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)?
Gee, that sounds awfully familiar.....
But what does GOD call us?
His Beloved, the Bride of His only son, friends and more than friends - SONS, the elect, a joint heir with Christ, the righteousness of God in Christ....
BTTT
Same here :-)
That's a really good point/analogy.
If God puts down the down payment and guarantees the deal will go through, it HAS to, else God is a liar. If HE promised the rest is forthcoming, it is, and NOTHING can stop that.
People who claim otherwise are basically making God out to be a liar.
I fixed that for you.
I would say that it is not just ALMOST WITHOUT THE SHADOW OF A DOUBT. It is COMPLETELY without the shadow of a doubt. Anyone who thinks they can work their way to Heaven, will be in for the most horrible shock their system could ever experience.
I just don't understand why members of works based religions, don't want God to save them, but would rather try to save themselves. The only things I can think of, are human pride and spiritual blindness. Is there anything else?
Does anyone think God would default and go into foreclosure and LOSE His earnest payment? That’s the Holy Spirit we’re talking about!
And yes, it is calling God a liar when we don’t believe what He said in His word:
Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1 John 5:10-12)
Always good to see you TC. Hope you’re well on this cold night.
He's paid off the debt.
We either take God at His word or we don't.
This has been one of the best discussions in a while on this thread. Learned a lot of good stuff.
That is what Catholicism teaches, that Catholics are "branded" for life.
Not a Christian doctrine.
Here is God doing the sealing: [instead of a priest with a sprinkling of water (which is not even Biblical baptism.)]
King James Bible, Ephesians 1:13There are examples of being sealed by God. "Indelible mark" of GOD
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promiseKing James Bible, 2 Cor 1:22 [God} Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
Any other "sealing" is extraBiblical and an usurping of God's domain of actions.
Many,I think,fall too easily into this boat..... "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God."...."For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." (Romans 10:3,4)
Hebrews 4:10 "For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his."
Hebrews 4:11 "Let us labour therefore (John 6:29) to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief."
Cold, cold? Did someone say cold? 87 for a high today. 89 expected tomorrow. My air con bill is growing by leaps and bounds.
:-)
LOL. Mitch, it looks like you and I are about the only ones left awake. I agree with you. People involved in works based religions, (WBR) ARE trying to establish their own righteousness.
Do you think I might be a little presumptuous, if I said, IT WON'T WORK? It might send them to a place they would rather not go.
You probably know, I was in a WBR at one time. That WBR will not be named, but I am glad the Navigators preached the truth to me.
:-)
Kinda like putting faith in chariots and horses...
Yes, not a good place to put your trust.
Oh now that’s just wrong in so many ways! :)
We keep trying to warn you not to fall into satanically false MAN MADE religions, but you do it anyway.....sigh.
Nobody has EVER been "good enough" to make it to Heaven....you didn't pay attention during Catechism class again. We have a Redeemer because we need redeeming....ALL OF US, and Catholicism pointed out to you that YOU NEEDED IT TOO!!!!See how easy it is to understand
If everyone gets to make up their own concept of what Christianity is, instead of following it from its beginning, you are right.....but we don't.
Catholics have been telling you that for 2,016 years....finally catching on??
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