Rejoicing in Assurance

Grace to You.org ^ | 1993 | John MacArthur, Grace Community Church

[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)?

[MHGinTN]

Amen, Brother, but it was beautifully put together and presented.

[ealgeone]

Make that all glory to God.

He understands typos also!

[metmom]

But He doesn’t say we’re not saved if we fail to do it.

Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness.

God counts faith as righteousness.

His economy, not mine and I am SOOOOO glad for that.

[metmom]

Philippians 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

[Mark17]

by the Promises of God, you are to become greater than the angels and especially greater than satan and all the fallen angels

I believe you are correct sir. I don't spend a lot of time, dwelling on it, but I don't believe that sits well with Satan and his minions at all. His minions, include those who start false religions. Ultimately, all false religions originate with Satan. Why many people can't, or maybe I should say, WON'T see this, is beyond me. Maybe human pride has a lot to do with it. That's on them.

:-)

[kinsman redeemer]

In both 2 Cor 1:22 and Eph 1:13 we see that the sealing is either done by Christ or the Holy Spirit. The believer is not responsible for the sealing. It is initiated from Heaven.

Here is an appropriate OT "type":

Then the Lord shut him in. Gen 7:16b

[metmom]

IOW, God protects us from ourselves.

I for one, am glad of that.

Back in the day before I was sure of my salvation, as I didn’t really know or understand all the promises concerning it, I told God that I was putting my salvation in HIS hands to take care of and keep.

And if it were possible that I could or would ever do something that would cause me to lose my salvation or I’d reach a point of denying Him and giving it up, that being of sound mind and body, He had my express permission to take my life before I’d ever give up on Him.

[boatbums]

And as the article notes, the Greek word in question refers to a down payment. A down payment is a good start, but the bank can still foreclose if there is a single payment outstanding.

But you aren't the one making the payments - God is. He will never renege on His promises and wouldn't foreclose on himself!

[caww]

The believer ‘is hidden’ by God in Christ...Colossians 3 tells us .. “For you are dead and your life is hid WITH Christ IN God.”........Jesus further himself saying in John 10......”My Father, which ‘gave them me’, is greater than all and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.”

The believer’s hope and trust in what God says will not fade away... Will not grow dim......as it’s written we are brought into ...” an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled and that fadeth not away, RESERVED in heaven for you, ...who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Pet:1:5)

[boatbums]

You want “guarantee”? Try:

Romans 4:16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.

2 Corinthians 1:22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

2 Corinthians 5:5 Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Ephesians 1:14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

[boatbums]

Amen! We love Him because He first loved us.

[mitch5501]

Amen!

Jude v24 "Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy"

2 Timothy 1:12 "...for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."

Isaiah 46:4 "And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you."

[boatbums]

What a blessing to read those great and precious promises. Thank you

[metmom]

And thanks for the extra verses to add to my collection.

Clearly assurance of our salvation as having been a done deal, completed, secured by God Himself, is a theme running throughout the entire NT.

[ealgeone]

Excellent point. The whole payment has been made

[mitch5501]

"Clearly assurance of our salvation as having been a done deal, completed, secured by God Himself, is a theme running throughout the entire NT."

That certainty,I think,is what God most wants for us.That acceptance is what we most need,it helps us to be 'whole'.Practically every prayer of Paul's is that we would understand and grasp what God has freely given us.That we would cast off fear,that we would cast our concerns upon Him because He cares for us.Because He is God and He has redeemed us.

Luke 12:32 "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."

[imardmd1]

A down payment has been made. You can still choose to reject the gift that has been freely offered.

No, the down payment is the indwelling, never-to-be-displaced Spirit of Christ, whose condition for being there at all is that after having experience His Presence, you will never, ever (ou me) refuse His fellowship, ever.

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with
you for ever; (Note: another Comforter of the same kind, allo.)
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither
knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. (Jn. 14:16-18)

Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away,
the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. (Jn. 16:7)

Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us
the earnest of the Spirit. (2 Cor. 5:5 )

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.
Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of
righteousness.

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up
Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
(Rom. 8:9 -11)

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have:
for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
(Heb. 13:5-6 )

(All from the English Authorised CVersion)

Don't camp on the "earnest" or "seal" part. The key is that the gift is that of the indwelling Holy Ghost, the Spirit of Christ, and if He is not within you, adviusing you, and saving you, you are not saved, you do not possess eternal irreversible absolute life in the Spirit, in union with The Father and His Son.

In fact, if you are resting in Roman Catholic beliefs and doctrine, it its almost without the shadow of a doubt that you will rever cross into heaven, no matter how hard you try.

[Elsie]

Nah...

Let’s leave the GORY of the Catholic Church to history...

[Elsie]

God counts faith as righteousness.

I've heard that about Rahab; the prostitute.

[Elsie]

Ultimately, all false religions originate with Satan.

Did GOD really say...

 

FR has a LOT of folks from a VERY large religion that are CONSTANTLY trying to tell us...

...what GOD really said.