The word “possession” (περιποίησις) describes the concept of preserving for oneself; it refers to one’s personal property. It is rooted in the concept of what one is doing or making. Possession is not equivalent to acquiring (κτάομαι), such as one who purchases citizenship (Acts 22:28) or obtaining gold and silver (Matthew 10:9).
The Church is a personal possession of God. As His possession, it is set apart as a royal priesthood and chosen to proclaim the praises of the One Who called her out from darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). Christ gave the members of the Church the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of their inheritance until the full redemption of the possession (Ephesians 1:14), because they are called to possess His glory (2 Thessalonians 2:14).
When Christ ascended, He gave gifts to men (Ephesians 4:11). One of these gifts is a Pastor even teacher, who is responsible for the edification of the assembly to bring it to a oneness of the faith unto a full experiential knowledge of the Son of God so that it is no longer tossed around by every wind of teaching by the trickery of men seeking to deceive the saints (Ephesians 4:12-15). The Pastor is to take heed to himself so that he oversees and shepherds the assembly, for Christ purchased it through His own blood; consequently, it belongs to Him (Acts 20:28). Since Pastors are responsible for the personal possession of God, those who serve well in this duty will have a good reputation among those outside the Church, earning double honors for their labor in the word and teaching (1 Timothy 3:7; 5:17).
The tribulation period is a time of judgment—first upon the dispensation of law, and then, in the latter half, judgment upon the Gentiles. The Church will not be on the earth at this time, for God has not appointed it to any wrath but to possess salvation (1 Thessalonians 5:9).
As possessions (περιποίησις) of God, for He is the One who made us who we are in Christ, we are to know how to acquire (κτάομαι) our own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in the passion of lusts like the Gentiles (1 Thessalonians 4:4-5). Thus, we of the Church are to flee fornication (1 Thessalonians 4:3), for God has not called us unto uncleanness but to be set apart (1 Thessalonians 4:7).
Those who do not draw back from the grace of God possess their souls so that their emotions are not governing their actions (Hebrews 10:39). In living by faith, we will maintain control over our emotions, overseeing them through the truth rather than the desires from the flesh.
The term “possession” (περιποίησις) refers to something personally preserved—personal property—distinct from “acquiring” (κτάομαι), which implies obtaining. The Church, as God’s possession, is set apart to proclaim His praises, having been purchased by Christ’s blood and given the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of inheritance and glory (1 Peter 2:9; Ephesians 1:14; 2 Thessalonians 2:14). Christ gifted pastors even teachers to edify the Church, to bring it to a oneness of the faith, and protect it from deception, as they shepherd God’s possession with accountability and honor (Ephesians 4:11-15; Acts 20:28; 1 Timothy 3:13). During the tribulation, judgment will fall on law and the Gentiles, but the Church, appointed to salvation, will not be on earth during this time, for its place is in heaven (1 Thessalonians 5:9). As God’s possession, Christians are called to sanctification, fleeing sin, and living by faith, governing their emotions through truth rather than fleshly desires (1 Thessalonians 4:3-7; Hebrews 10:39).