A Walk through Ephesians - Pt 3

In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:11–14 ESV).

 

Proof of ownership is usually required for the recovery of a lost possession. If your vehicle is stolen and then recovered, the police department will typically ask for evidence that the car belongs to you before releasing it into your care. Should your dog or cat be lost and picked up by local animal control, they may require a tag or some other identification before it allows the animal to come home with you. Remarkably, God has proof that He owns His people. Of course, this evidence is not presented to anyone else to secure our release, for, as the Creator and highest authority, no other stands above Him to whom He must appeal. Instead, His proof of ownership exists for our benefit, to assure us that we belong to Him. This proof is the seal of the Holy Spirit (v. 13).

 

In the ancient world, written correspondence, cattle, and other objects were imprinted with specially designed seals that identified their owners via symbols, letters, or stamps of family insignias. “The promised Holy Spirit” has sealed us in this sense, burning in us the image of our Savior. Knowing that we have the Spirit assures us that we belong to God, that He possesses a love for His people that He does not have for the rest of the world. This seal protects us from divine judgment, for it shows that we are forgiven in Christ (cf. Ezekiel 9:4–6; Revelation 7:1–8; 9:4). It also comforts us with the knowledge that God is our Father, for “the Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (Romans 8:16). The Father and Son gift Him to all believers at conversion, for the sealing happens when receive the gospel of salvation.

 

This mark of ownership is very important to grasp. In ancient times, a king or owner pressed a royal signet ring into hot wax to mark an object as their own. God places the Holy Spirit inside you as His official mark. Therefore, because we belong to God, His seal means we are safe. No person or mistake can break God's personal seal on our life. It is also a promise for tomorrow: The Holy Spirit inside us acts as a down payment, proving that God will finish what He started and give us eternal life.

 

It is one of the clearest declarations of the work of God from beginning to end in the believer’s life. It is not our work. That is what concludes for us our redemption is a permanent position. That is the basis of our hope!