How does 2 Corinthians 1:21 connect with other scriptures about God's anointing? Our Foundational Verse 2 Corinthians 1:21: “Now it is God who establishes both us and you in Christ. He anointed us.” Key Words to Notice • God—initiator and guarantor • Establishes—sets firmly, roots securely • In Christ—our union with the Anointed One • Anointed—marked, empowered, and set apart by the Spirit Old Testament Roots of Anointing • Exodus 30:30 – Aaron and his sons are anointed, “so that they may serve Me as priests.” • Link: 2 Corinthians 1:21 shows believers now share that priestly setting-apart. • 1 Samuel 16:13 – “Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward.” • Link: God’s Spirit-empowering in David foreshadows His permanent anointing on every believer. • Psalm 23:5 – “You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” • Link: The overflowing life Paul describes springs from that same divine act. Anointing Centered in Christ • Isaiah 61:1 – “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me…” • Luke 4:18 – Jesus claims this prophecy: “He has anointed Me to preach good news…” • Acts 10:38 – “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power.” • Connection: Our anointing (2 Corinthians 1:21) is inseparable from Christ’s own. We are “in Him,” so what the Father did for the Son He now extends to us. New Testament Echoes for Every Believer • 1 John 2:20 – “You have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.” • 1 John 2:27 – “The anointing you received from Him remains in you…” • Ephesians 1:13 – “Having believed, you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.” • 2 Corinthians 1:22 – directly continues our verse: “He placed His seal on us and put His Spirit in our hearts as a pledge of what is to come.” • Together these passages underline: – Permanence (“remains in you,” “sealed”) – Presence (Spirit in our hearts) – Purpose (guiding into truth, empowering service) Why Paul Adds “Establishes” with “Anointed” • Anointing describes the initial act—God marking us as His own. • Establishing describes the ongoing result—He keeps us stable, rooted, unshakable in Christ. • Both words assure believers of security and sufficiency that rest on God’s initiative, not ours. Practical Implications Today • Identity: I am not self-made; God Himself has marked and appointed me. • Security: What He establishes, no trial can uproot. • Empowerment: The same Spirit who anointed prophets, priests, kings, and Christ now works through me. • Mission: As Christ was anointed “to preach good news,” I carry that same Spirit-backed commission. • Hope: The Spirit within is a pledge—a down payment—guaranteeing the fullness of future glory. Summary Snapshot 2 Corinthians 1:21 stands as a New Testament capstone on the Bible’s anointing theme: the God who anointed priests (Exodus 30), kings (1 Samuel 16), and His Messiah (Isaiah 61; Luke 4) now anoints every believer, seals us with His Spirit, and firmly establishes us in Christ for time and eternity. |
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