ealgeone:
Placing your faith in him and staying in communion with him. So yes, if one stays in communion with God and never departs from him, he will be saved.
As for Seal, you are correct in the meaning. It is part of the Confirmation Liturgy in the Catholic Tradition where the Bishop lays hands on the head of the person and says “Be Sealed with the Holy Spirit” The Church Fathers used this term to describe the indelible mark put on the person in Baptism. As for the guarantee, you are correct that it draws on the image of pledge or down payment [Gensis 38-17-18]. In the Catholic Tradition and theology, this points to Baptism which is the first installment [to use a similar term and language consistent with pledge or down payment] of the Fullness of God’s life and blessing we hope to possess in heaven. Seal is used again by Paul in 2 Corinthians 1:22. So being incorporated into God’s family via Baptism, we have the first fruits of the Spirit [Romans 8:23]. So receiving the Holy Spirit is the first installment or payment but the full inheritance it not till we are in heaven, and it is still possible for individuals to fall away. Again, presuming God must save me is against the virtue of Hope, as is outright despair, for the record.
Now this gets tricky...how does one know when you have departed from Him. What defines this? How far do you have to depart? How do you know you've got it back?
The cross takes care of all of this. I know my sheep...
Is there ever a point where the bishop ever lays his hands or removes his hands from the person and says you are unsealed by the Holy Spirit?
Would this not contradict Ephesians 1:13-14?
The Church Fathers used this term to describe the indelible mark put on the person in Baptism. As for the guarantee, you are correct that it draws on the image of pledge or down payment [Gensis 38-17-18].
I don't see the Genesis comparison as being the same with Ephesians. I understand the attempt to link the two, but I don't agree they are the same.
In the Catholic Tradition and theology, this points to Baptism which is the first installment [to use a similar term and language consistent with pledge or down payment] of the Fullness of God’s life and blessing we hope to possess in heaven.
Seal is used again by Paul in 2 Corinthians 1:22.
However in this context it is not associated with baptism. Is this what you were saying?
So being incorporated into God’s family via Baptism, we have the first fruits of the Spirit [Romans 8:23]. So receiving the Holy Spirit is the first installment or payment but the full inheritance it not till we are in heaven,
I'm cutting your sentence here, because I agree with what you're saying with the Holy Spirit being the installment and that our full inheritance is not until we get to Heaven.
and it is still possible for individuals to fall away.
This part I disagree with based on the text in Ephesians 1 and back to the sheep statement.
Again, presuming God must save me is against the virtue of Hope, as is outright despair, for the record.,/I>
Not sure what you're meaning here with this.
Hey, good discussion. All questions and rebuttals are offered in a manner and spirit of genuine attempt to have a discussion. I hope no harsh tone or intent is read into any of the comments. None is intended. Off to bed now.