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)?

[metmom]

No you wouldn’t!!!!!

[Mark17]

No you wouldn’t!!!!!

You are right. You can keep the snow :-)

[Syncro]

I love Paul's take on this subject Romans 7, 5 and beyond:

5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.

6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.

9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.

10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.

11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.

12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.

17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

I have always liked the scene with the three crosses.

On time I made a sculpture out of steel of the 3 crosses and gave it to the church I was attending at the time.

Many years later I made 3 crosses out of copper and brass, and here is a picture of them:

[Syncro]

Thank you for finding that text and posting the url.

I, of course, still stand by my statement.

They can’t fool me...

[ealgeone]

Oh, I'm agreeing with you as I think the posting does. The rcc has reached back in time to establish the papacy line.

We don't see it in the NT.

[Syncro]

Very true, and I didn’t mean to imply you did not agree with me.

Mea culpa my friend

[ealgeone]

No problems! Electronic communication is good but it does have its drawbacks sometimes.

[Elsie]

It’s 50° here in Central Indiana

[Elsie]

Or a Cutie!

[Elsie]

‘Tis na recurring theme...

https://www.google.com/search?q=3+crosses+along+highways&rls=com.microsoft:en-US:IE-Address&rlz=1I7ADRA_enUS475&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiX-rCluNLKAhVG2T4KHaGqC0gQ_AUIBygB&biw=1366&bih=597#tbm=isch&q=3+crosses+along+highways+blue+yellow

[Syncro]

Thanks how beautiful!

Stopped by Groom, TX a few years ago.

Many of the following pictures are from there.

You can see the big cross for miles

https://www.google.com/search?q=groom+texas+cross+pictures&biw=1088&bih=510&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjRn_P5vNLKAhUY12MKHXGpCM4Q_AUIBigB

[Syncro]

Cuties?

[ealgeone]

North GA reporting 65 today. Went outside and played some hoops for a while.

[boatbums]

Amen! I’ve experienced that chastening and it certainly was not pleasant but I can honestly say it does produce the peaceful fruit of righteousness in addition to confirming that I am His child.

[Mark17]

Halo halo:

Haluhalo or halo-halo (Tagalog: [haluˈhalo], "mixed together") is a popular Filipino dessert with mixtures of shaved ice and evaporated milk to which are added various boiled sweet beans, jello and fruits. It is served in a tall glass or bowl.

Mmmmm good.

:-)

[WVKayaker]

You are right. You can keep the snow :-)

I was riding back in a Jeepney from town yesterday, and got into a conversation with a Filipina woman who lives and works in Casper, Wyoming. She told me she loved the snow but looked forward to annual visits back here with family. I told her I missed the snow, but sometimes it was just too much.

Back in WV, friends are presently digging out from 3 feet and wishing they were here!

BTW, it cost me 12 PhPesos to ride home. It is about 6 miles. That's about a quarter... and when full, you are "cheek to cheek"! "It's more fun in the Philippines"!

[MHGinTN]

We have one of those here in east TN, below Knoxville on I-75.

[Mark17]

You guys got it coming

False doctrine was spread by a mouse click
In which they said we should come frolic
It made me quite ill
My coffee I did spill
And it made me feel like a baby with colic.

Read it and weep :-)

[imardmd1]

Rejoicing in your surety of assurance!

[Mark17]

BTW, it cost me 12 PhPesos to ride home. It is about 6 miles. That's about a quarter... and when full, you are "cheek to cheek"! "It's more fun in the Philippines"!

I hate being "cheek to cheek" with anyone. It is too hot. Pickpockets too. I don't even bring my cell phone anymore.
Since my honey got her new Cloudphone, I was able to post to this thread, through the data plan, while cruising on up to Kapalong.
Then I played gospel music, through You Tube, for everyone in the van.

We measured the distance from the mountain top, to the house. 60 miles, but still took 3 1/2 hours.