THE ESTABLISHING OF, AND BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD. (See 2 Cor. 1:21, 22.)

The Epistles to the Corinthians are largely devoted to the instruction of the saints as to God's order for the Church. They had been but recently turned from heathenism to God, and though assembled, or gathered, for the worship of God and remembering the Lord Jesus Christ in His death, they were but imperfectly taught in the things of God; were apparently ignorant of God's order for His Church, and but imperfectly apprehended what amazing blessings He had provided for them "in Christ." Under such an environment, Paul's first work for them and "for all who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place both theirs and ours," was to instruct them, and us, in the things of God. This gives us the key to both epistles.

In the preceding context to the passage we are examining, Paul has just been asserting the absoluteness of the promises of God. They are not yea and nay, but in Him is yea " absolutely yea, and no nay or question at all of any kind about them. "Wherefore also through Him is the amen unto the glory of God through us." This is the immediate context.

Now "the earnest of the Spirit" is the first-fruits of faith in Christ. "In whom believing, or having believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest (first-fruits) of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of His glory" (Eph. 1:13, 14). Believing then, or having believed, on realization of what we are promised in Christ, absolutely assured of