Skip to main content

Ephesians 1:13-14: Sealed with the Holy Spirit


Ephesians 1:13–14
[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 possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (ESV)

So many people struggle with uncertainty and fear in regards to their relationship with God.  How secure is our relationship?  Does God hold on to us no matter what?  Can I lose my salvation?  How can I know if I belong to Jesus?  In these two verses we find solid answers and real hope. Let's look at our responsibility and the Lord's responsibility in this relationship. 

In verse 13 we discover two significant elements of our salvation that fall on us.  We must hear the Gospel, and we must believe the Gospel.  The Gospel is the good news that Jesus Christ gave his life in payment of our sin, and that his resurrection provided for our eternal life.  We must hear and believe.  There are many people who attend church, do "good works," and yet have never believed in the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  If you have not heard and believed the truth in Jesus Christ, you have good reason to feel insecure and fearful in your relationship to God.  You are still lost.  But, if you have heard and believed the Gospel, you belong to the Lord.

John 1:12
[12] But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, (ESV)

In verse 14 of our passage in Ephesians 1, we discover God's responsibility in this relationship.  If we have heard the Gospel and believed in Jesus Christ, then we are sealed with the Holy Spirit. That seal is a mark of identification.  We belong to Him.  His Spirit dwells within us and we are under His authority. If people question our authenticity, they need to realize that our authenticity as believers in Christ comes from whose Spirit dwells within us.  And while our outward works are incomplete, and we still struggle with sin, our relationship with God is genuine because he dwells within us.  Lastly, how about our security?  How secure is our relationship? The Holy Spirit, "is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory." Inheritance . . . guaranteed!

Are you filled with fear and uncertainty in your relationship with God?  There is no need to be.  Receive and Believe the truth of the Gospel.  Rest in the fact that those who have received and believed in Him are forever his, sealed by the very Spirit of God.  You are secure.  Your inheritance is guaranteed.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Romans 8:18: For I Consider That The Sufferings Of This Present Time Are Not Worth Comparing

Romans 8:18 [18] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (ESV) Perspective. What an important word. Let's be honest. We do not like the idea of suffering. We will do almost anything to avoid any kind of suffering. Some churches have gone so far as to preach against the idea of suffering, declaring it to not be a part of the true believer's life. Paul is not shy about the topic. Paul uses the sufferings of this present time as a means to consider the greater glory that awaits us. Perspective. Paul is not in any way attempting to diminish our suffering. A view toward eternity puts our suffering in a proper understanding. Yes, our suffering is terrible. In the grand scheme of eternity it is not even worth comparison. Maybe you are thinking that Paul does not know what he is talking about when it comes to suffering. In 2 Corinthians 11 Paul describes countless beatings, often near death,

Romans 11:24: For If You Were Cut From What Is By Nature A Wild Olive Tree, And Grafted, Contrary To Nature, Into A Cultivated Olive Tree . . .

Romans 11:24 [24] For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree. (ESV) We continue looking at the illustration of an olive tree. The root of the tree is the covenant relationship relationship of God with Abraham. Abraham's faith is what this spiritual tree is built on. The first branches would have been the faithful people of Israel, who like Abraham, placed their faith in God. They believed God, just like Abraham, and it was credited to them as righteousness. There were branches of the people of Israel who never placed their faith in God. Because these branches were not true followers of God they were broken off of the tree. Faith in God was the essential element that made the branches true branches of this spiritual tree. Some branches remained. Others, the faithless unbelievers, were removed. After Jesu

Romans 15:20-21: And Thus I Make It My Ambition To Preach The Gospel, Not Where Christ Has Already Been Named

Romans 15:20–21 [20] and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, [21] but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.” (ESV) We need to be reminded continually that the message of the Gospel is intended to move all across the world. Jesus said that his followers were to preach the Gospel, starting in Jerusalem, and continue preaching the Gospel to the whole world. Christians have not always been good at delivering the Gospel message as far and as often as they should. In the first century church it took intense persecution to motivate the disciples in Jerusalem to bring the Gospel to Judea and Samaria. Once the disciples fled to new regions they shared the Gospel wherever they went. Would the disciples have preached the Gospel without the persecution? We may never know. Some probably would have stayed in their co