Ephesians 1:13 is the description of the process of being saved. You hear the truth which is the Gospel 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, you believe the truth you hear and then God seals you with His Holy Spirit. It is hearing and believing which is being saved by faith, believing what God said saves you is true. This sealing of the Holy Spirit is the promise (the down payment, earnest money, engagement ring) that proves you belong to God and He is coming back to get you and take you to heaven. This sealing is the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
In essence, the “deposit” of the Holy Spirit is a little bit of heaven in believers’ lives with a guarantee of much more yet to come.
The Sealing of the Holy Spirit signifies 5 things;
The sealing work of the Spirit is mentioned two other places in the Scripture, 2Corinthians 1:20 and Ephesians 4:30.
- A seal on a legal document means it is a finished contract or transaction
In Jeremiah 32, God told Jeremiah to buy a piece of property. He says, Don’t worry about the fact that Jerusalem is going to be a rubble pretty soon, Jerusalem is going to be wiped out, you buy that piece of property cause when everybody comes back from the captivity, see, all your descendants will inherit this lovely piece of property. Jeremiah 32, Jeremiah buys it. And you know when he got all done, The Bible says he sealed the transaction.
You know what the seal means? We are not in the process of getting saved. When you put your faith in Jesus Christ God gave you the Holy Spirit and said – That is a finished transaction.
- It means security and protection. We are secure in Christ
The seal used by princes and kings and nobles in the time of the Bible was a sign of security.
Hebrews 6:19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,
Let me show you an illustration of that.
Da 6:16 -17 So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.” 17 Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed.
- Authenticity… It’ real, we are a genuine child of God
When God gives us His Holy Spirit it’s as if He says this; Don’t mess with this person, this is an authentic child of the King. Isn’t that great? The only authentic Christian is the one who possesses the Holy Spirit, who’s sealed with a mark of authenticity.
Ro 8:9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
- Ownership…He owns us
1Co 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
- Authority and power
Read the the eighth chapter of Esther. Esther wanted the king to settle a certain issue. So she said, Okay, you make the edict, king, and you sign it with your seal and we’ll carry it out. And so they’re walking around with this letter from the king. It’s a sign of authority.
In essence, the “deposit” of the Holy Spirit is a little bit of heaven in believers’ lives with a guarantee of much more yet to come.
In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise (Ephesians 1:13)
Ephesians 1:13 is the description of the process of being saved. You hear the truth which is the Gospel 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, you believe the truth you hear and then God seals you with His Holy Spirit. It is hearing and believing which is being saved by faith, believing what God said saves you is true. This sealing of the Holy Spirit is the promise (the down payment, earnest money, engagement ring) that proves you belong to God and He is coming back to get you and take you to heaven. This sealing is the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
In essence, the “deposit” of the Holy Spirit is a little bit of heaven in believers’ lives with a guarantee of much more yet to come.
0 Comments