"And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession-to the praise of His glory."
Ephesians 1:13&14
These 2 verses are such a great rooting for us as believers. In my study of this passage this morning, I learned that the words for ‘hearing’ and ‘believing’ are linked to ‘sealed’. Essentially the action on our part and God’s response. God plans and elects, Jesus redeems, and the Holy Spirit seals and guarantees…that is so awesome and how this end of the passage is so appropriate –> “to the praise of His glory”!
One interesting thing about these 14 verses of Chapter 1 is that in the first 12, Paul uses ‘us’ and ‘we’ but in verse 13 he switches to ‘you’. This points directly to his speaking to the Gentiles (me). He is reaffirming what is now available to us in ‘our’ salvation through Christ Jesus.
Finally, we come to the ‘seal’ that ‘guarantees’. In biblical times a seal was a stamp that identified someone or authenticated something. When we hear and believe the gospel message, we immediately received the seal of the Holy Spirit that is the down payment for eventual inheritance. The Holy Spirit is a foretaste of what is to come and keeps us until the end. If there was ever a set of verses that establish “once saved, always saved”, wow!
Application:
My salvation is complete and when I think about God the Father electing me, the Son redeeming me, and the Holy Spirit sealing me, I have a deeper joy and desire to seek Him more! I now look forward to that full redemption when my body is also glorified in heaven and I am welcomed into my forever home with my Savior and King. There is a hope and freedom that is enjoyed when I preach this to myself. Thank You Lord for the gift of Your Word!
Today’s Psalm:
“Oh love the Lord, and you His saints! The Lord preserves the faithful, and plentifully pays back him who deals haughtily. Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for and hope for and expect the Lord!”
Psalms 31:23&24