Posted on 01/20/2016 1:53:12 PM PST by metmom
"You were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance" (Eph. 1:13-14).
The Holy Spirit is God's first installment on your eternal inheritance.
The Holy Spirit's ministry in your life is multifaceted and profound. Among other things He brings salvation, conviction, guidance, and strength. He indwells and equips you for spiritual service and gives assurance of your salvation. He is your Helper and Advocate. He is the Spirit of promise, who seals you until the day when your redemption is fully realized (Eph. 4:30).
Sealing speaks of security, authenticity, ownership, and authority. Ancient kings, princes, and nobles placed their official seal on documents or other items to guarantee their inviolability. To break the seal was to incur the wrath of the sovereign whom it represented (cf. Dan. 6:17; Matt. 27:62-66).
A seal on a letter authenticated it as from the hand of the one whose seal it bore. Legal documents such as property deeds and wills were often finalized with an official seal. Those who possessed the sealed decree of a king had the king's delegated authority to act on that decree.
Each of those aspects of sealing is a picture of the Spirit's ministry. He is God's guarantee that your salvation is inviolable and that you are an authentic member of His kingdom and family. You are His possession-having been purchased with His Son's precious blood (1 Cor. 6:20). You are His ambassador with delegated authority to proclaim His message to a lost world (2 Cor. 5:20).
The Spirit is the pledge of your eternal inheritance (Eph. 1:14). The Greek word translated "pledge" in that verse (arrabon) was used of down payment or earnest money given to secure a purchase. Rejoice in the assurance that God, who cannot lie (Titus 1:2), has given you His Spirit as a guarantee that He will keep His promises.
Suggestions for Prayer
Praise God for the security of your eternal inheritance. Praise the Spirit for His many ministries in your life. Be sensitive to His leading today so that your ministry to others will be powerful and consistent with His will.
For Further Study
Read Esther chapters 3, 8. What role did the king's signet ring play in the decree of Haman (chapter 3)? The decree of Ahasuerus and Mordecai (chapter 8)?
It's UNBELIEF that loses salvation.
Roger that bro. It won't be long before the rapture snatches us out of wherever we are, and takes ONLY the born again from above type people to Heaven. Those left behind, are welcome to whatever property I may leave. I won't be needing it anymore.
In trying to rhyme about dogma,
my mind was left in a fogma.
When I failed to eat,
I tripped over my feet.
And now I’m hungry as a hog; Ma!
Well, for just one, the exposition on the teaching in John, first relating how Jesus was dealing with the non-believing religious hierarchy, using parables so they would not comprehend (eat his flesh and drink His blood / in violation of the Levitical laws?!), then revealing the truth over-arching His parables and sayings to those who were searching for any escape clause so their pride could continue to function in ‘forgiving themselves’.
I'm pretty good at thinking everybody else thinks the way I do ... and , LO! ... Nope .... nowhere near (sometimes)
/8^)
You realize of course, this means war. I am charging my IPhone 6 right now, but when it is charged, like General MacArthur, I shall return, and wage Limerick warfare :-)
Attacked by some Catholic snarks
He testified true
Until they were blue
Yet still they stumble in dark.
It was hot today bro, and the hottest months, April and May are coming. I only took 2 showers today. Usually, I take 3, but only 2 today. I think I would rather see snow :-)
you’re killing me!
I add my apologies as well.
There you go with that knowledge again....
Unlike any other Christian see, Rome can put at least a name to every bishop in an unbroken line back to the 1st century of the Christian era and to St Peter himself as the first pope. The papacy, though not recognized as such until later centuries, has impressive credentials.
Many popes in the first three centuries of the Christian era are obscure figures. Several suffer martyrdom along with members of their flock in periods of persecution. Most of them are much involved in theological argument with other bishops, as the young church flexes its doctrinal muscles.
The change to a very different role comes during the brief pontificate of Miltiades (311-314). In 313 he holds a council openly in Rome, at the behest of the emperor, in the Lateran palace. A lasting link, between the papacy and temporal power, has begun. And there are immediate signs of the change.
The first churches: AD 312-337
Concrete evidence of the new status of Christianity is seen in the emergence of the first church buildings. The change is most visible in Rome, the strongest Christian community. Until now, in spite of the size of the congregation of Christians in Rome, worship has been conducted discreetly in private houses. Suddenly churches become public buildings, city landmarks as prominent as the temples of the pagan cult.
Leo the Great: AD 440-461
The first pope to indicate the real potential of the papacy is Leo I, who has an unusual span of twenty-one years in office. He uses his time well, not only in the papal duty of restraining heretics but also in rehearsing other roles to be played by Rome.
Read more: http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?ParagraphID=etn#ixzz3ykI8nk5q
until I read more of the thread and I realized ...
these long threads condition your mind into a one channel kind of thought process and something like my comment threw a monkey wrench into it ...
I apologize as well
Now lets all have a group hug, sing KUMBAYA and drink green tee barefooted in the park
/8^)
How about a nice halo halo?
How about a nice halo halo?
Kumbaya! Remember that one very well.
I see. Is it, shall we say, just a little chillier where you are? :-)
metmom: God will not allow one of His children to continue in sin but will discipline them. (This Post)
It is so, MM.
In fact, The Father has a special name that He applies to humans that are not His Spirit-born Spirit-sealed children--ones whom He does NOT chasten as sons in this life, and quickly:
"And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto
you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the
chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every
son whom he receiveth.
If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons;
for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are
partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons" (Heb. 12:5-8 AV).
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us" (1 Jn. 1:9,10 AV).
So saith the DRB also.
The God's principal correcting, chastening, cleansing, counseling instrument is His Word:
"BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by
taking heed thereto according to thy word. . . .
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin
against thee. . . .
So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth
me: for I trust in thy word" (Psa. 119:9,11,42 AV).
Let anyone here who has not been God-chastened raise his or her hand. and admit who his/her father really is.
"Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth" (Jn. 17:17 AV)
Sola Scriptura, MM. Sola Scriptura, without "tradition," without "ante-Nicene 'Fathers'," without the Catechism, without Papal Bulls, without the Magisterium, and without doubt in the Word of the Lord Jesus Christ and in Him Alone:
"It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Mt. 4:4b,c,d AV, spoken by the mouth of the Lord Jesus Christ to Satan, and his progeny as well).)
So be it. Amen. Amen.
Try to get Mer to wrap her head around THAT one !
I keep threatening to do it, but haven't yet ...
go out and scoop up a tall glass of halo halo and intermingle it with fruit cocktail, maybe some apple juice concentrate, some coconut milk ... whatever !
MABUHAY !!!
All Glory belongs to God and should be directed there.
The only pride that should be exprerssed by Christians is being proud of our awesome God and His Son Jesus who brings us into His kingdom.
There is another level of pride which is usually directed to our children.
We can be proud of their achievements but that is not the SIN of pride.
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