians He is “the earnest of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:1414Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:14)); in this epistle (2 Corinthians) He is the earnest rather of our resurrection bodies, of our being “clothed upon with our house which is from heaven... that mortality might be swallowed up of life.” (Chapter 5:1-5)
What a field of research then is opened up to us in such a scripture as this! And how few of us have comprehended, in any measure, our priceless possession in the gift of the Holy Ghost!
E. D.