Grow With Pastor Joe

Continuing to look at the “Receipt of the Redeemed” by the witness of the Spirit that we have been eternally saved and are now eternally sealed. Our eternal salvation and sealing are both found in Eph. 1:13 which says, “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,” The seal of the Holy Spirit is the guarantee of the wealth of His grace in our life. The eternal sealing is the result of our eternal salvation in Christ. It is the Holy Spirit who now acts as a seal for the believer’s wealth and walk. Without this sealing we will remain unsure of our wealth and unable to walk in Christ. Our entire Christian life hinges upon this truth. This sealing is the proof that salvation is granted through belief on Christ. This belief unites us in belonging to Christ through the sealing of the Holy Spirit. Both of these are our wealth in Christ to lead us to faithful behavior in our sanctifying walk in Christ. First, we must deal with the phrase “holy Spirit of promise.” The gift of the Holy Spirit is promised in the OT (Joel 2:28) and in Jesus’ promises to His disciples (Acts 1:4-8 and John 14-16). God’s gift of grace by giving us His promised Holy Spirit is not only to provide salvation but to prove our eternal salvation through our eternal sealing by Him. He not only provides a seal for the believer’s salvation but is the very seal of the believer’s salvation. “You were sealed” is a singular Greek word that is in the aorist tense (used to describe completeness and certainty) signifying that it took place the very moment of salvation with a lasting impact. He didn’t save and seal us to take either one away. Both are dependent and attached to the other. To take away the seal is to take away salvation and vice versa.

So, what does being sealed mean? The word itself means to be engraved by marking, denoting ownership or approval. Furthermore, it indicates authority or identification of something. Sealing reminds us of a wax seal that was often used to give documents authority or protection. The seal was usually that of a representation of a king whose insignia was on it so that whatever was sealed would carry the weight of his position. There are several ways that this word is used that will help us to understand more fully what it means to be eternally sealed. One, it was used to show a finished transaction. This is the same as a receipt if you will. It proves that something has been paid for. Our eternal sealing shows that the spiritual transaction through belief in the gospel of Christ is complete. The payment is secured and is satisfied in Christ. Second, the sealing was used to mark ownership. Having the Holy Spirit shows that we truly have been bought by the blood of the Son and adopted by the Father. We not only have a new master and owner of our life, but He is our Father King who we may come to freely in faith. Third, sealing is used to give a bond of security. Much like the receipt or mark of ownership, this further proves that our wealth and walk in Christ is secured by God Himself. Our salvation and the sealing of that salvation is provided solely by His grace in Christ. The Holy Spirit seals each believer the moment of salvation to show that we are united or bound to Him. We are no longer in bondage to sin but now bound to the one who redeemed us. Lastly, seals were used to show authenticity of identity. What this means spiritually is that there is no authentic salvation without the indwelling Holy Spirit. He is the seal in our life to show that our salvation is genuine and that our identity is now in Christ alone.

Our eternal sealing is to show that we are now owned and operated by the Holy Spirit. He owns our life through our redemption in Christ and everything that God owns, He desires to operate for His glory. We are His possession. Body, soul, and spirit belong to Him (See 1 Cor. 3:16-17, 6:18-20). When we grasp this wealth of belonging to Christ through the sealing of the Holy Spirit it leads to a walk of right behavior. The Holy Spirit desires and deserves to own and operate within us. There is nothing that should be withheld from Him in our life. He can do more in us and through us if we would only by faith yield to His work for, in, and through us to the glory of God. He owns and operates within us by His constant work of grace in us so that we by faith would participate in His program. His presence in our life supplies the power to live for Christ. My spiritual wealth is His presence within me. My spiritual walk is His power in and through me by grace through faith. Praise God that the Holy Spirit proves that we are eternally sealed in Christ.

The “Receipt of the Redeemed” through the witness of the Holy Spirit in our life not only shows that we are eternally saved and sealed, but as well we are eternally secure. Eph. 1:14 says, “Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” Now remember, everything that God’s grace gives has been guaranteed by that same grace. Our redemption in Christ is guaranteed until glory by the witness of the Spirit in our life. In life we love to make purchases that are “money back guaranteed.” We love the assurance that comes with that. If we don’t like something we bought, if we have a receipt with that guarantee on it, we can quickly go to get a refund or make an exchange. Praise God that we don’t have anything that could replace our redemption in Christ or have any reason from God that would make us want a refund. This guarantee of our eternal security is seen in that the Holy Spirit is the “earnest of our inheritance.” An earnest is a partial payment in advance, a first installment, deposit, or down payment. The witness of the Holy Spirit in our life eternally secures us. He has become the down payment of our eternal riches in Christ. He is the proof that God’s promises and provision are secure in Christ. His presence in my life is all the proof I need. An illustration of such a down payment might be seen in the likes of an engagement ring. I believe perhaps there is a greater illustration to help us understand. Imagine with me that a young boy who was born into an incredibly wealthy family tragically becomes orphaned. His family’s inheritance worth billions are rightfully his but who would entrust a young boy with all of that money? No one would of course. So, his inheritance is guaranteed to be there for him when he comes of age, but until then his education is taken care of, his housing, food, extracurricular activities are provided for him. He is perhaps even given a brand-new bicycle to prove that inheritance belongs to him. All of those things show this boy the down payment of his inheritance that is secured for him. He can’t handle all of it now, but one day he can. In Christ, we have been given the security of our wealth in Him. The Holy Spirit is the “earnest of our inheritance.” He is our down payment of the infinite riches we will experience in Christ throughout eternity. We can’t handle all of it now in this fleshly, sinful, and finite life. But one day we will. Now, for us, the Holy Spirit is a witness to our souls that we are eternally saved, sealed, and secured in Christ. We have a temporary foretaste of glory that awaits us in eternity. His presence and power in my life now act as the proof that I have been purchased.

Why would God give each believer the security of the witness of the Holy Spirit? One, He has done so for our good. I can’t think of anything better than being in Christ except knowing that I am sealed and secure in Him (John 10:27-31). It is for my good to know that I know that I am saved. Without this sealing and security that the Holy Spirit is for me I would continue down a spiritual road of uncertainty. I would remain unsettled and unsure about my standing before God. All of this is for my good so that I would enjoy the riches of His grace. Secondly, the reason for this is the glory of God. He is glorified in guaranteeing the gift of His grace. He is glorified when I rest in my saved, sealed, and secure position in Christ. When I am assured that I am His “purchased possession,” then I will live “to the praise of his glory.” I am only able to walk in Christ by faith as I accept the wealth that I have been given in Christ. Praise God that the Holy Spirit proves that I am eternally secure in Christ. No doubt about it.

As we put a lid on this incredible sentence of God’s grace, we must now by faith give Him glory. Our walk in Christ is to give Him praise for the wealth of grace He has proved. Reflect on Eph. 1:3-14. Do you see that all of life is by His grace and for His glory? How wonderful it is to know that His grace and glory have eternally been at work for my eternal good. When we embrace our wealth in Christ we are then empowered to walk in, by, and for Christ to the praise of His glory. All these truths in this passage point to the beauty and riches of His grace that He has lavished on us in Christ. I can’t be any wealthier than being in Christ. Nothing could ever add to or compare to the riches of His grace. There is no other walk that of eternal value or glorifying to God than my walk in Christ. Let us walk by faith in wealth of His grace to the praise of His glory.

Grow with me as we study the believer’s wealth and walk in Christ.

Grow deeper.

Grow higher.

Grow wider.