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)?
Catholicism offered me virtually no hope of making it.
Are YOU sure you’re going to heaven?
No they haven't. They keep telling us that it's too hard to understand so we shouldn't try ourselves that we need a priest to tell us.
They passed edits or whatever you want to call them prohibiting people from owning Scripture.
They tell us that we need someone to *Properly* understand Scripture so we need someone to *interpret* it for us.
The Catholic church has been doing EVERYTHING but telling people how easy Scripture is to read and understand.
Nobody is buying what you're selling. We all know better.
Amen!
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. (1 Cor. 6:19,20)
STOP THAT!!!!!...it is probably global warming causing it and we all know how dangerous to mankind that it is.:)
A Christian is one who has put their faith in Christ. That’s the biblical definition. It really isn’t that complicated.
Protestants didn't buy what Jesus was selling, why would they listen to me??
I made a minor repair on that for you.
Have you earned enough sacramental points yet, TC?
You didn’t answer the question.
Are you sure you’re going to heaven when you die?
JESUS is the only way of making it.
Catholicism can’t do spit towards getting anyone to heaven.
Christians believe everything that Jesus taught.
Christians don’t believe everything the Catholic church made up.
Amen.
Things that make you go hmmm. I wonder why I felt I like I was never saved when I was in that WBR? I will not mention which WBR I was in, but now I have 100% assurance of salvation. Do you also have 100% assurance, like I do? If you don't, that's on you.
By the way, I just reconeccted with the Navigators leader when I was in Del Rio, Tx. He is an Air Force Academy graduate, a retired Colonel. Praise God for his ministry. He said praise God for mine too. He told me all his kids and grandkids are walking with the Lord. That is great.
This weather sometimes get to me, but I am sure global warming is responsible, just like it is responsible for all that snow in the east.
:-)
Still waiting to find a Catholic who is sure they are going to heaven bookmark
If someone can not answer that immediately, then it could be a good indication that they might not have it. That's on them. They have been warned.
So, it is just as I have been saying, that we really AREN'T discussing brain surgery?
:-)
You may be old and gray, and collecting social security by the time you DO find one.
I only lasted 3 weeks in my WBR, after I got saved. How long did you last?
Thank God, I slept through those "certain classes" that some people mention here. What a stroke of good fortune that was. God was looking out for me.
:-)
Only if you stayed at a Holiday Inn last night!!
Duh....Catholics have believed and TAUGHT that for 2,016 years....just catching on???
By following the EXACT path that Jesus founded and not deviating along the way led by Luther, Zwingley, Wesley, Navigators, and whoever else thought that they could do it better than Jesus, Peter, Paul..et.al. I am POSITIVE that by following Him, I am saved....
close enough for you.....and whoever you follow???
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