Sealed by the Spirit – Ephesians 1:3-14
When the Israelites made the golden calf, God told them that He could not go with them from Mount Sinai because He would destroy them (Exodus 33:1-6). So, He sent an angel to go with them to guide them. Man cannot be holy on his own. He needs God’s help.
Eventually, the prophet Ezekiel would predict that God would send His Holy Spirit to make His people spiritually alive, to make them holy (Ezekiel 36:26-27).
When Peter preached, following the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, on the day of Pentecost, he told the Jews that they would not receive the gift of the Holy Spirit until they had repented of their selfishness and been immersed in water for the forgiveness of their sins (Acts 2:38). If they were to comply with those two commands – repentance and immersion for the forgiveness of their sins, then they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
All Christians receive the Holy Spirit as a gift once they have obeyed Jesus Christ, Peter says in Acts 5:29.
I want us to look at one passage that deals with being “sealed” by the Holy Spirit: Ephesians 1:3-14.
“SEALING” WITH THE SPIRIT IS “IN” CHRIST JESUS – 1:3-6:
Observe the text…
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“SEALING” WITH THE SPIRIT INVOLVES REDEMPTION AND RECONCILIATION – 1:7-10:
In Christ, we have redemption through His blood. Paul defines “redemption” in this verse as the “forgiveness of our trespasses.” “Redemption” comes from the slave trade and means to buy someone out of slavery, out of prison. This redemption is accomplished, Paul writes, through the blood of Christ. That washing occurs when we are immersed into Christ, Acts 22:16.
“SEALING” WITH THE SPIRIT INVOLVES AN INHERITANCE – 1:11-14:
We have now come to the seal of the Spirit. The seal was applied to letters and other official documents to guarantee the genuineness of the document and the seal indicated ownership and to ensure protection, that the document had not been tampered from the sender to the recipient.
The “seal of the Spirit” also involves a pledge, the Greek word for “engagement ring.” I want you to take a look at verses 13-14 and observe what Paul says – “After listening to the message of truth,” the Holy Spirit is given. The Holy Spirit does not come before one listens to the message. Nor does the Holy Spirit come before believing. One is not saved by the Holy Spirit coming over you. That’s not the role of the Holy Spirit. But, it is in response to hearing, believing and obeying the Holy Spirit that one comes into possession of the Holy Spirit as a seal of your inheritance.
As Christians, we have been sealed with the Spirit. We belong to God and are protected by God.
–Paul Holland
