"Sealed by The Spirit: The Assurance of Salvation”

Introduction

Before my family moved from New Orleans to Greenwood, MS we would go the circus - venue: The Municipal Auditorium - sitting up high - watching the trapeze artists at eye level and the three rings down below.

Unfortunately - The circus as I know it is no more. After 146 years “The Greatest Show on Earth” came to an end - in 2017 they closed their doors.

What we have before us this morning might be described as

“THE Greatest Show on Earth and Heaven”

But, what the Apostle Paul presents is not entertainment; it is an explanation of the greatest, real-life, eternal, life-changing drama in all history.

In Ephesians 1 Paul traces the plan of salvation that begins in the mind of God before the creation of the world and continues until Christ returns at his Second Coming…

Paul’s description is one long, complex sentence in the original Greek as he…

describes the Father (calling) electing a vast number of people to salvation,

the Son purchasing salvation for the ones the Father calls by his life, death, burial, and resurrection,

and then the Holy Spirit applying the benefits of Christ’s work of salvation to those Christ came to seek and to save.

In Ephesians 1:3-14 the Paul places before us teaching about God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, election, sin, forgiveness, redemption, the gospel, grace, creation, the consummation (wrapping up) of world history, and several other doctrines that (unfortunately) we don’t have time for today…

Read:

Ephesians 1:3–14 ESV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire (full) possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Pray

Caleb Graham in his last two sermons here reminded us about the work of Salvation and began with God, the Father,

Last week, The Lord Jesus Christ, and here today we consider the work of the third person of the trinity…

In this section we learn about the work of Triune God the Holy Spirit.

First, the Holy Spirit effectually calls…(v11)

11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined προ+ορίζω (to determine - plan - set aside + before) according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,

The Apostle Paul teaches that God the Father works all things according to the counsel of his will and he does so in eternity (past)

That is, it was God the Father who, before the creation of the world, chose a vast number of people to be saved. These are the ones who have been predestined according to the purpose of God the Father. The Father then sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to this earth to live and die to accomplish salvation for those he came to save.

And so, it is in him, that is, it is in Christ, that we have obtained an inheritance.

This inheritance is accomplished by the work of the Holy Spirit,

who opens our eyes to see what Jesus has done for us,

gives us faith to believe in him,

and changes our wills to receive him as our Savior.

And this work of the Holy Spirit is known as “effectual calling.

”The Holy Spirit’s work of effectual calling is necessary for the conversion of every believer because, apart from his work of effectual calling, no one would ever turn to Jesus in faith and repentance.

As Paul said to the Romans - quoting from the Old Testament (Ps 14 & Ps 53) , “There is none righteous - not one (Rom 3:10)” “No one seeks for God” (Romans 3:11). That is right, isn’t it?

How can people, who are by nature spiritually dead (Ephesians 2;1), seek God?

Left to ourselves, we will go along in our happy, lost, godless way, and we will never seek for God.

Thankfully, though, God out of his love, determines beforehand those who would be save to bring us into a right relationship with himself.

This is the work of the HOLY SPIRIT

His work, Jesus says

John 16:8–11, is to “convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.”

Matthew 22:14 NASB95

14 “For many are called κλητοὶ, but few are chosen ἐκλεκτοί. .”

You see, the Bible teaches that there are two kinds of calling.

One is the general call. This call is general, external, and universal.

It is an open invitation to all people to repent of their sin and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.

It is heard by all who hear the gospel invitation.

Jesus himself offerS this invitation to people when he said in Matthew 11:28,

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,”

and also in John 7:37,

“If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.”

However, since no one seeks for God, when people hear these words they do not respond. People prefer their own ways, and do not want to trust in Jesus.

That is why Jesus said in John 6:44,

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.”

So, something more than a general call is needed. And that is where the

effectual call of the Holy Spirit comes in.

The effectual call is internal, specific, and effectual.

That is, people not only hear the words of this call externally, but they are enabled to respond to it positively internally. The Holy Spirit regenerates a person who is then enabled to believe in Jesus and repent of his sin.

The clearest illustration of effectual calling in the Bible is Jesus’ calling of Lazarus back to life from the dead.

Lazarus was the brother of Mary and Martha, and was dead and buried for four days before Jesus arrives on the scene. Lazarus in his grave is a picture of every single person in his or her natural, spiritual state: dead in body and soul, bound with grave clothes, lying in a tomb, and sealed with a great stone.

James Montgomery Boice continues:

Let’s call to him, “Lazarus, Lazarus. Come forth, Lazarus. We want you back. We miss you. If you will just get up out of that tomb and return to us, you’ll find that we are all anxious to have you back. No one here is going to put any obstructions in your way.”

What? Won’t Lazarus come? Doesn’t he want to be with us?

The problem is that Lazarus does not have the ability to come back. The call is given, but he cannot come - he is not able.

But, let Jesus take his place before the tomb. Let Jesus call out, “Lazarus, come forth,” and the case is quite different. The words are the same, but now the call is no mere invitation.

It is a calling that is EFFECTUAL.

For the same God who originally called the creation out of nothing is now CALLS life out of death, and his call is heard.

Lazarus, though he has been dead four days, hears Jesus and obeys his Master’s voice.

Jesus has of course returned to Father. And the Father and the Son have sent the Holy Spirit to apply the work of salvation, planned by the Father and purchased by Christ, to those who are the called-out-ones.

And one of the ways the Holy Spirit applies the benefits of Christ’s work of salvation to the elect is by effectually calling the elect.

The Holy Spirit Seals God’s People (1:13b-14a)

Paul SAYS in verse 13b that we “. . . were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.”

In his commentary on Ephesians, Charles Hodge (Princeton Graduate 1815 and a leader of the PRINCETON school of reformed theology) points out that there are three purposes for which a seal is used, and each one illustrates the work of the Holy Spirit.

First, a seal is used “to authenticate or confirm as genuine and true.” This is like a seal on a dollar bill. It indicates that it is a genuine dollar bill. Similarly, the Holy Spirit’s seal indicates that the one who has trusted in Jesus Christ is genuinely God’s child.

Second, a seal is used “to mark as one’s property.” This is like your name that is stamped on the outside of your Bible to show that it is your Bible. Similarly, the Holy Spirit’s seal indicates that we are God’s own possession.

And third, a seal is used “to make secure.” This is the seal that was placed by the Sanhedrin on the tomb of Christ. Similarly, the Holy Spirit’s seal makes the Christian secure in his new faith and relationship.

Paul SAYS in verse 14a that we

“were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it.”

The Greek word for guarantee (ἀρραβὼν) means “a pledge, i.e. part of the purchase-money or property given in advance as security for the rest of the property/inheritance.”

Like a down payment on the purchase of a property, the Holy Spirit is proof that we belong to him and much more is yet to come.

So, the Holy Spirit effectually calls, glorifies Christ, inspires the Word of God, and seals God’s people, gives us FULL assurance that those who have been called will most certainly be saved and kept to the end…

Conclusion

SO WHAT - Paul present some HEAVEY DOCTRINE - SO WHAT?

Therefore, having analyzed the work of the Holy Spirit in the plan of salvation in Ephesians 1:11–14

“11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.

13 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, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.”

let us praise God for the Spirit’s role in our salvation.

Paul concludes this section in verse 14b, “. . . 2x’s to the praise of his glory.”

Nestle-Aland Greek New Testament, 27th Edition Chapter 1

εἰς ἔπαινον τῆς

A Doxology is the right response to God and his glorious work of salvation.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise him all creatures here below; Praise him above, ye heav’nly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Let us praise God for the Holy Spirit who effectually calls us to salvation, who glorifies Christ, who inspires the Word of God, and seals us for all eternity who give us that “blessed assurance” of our salvation through the effectual work of our Triune God…

Amen.

We come to this table this morning recognizing that we are observing a holy ordinance - instituted by Christ, where, by sensible signs, Christ and the benefits of the new covenant are represented, sealed, and applied to believers - those who properly come to this table by faith - who come to this table in a worthy manner.

We observe two sacraments - Baptism and the Lord’s Supper - Baptism is that sacrament that observers the beginning of our salvation - the Lord’s Supper is the sacrament the continuing of our salvation and growth in grace that Christ has appointed this sacrament where by giving and receiving bread and the cup, we are confronted with his death on our behalf.

Worthy receivers are not after a corporal and carnal manner, but by faith, made partakers of His body and blood with all His benefits, to our spiritual nourishment and growth in grace.

Sacraments are in effect visible means of presenting the invisible word giving us assurance that we are His and He is mine confirming in our hearts and minds that - God is good…

Hymn #146 “Break Thou the Bread of Life”