2 Corinthians 1:21, 22
21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
Verses 21, 22 use four key terms to describe the assurance that we have in Christ.
1. He “establishes” us. This is a technical term in the Greek for a legal guarantee that confirms a sale is valid. Paul used the word to explain that God guarantees the salvation of all who believe in Jesus.
2. We are “anointed.” Old Testament, prophets, priests, and kings were anointed to certify their commission to be representatives of God. Paul used the Greek verb for “anointed” to speak of the anointing of God’s spirit. As we yield to the Spirit, He enables us to serve God and to live godly lives.
3. We are “sealed.” This Greek word referred to the practice of placing soft wax on a document and imprinting the wax with a seal that indicated authorship. Paul says, God has sealed, or stamped us with the Holy Spirit which is His mark of ownership on our lives.
4. Fourth, the Holy Spirit in our life is our “guarantee” or (“deposit). The Greek word for “deposit” refers to the down payment that a buyer will give a seller to declare the intent of paying the full amount. He is our guarantee that one day we shall be with God in heaven.
With these four key terms, Paul makes clear that people do not know that we are Christians by some badge that we wear, but by the evidences of a Spirit-filled life. The presence of the Holy Spirit is the confirmation that what God has begun in our lives, He will complete.
By Dr. Gayle Woods