Christ is God's

“...and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.” (1Corinthians 3:23)

These were Paul’s words to refute the argument that the Corinthians were having concerning who had more authenticity in salvation depending on who baptized them. “For you are yet carnal. For in that there is among you envyings and strife and divisions, are you not carnal, and do you not walk according to men? For while one says, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are you not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom you believed, even as the Lord gave to each? I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither is he who plants anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. So he planting, and he watering, are one, and each one shall receive his own reward according to his own labor. For of God we are fellow-workers, a field of God, and you are a building of God.” (1Corinthians 3:3-9)

Paul is saying that it doesn’t matter who preached the Gospel of salvation or who baptized. They are all ministers working in the Lord. For all belong to Christ and Christ belongs to God. Jesus prayed this. “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world, but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine; and I am glorified in them.” (John 17:9-10)

In some churches, people may feel they haven’t been ministered to if it wasn’t the pastor. But all are workers in the Lord for the kingdom, whether the pastor, leader or fellow congregant who ministers. Jesus spoke to Peter about this when hinting to Peter of the time when he would deny the Lord. He tells him that after the devil tries him, he’ll return to the Lord. And Jesus commands him to minister to the brethren. “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has desired you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not. And when you are converted, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:31-32) We all are priests of the Lord. “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for possession, so that you might speak of the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;” (1Peter 2:9). When we pray for another, counsel or help our brethren we are acting as priests of the Lord.

Paul writes to the Corinthians, “You are Christ’s...” Those who belong to Christ no longer have a desire for the things of the flesh. “But those belonging to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.” (Galatians 5:24) When we received Jesus our old man who was of this world was in the flesh. The old man was crucified with Jesus. That old man died. Think about it this way. The old you died. We are now a different person who has risen with Christ at His resurrection, born of God with God’s pure, holy and righteous nature.  We don’t desire the things of the flesh. We are a new creation. “ So that if anyone is in Christ, that one is a new creature; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2Corinthians 5:17)

And Christ is God’s. “But I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.” (1Corinthians 11:3) It was the Father Who gave Jesus all authority. “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All authority is given to Me in Heaven and in earth.” (Matthew 28:18) The Father sent Jesus and gave all thing to Him. “For He whom God has sent speaks the Words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand.” (John 3:34-35) Jesus is God, Who came from God the Father. And Jesus, the Son will turn over all to the Father. “For He put all things under His feet. But when He says that all things have been put under His feet, it is plain that it excepts Him who has put all things under Him. But when all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subject to Him who has subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all things in all.” (1Corinthians 15:27-28) Jesus said the Father was greater than Him. “You have heard how I said to you, I go away and I am coming to you again. If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, I go to the Father, for My Father is greater than I.” (John 14:28) Jesus prayed to the Father and humbled Himself before the Father. “Jesus spoke these words and lifted up His eyes to Heaven and said, Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son so that Your Son also may glorify You, even as You have given Him authority over all flesh so that He should give eternal life to all You have given Him. And this is life eternal, that they might know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You upon the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now Father, glorify Me with Yourself with the glory which I had with You before the world was.” (John 17:1-5)

What we learn is that God the Father is the One that is all in all. And believers regardless of the position of the labor they work in the kingdom are all ministers and laborers in Christ, who act as priests before the Lord. And Christ our Lord, Who was sent by the Father is subject to the Father and belongs to the Father.