“And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 ESV
Reflection: what is the purpose of a “down payment”?
We have in front of us today a couple of the most powerful verses in all of Paul’s writings. Like deep poetry, this you have to read a number of times, think about and really ponder, then read again and again before you start understanding the deeper meaning. There are multiple, central principles here, each one can be a book in itself. Before proceeding, I recommend reading these verses a few times for yourself, ideally out loud. What is the first thing that comes to mind?
When I read through it this morning, it was the last point that struck me first. That we who are God’s children have received the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. The word used is actually closer to how we use the phrase “down payment”. Like earnest money you put down on a house you want to purchase until the sale has been completed. It is a guarantee to the seller that you are serious, and will prevent any other to purchase the house. In a way, the down payment “locks” the house for the buyer. We have received the Spirit of God, as a down payment from Him. This is primarily telling us that God is the one who made the decision, and provided the payment. He chose to invest in us. And, this payment also in a way locks Satan out.
Now, perhaps the most beautiful part of this down payment of the Spirit, this guarantee by God, is that it is only a partial payment. That someday, we will have the full “payment”, if you will. We will be in the presence of God, as Paul writes “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.” 1 Corinthians 15:22-28 ESV
“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” 1 Corinthians 13:12 ESV
Working backwards in the focus verses, we see the next principle that God “has put His seal on us”. An interesting aspect of the way this is phrased, that a seal was used by dignitaries, like a King, to close a letter with the sign of the King, prevent it from being read by anyone but the one the King intended. It was sealed for his purpose, preventing anyone to open and read outside of the King’s purpose. And this is the imagery that Paul is eluting to here. We who are born by God are sealed by God himself, marked by and for heaven, if you will.
The last principle I want to draw your attention to is where Paul writes that “it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us”. Meaning the starting point is not us. It is God. He is the one who has chosen us, taken a chance on us, and has “anointed” us. Why anointed? Because we have a divine purpose, ordained by God Himself, having “established us in Christ”. Paul adds the point about “us with you”, saying that we, the church, is a body, being established and built by God, in Christ. The body of Christ.
In these few words Paul wrote down, the mystery of who we are in Christ starts to unfold. I have touched on a few points, but there is so much more here. I am curious to know what you see, what the Spirit reveals to you as you work on this. If you want, please drop me a note and share your thoughts, at twothumbsministry@gmail.com.