Sealed with that Holy Spirit of Promise Ephesians 1:13

Paul the apostle told the Ephesian church members they had “obtained an inheritance” because they were “predestinated according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his will”. The reason for this was so “we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ”. In chapter one and verse thirteen of his letter, Paul shared how the Ephesians “were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise” where we read:

In whom you also trusted, after that you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that you believed, you were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

The verse begins, “In whom you also trusted, after that you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation:” Paul began with the phrase, “In whom you also trusted” which means after that you heard” which means “the Ephesian church members “listened to, gave audience, attended to, considered, understood and perceived” “the word” which refers to “the speech, sayings, decree, mandate or order” “of truth” or “what is true in any matter under consideration, in reality, fact and certainly”, “the gospel” which means “good and glad tidings of the kingdom of God soon to be set up, and subsequently also of Jesus the Messiah, the founder of this kingdom” “of your salvation” or “deliverance, preservation, safety, benefits and blessings which are Christians”. Paul declared the sequence by which the Ephesians became believers in “the gospel” as they first heard “heard the word of truth” which was the “good news of their future salvation”.

The verse goes on to say, “in whom also after that you believed, you were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,” Paul continued, “in whom” which refers to “Jesus Christ” “also after that you believed” or “committed to, trusted, credited and placed confidence in”, “you were sealed with” which means “to mark a person or thing or impress a seal, down payment or stamp upon” “that holy” “sacred, pure, morally blameless or religiously and ceremonially consecrated” “Spirit” which refers to “the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and Son” “of promise” or “announcement, blessing, assent or pledge”. After the Ephesians believed, they were “sealed” with the “Holy Spirit” which was promised by Jesus whom He called “the Comforter”.

When we think through these words of Paul, we see the successive order by which a person becomes a Christian. First, they “hear” the “word of truth” of “the gospel”, then they believe it, and are immediately “sealed” with “they Holy Spirit”. This is indeed a wonderful process that is available to all who will hear the “gospel” of Jesus Christ who came into this world, died for every person's sins and rose from the grave. All who believe this “truth” will receive the “down payment” or deposit of the Holy Spirit unto future salvation. May we not only “hear” the “word of truth” but believe it and receive the “Holy Spirit” of promise.

Next time Paul shares about “the earnest of our salvation”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.