(21) Now he which establisheth 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. (23) Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth. (24) Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.
I pray the Reader to attend, with all suitable regard, to what the Apostle hath here said. That the saints of God may be, and indeed are, by grace established in the faith, is a fundamental doctrine of Scripture; and the Apostle brings an additional testimony in this place, in confirmation of it. The everlasting uncertainty, that some poor precious, but weak saints, are at on this ground, doth by no means weaken, or make void, the doctrine. Every child of God desires to be at certainty, on a point of such infinite importance. And here the Apostle by the Holy Ghost, declares, that God's people, when being regenerated, and brought into an apprehension of Christ, and our interest in him, are established and anointed. And He that doth this mighty act, and hath sealed, as well as anointed the Church, is God; who hath also given an earnest of his work by his Spirit in our hearts. Reader! as the point is of such high moment, I do pray you, that you will attend a little somewhat more particularly unto it.
And, first. Here is said to be an establishment of the child of God in grace. And, in confirmation that this is attainable in the present life, it should be observed, that all the Persons of the Godhead concur in it. By electing grace God the Father establisheth them in Christ. They are given to Him, accepted in Him, justified in Him, sanctified in Him; and made everlastingly happy in Him; in time, and to all eternity. They are beheld in Christ as one, and established in this oneness and union with Him: so that because He lives, they must live also. And they are anointed and sealed, as the sweet Scripture saith, by the earnest of the Spirit in their hearts. So that they have the united testimony of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, to the great truth of their establishment.
But I cannot call that man established, whose mind is exercised with doubts, and fears, and misgivings! As long as there is a doubt remaining upon the mind; whether Christ hath, or hath not compleated deliverance for his people; and as long as the child of God is at doubts, and fears, and peradventures of his interest in Christ, there will be no solid, substantial joy and comfort in the soul. Oh! how sweet is it then when the soul is established, and is anointed in Christ, and sealed with the earnest of the Spirit in the heart!
I detain not the Reader, to make any further observations on the Apostle's appeal, as to his readiness, to visit the Corinthians. These things are all now passed by. But, I beg the Reader to notice with me, the striking conclusion of the Chapter; that it is by faith the Lord's people stand. Sweet thought! No changeableness of men, no temptations of Satan, no undeservings of the Lord's people destroy the perfection of Christ, which gives strength to faith. And this faith, is not the cause, but the effect: not the motive, for which the Lord established his people; but the result. Oh! how blessed, that our safety, and security, is not founded in, the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.