The Sealing of the Holy Spirit
Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 20 viewsNotes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
When we come to this subject, we must consider three key passages in the New Testament.
2 Corinthians 1:22 (KJV 1900)
22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
Ephesians 1:13 (KJV 1900)
13 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,
Ephesians 4:30 (KJV 1900)
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
This ministry of the Holy Spirit is not found in the Old Testament. Some may argue that it is inferred from the Old Testament. Such an inference may be true; however, it is not explicitly stated in any fashion in the Old Testament. Instead, the sealing of the Holy Spirit appears to be something that God has done for believers since the day He imparted the Holy Spirit to His disciples in the upper room.
Who is Sealed?
Who is Sealed?
As with the Spirit’s indwelling, the Spirit’s sealing belongs only to believers and to all believers.
22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
The Holy Spirit makes no exceptions in writing to this local church of believers. All are sealed. If this were not true, how could the Holy Spirit make it the basis for the exhortation not to grieve Him in Ephesians 4:30? He would have to say that only that group of sealed believers should not grieve the Spirit. That would be ridiculous to consider when we know that the entire Word of God was written for the benefit of all believers.
When Does the Sealing Take Place?
When Does the Sealing Take Place?
Like the Spirit’s indwelling, the Spirit seals a believer during their conversion. Note the word “and” in 2 Corinthians 1:22
22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
This conjunction connects the sealing of the Spirit as God’s earnest. The word “earnest” means a deposit as in a partial payment made at the time of purchase with the balance paid in full at a later date. Thus, God gives us His Spirit to indwell us, sealing us, and assuring us that we belong to Him when we believe in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, as our personal Savior.
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Let’s consider Ephesians 1:13 for a moment.
13 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,
Note the principal verb is “ye were sealed.” Just before that, the Holy Spirit uses the phrase “ye believed.” Now, without getting into a lot of Greek grammar, the language here suggests that believing and sealing happen simultaneously.
Who is the One Who Does the Sealing?
Who is the One Who Does the Sealing?
Well, the most obvious answer is God does the sealing.
22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
Now, again, we must understand that God is the Holy Spirit. Remember, He is a triune God consisting of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are one. Consequently, when we say that God seals us, we can also say that the Holy Spirit seals us. Thus, the Holy Spirit is also an agent that seals us.
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Note the word “whereby.” This word, in Greek, is a prepositional pronoun. In other words, you could read as “in whom.” Consequently, this verse clearly states that we are sealed in the Holy Spirit and thus by the Holy Spirit.
An excellent example of this in the English language would be this. I said, “I went to the store in my car.” There are two possible meanings here. I could mean that I went to the store using the means of my car versus using a bicycle or some other means of transportation. I could also mean that I went to the store “by sitting within (the sphere of) my car” meaning that it ware as the enclosure in which I was transported to the store. In reality, I did both. The car not only served as the agent taking me to the car, but it was the enclosure in which I was located as I was transported to the store. Similarly, the Spirit was the sealing agent, and, as a result, He indwells me.
How Long Does His Seal Last?
How Long Does His Seal Last?
The answer is quite easy. His seal lasts until the day of our redemption.
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
The “day of our redemption” is when we are fully redeemed. It is the day when we are completely and one hundred percent restored in the image of God with a sinless body, an eternal soul, and a resurrected spirit. Each believer right now possesses an eternal soul and a resurrected spirit. Unfortunately, we have not yet received a sinless body.
23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
God sealing us with His Spirit is the guaranteed deposit (the seal) that we will be complete one day per His promise. No believer can become unsealed on their journey to heaven.
What are the Ramifications of the Holy Spirit’s Seal?
What are the Ramifications of the Holy Spirit’s Seal?
First, there is our security.
First, there is our security.
His sealing includes the concepts of ownership, authority, responsibility, and, above all, security. The Holy Spirit’s sealing protects God’s promises to us, especially our salvation. We can be confident that (a) He possesses us, (b) we have a secure salvation sealed by and with the Holy Spirit, and (c) He intends to keep us to the day of our full redemption.
It is sort of like registered mail. When we register a piece of mail at the post office, it must be sealed carefully, but the post office also stamps it several times across the edges so they might detect if anyone tampers with the seal. Only two people can legally and legitimately break the seal: the recipient or the sender (if it is delivered back to them). In the case of us as believers, God is the Sender and the Recipient. He is also the One Who seals us. Only God can break the seal, and He has promised that He will not do so until the day of redemption.the
Remember 2 Corinthians 2:11 and Ephesians 1:13-14 both mention the gift of the Spirit as an earnest and sealing. It is a logical association. Sealing guarantees that we shall receive all that God has promised us, some of which are in the future. The presence of the Spirit in our lives serves as an earnest (deposit) that all will be fulfilled. In business transactions, once earnest money has been given and received, the purchaser and seller are pledged to complete the transaction. Similarly, the gift of the Spirit serves as God’s deposit that He will not go back on any of His promises to us.
Second, there is our purity.
Second, there is our purity.
The future redemption of our body, restoration to a body without sin, should remind us of the sin and shame we live with daily. Additionally, the reality of our relationship with the Holy Spirit, who our sin can grieve, should motivate us to purity.
The big question is often this. What sins grieve the Holy Spirit? The answer is simple. All sins grieve the Holy Spirit. However, what is interesting is the context of Ephesians 4. Note the verses before and after verse 30.
29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Both verses highlight sins of the mouth. Yet, we must remember what Christ said.
18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
If any particular sin definitively grieves the Spirit, it must be the filth that often comes from our mouths, which is a direct result of our wicked heart. Therefore, we must pay special attention to guarding our lips.
