How does God own believers?
God owns believers by virtue of the redemption price of His shed blood. Through the preaching of the cross, believers are brought into this position; nothing else will do. As God's husbandry and building, they are His possession, overseen by Him in all they say, think, and do.
Les explains that Paul writes to the Corinthians so they will not be discouraged, even though they are carnal and still babes in Christ. They labor together with the Eternal Sovereign God; you do not have to be a spiritual giant for God to use you. Paul says, “You are God's husbandry. You are God's building.” The possessive term is with God; He is the owner of everything, not just the cattle on a thousand hills. He owns every believer by virtue of the redemption price of His shed blood, and it is the preaching of the cross that gets people into this position, nothing else. As believers in the finished work of the cross, God is our partner, our overseer, and the one over everything we say, think, and do. We are His workmanship, His husbandry, and God's building.
For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.