The Person and work of the Holy Spirit (Part Three)

From the heart of Dr. R. L. Taylor, Th.D., Bible Teacher & Expositor. The Holy Spirit seals believers! In Christianity, believers are said to be “sealed” with the Holy Spirit, signifying a permanent and unbreakable relationship with God. This sealing is a guarantee of God's ownership and a deposit securing their eternal inheritance. It's a once-for-all act that happens the moment someone believes in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is referred to as the “deposit,” “seal,” and “earnest” in the hearts of Christians (2 Corinthians 1:22; 5:5; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30). Apostle Paul teaches, “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, 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” (Ephesians 1:13-14). The Holy Spirit is God’s seal on each and every believer in Jesus, His claim on us as His very own. Let this revelation sink deep into your soul! The Holy Spirit is called the guarantee, pledge, or earnest of those parts of our inheritance which we do not yet have. In verse 13, the Holy Spirit was called a “seal;” In verse 14, He is also called a guarantee. The ideas are virtually the same. Both are symbolic of a promise, or a validation, made by someone in authority. How can we have an inheritance? Because, in Christ, we have become heirs of God's endless fortunes (Romans 8:17). How can we possibly be heirs of God? Because, in Christ, we have become God's own children. Incredible! It is because the Spirit has sealed us that we are assured of our salvation. No one can break the seal of God. The Holy Spirit is given to believers as a “first installment” to assure us that our full inheritance as children of God will be delivered. Through the Holy Spirit, God produces in our hearts those feelings, hopes, and desires which are evidence that we are accepted by God, that we are regarded as His adopted children, that our hope is genuine, and that our redemption and salvation are sure in the same way that a seal guarantees a will or an agreement! God grants to us His Holy Spirit as the sure pledge that we are His forever. Because we have the seal of the Spirit in our hearts, we can live joyfully, confident of our sure place in a future that holds the unimaginable glories of being conformed to the image of Jesus! It doesn’t get any better! Be encouraged!