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Rejoicing in Assurance - Protestant Caucus/Devotional
Gracetoyou.org ^ | 1993 | John McArthur, Grace Community Church

Posted on 01/20/2023 1:37:36 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 (arrabōn) 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)?

From Drawing Near by John MacArthur Copyright © 1993. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com.


TOPICS: Evangelical Christian; Theology; Worship
KEYWORDS: gty

1 posted on 01/20/2023 1:37:36 PM PST by metmom
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To: Alex Murphy; boatbums; CynicalBear; daniel1212; ealgeone; Elsie; Gamecock; HossB86; Iscool; ...

Studying God’s Word Ping


2 posted on 01/20/2023 1:38:00 PM PST by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith….)
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To: metmom

Amen.
The helmet of salvation!


3 posted on 01/20/2023 4:33:52 PM PST by mitch5501 ("make your calling and election sure:for if ye do these things ye shall nevocer fall")
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To: mitch5501; SouthernClaire; Mark17

Blessed assurance,
Jesus is mine.
Oh what a foretaste,
Of glory divine.


4 posted on 01/22/2023 4:05:14 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: mitch5501; Mark17; Elsie

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine;
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest;
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.


God bless you!


5 posted on 01/22/2023 4:09:52 AM PST by SouthernClaire (And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God ~ Job)
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To: SouthernClaire

(I sang bass in a little group we had at church: named ‘Blessed Assurance’.)


6 posted on 01/22/2023 4:58:08 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Elsie

uh, the group, not the church.


7 posted on 01/22/2023 4:58:31 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: SouthernClaire; Elsie; metmom

Amen!
When we’ve been there ten thousand years bright shining as the sun there’ll be no less days to sing Gods praise than when we first begun!


8 posted on 01/22/2023 5:10:16 AM PST by mitch5501 ("make your calling and election sure:for if ye do these things ye shall nevocer fall")
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To: metmom; Elsie; SouthernClaire

Assurance of salvation is a beautiful thing. Everyone should try it. 👍 Are we singing hymns now, instead of writing limericks? 🤗😆😅🤪


9 posted on 01/22/2023 5:14:55 AM PST by Mark17 (Retired USAF air traffic controller. Father of USAF pilot. USAF aviation runs in the family )
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To: Mark17

God bless you, Brother!

We sing praises to His Name!


10 posted on 01/22/2023 5:22:06 AM PST by SouthernClaire (And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God ~ Job)
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To: SouthernClaire

👍👍👍👍👍


11 posted on 01/22/2023 5:54:36 AM PST by Mark17 (Retired USAF air traffic controller. Father of USAF pilot. USAF aviation runs in the family )
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To: mitch5501

No prettier lyrics found anywhere than in “Amazing Grace.”

God bless you, Brother.


12 posted on 01/22/2023 6:25:00 PM PST by SouthernClaire (And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God ~ Job)
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To: Mark17

We could try on the lyrics sometime. It would be nice and I’m sure others would join in.


13 posted on 01/22/2023 6:25:50 PM PST by SouthernClaire (And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God ~ Job)
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To: SouthernClaire

...me and little brother will join right in there.


14 posted on 01/23/2023 6:34:52 PM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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