Established In Christ

Introduction

Greetings…

In the book of 2 Corinthians Paul finds it necessary to defend his not coming to Corinth even though he had planned on making it to them not once but twice.

In fact, as he had told them before, he planned on going to Macedonia but on the way stop off and see the church in Corinth. He then planned on returning from Macedonia by way of Achaia, which would afford him yet another opportunity to stop by and see the church once more on his way back to Antioch of Syria, his home.

However, due to the necessity of the gospel, Paul was unable to get to Corinth and some in the church were calling Paul fickle at best and a liar at worst.

In 2 Corinthians 1:12-2:4 Paul explains he was not a fickle or a liar but that the necessity of preaching the gospel kept him from coming.

It’s in this explanation that we see something beautifully described and the crux of our lesson today wherein Paul describes his honesty and love by stating…

2 Corinthians 1:21–22 ESV

21 And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, 22 and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

Paul, here, is saying that not only was his mission authenticated by God but that they were joined with him in this because they were all established by God in Christ.

With that said what does it mean to be “Established In Christ?”

Established

Biblical Definition.

The word “established,” here in our text, is found 8 times in the New Testament and 2 times in the LXX.

This word means, “to put something beyond doubt.” 1

When we look at some of these passages, we begin to get a clear picture of what this word means.

Mark 16:20 ESV

20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.

Romans 15:8 ESV

8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs,

Hebrews 13:9 ESV

9 Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.

Hebrews 2:3 ESV

3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard,

Colossians 2:6–7 ESV

6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Summary

So what we see is that this word means “to put something beyond doubt.”

So the bible is saying that when “God establishes us in Christ” we are should be ones with “no doubt” in such.

In other words, when established by God in Christ, we should…

Know We Have Eternal Life

Not A Wish But A Know.

There are some in the church and certainly outside the church that would like one to think that it is impossible to know if you have eternal life.

Before we go any further what is “eternal life?”

1 John 1:1–2 ESV

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—

Eternal life is that which Jesus came to this earth to offer each and every one of us (Titus 2:11) who are willing to obey the will of the Father (Matthew 7:21). It is therefore salvation.

So if eternal life is salvation, which is only found in Christ (Acts 4:12), then can we know we have eternal life or salvation in Christ?

In other words does God’s word specifically say anything about having our salvation or eternal life being beyond doubt?

1 John 5:13 ESV

13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.

Our salvation is not something we have to cross our fingers and knock on wood for rather it is assured because our God has “established us in Christ.”

Summary

In the same way Paul was sure he had fought the good fight of victory and the crown of victory awaited him we too can have that same assurance, without doubt because God has established us in Christ.

Conclusion

Now the reason why Paul had confidence in the brethren at Corinth was not only were they established by God in Christ with him but how they were established in Christ.

They were made to be beyond doubt in their mutual salvation through their common anointing as children, seal of salvation, and guarantee of the Holy Spirit.

Thanks be to God that he leaves no stone unturned when it comes to loving us, encouraging us, and helping us get to his home in heaven.

Invitation

Isaiah 59:1–2 ESV

1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

Philippians 2:6–7 ESV

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Romans 10:17 ESV

17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Hebrews 11:6 ESV

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Acts 17:30 ESV

30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,

Matthew 10:32 NKJV

32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.

2 Thessalonians 1:8 ESV

8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

1 Corinthians 15:1–4 ESV

1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

Romans 6:3–5 ESV

3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

1 John 1:8 ESV

8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

Endnotes

Arndt, William, Frederick W. Danker, Walter Bauer, and F. Wilbur Gingrich. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000.