We may have a little harder time than Paul’s readers did in understanding what it means to be sealed. In this devotion, we discuss how Paul’s metaphor is applied to our faith as disciples and how that can give us assurance.
Nuggets
- Being sealed is another way to show that we are set apart from the world.
- We are sealed because of our faith.
- The seal does not give us license to keep on sinning.
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Paul had talked about our being sealed previously in Ephesians. I just kind of glossed over it. We did talk about what a seal meant in Paul’s day.
Well, here it is again in Chapter 4. We’re going to look at it more in depth this time.
Let's Put It into Context
“In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, which is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory” (Eph. 1: 13 RSV).
Paul had been talking about the spiritual blessings we have in Christ. We have been presented with the word of truth (a.k.a. the gospel of our salvation). Because we heard it, we believed in Him. Because we believed, we were sealed with the Holy Spirit. That makes the Holy Spirit the seal.
Now, Paul says something a little bit different in I Corinthians 6: 9. “And who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee” (I Cor. 6: 9 ESV). That makes it sound like the Spirit is not the seal.
If the Holy Spirit is our seal, then the seal has a sunset on it. “The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory” (Eph. 1: 14 CSB emphasis added).
Paul’s use of sealing as a metaphor is brilliant. His readers would have known that the seal indicated ownership, set it apart from other like items, and provided protection wherever it is.
What Is Sealing?
“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Eph. 4: 30 RSV)
Winslow said that the sealing of the spirit was an “…act of the Holy Spirit by which the work of grace is deepened in the heart of the believer, so that he has an increasing conviction of his acceptance in Jesus and his adoption into the family of God.” It has to be figurative here.
Being sealed is another way to show that we are set apart from the world. It shows us God’s love.
God sealed Jesus first. “But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval” (Jn. 6: 27 NLT).
Spurgeon believed that the sealing of Christ happened at His baptism. We’ve talked before how Jesus’ baptism was a testimony of His obedience to God. God not only acknowledged that with His words, But He also sent the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove.
How Are We Sealed?
We are sealed because of our faith. We believe in “… the way, the truth, and the life …” (Jn. 14: 6 NLT). Plain and simple.
But it is different from faith. While faith is a gift from God, we have to believe. We have an active role in faith.
Sealing isn’t something we do. It is all God sealing us. He puts a seal on our hearts because of He has sanctified us by His grace.
We first have to admit our sins, believe on Jesus as Redeemer, confess God as Sovereign Lord. The sealing comes after the believing part (Eph. 1: 13).
The ABCDs of Salvation
A – admit our sins
B – believe His Son Jesus is our Redeemer
C – confess God as Sovereign Lord
D – demonstrate that commitment by making any changes needed in our lives to
live the way in which God has called us
If you have not become a believer in Christ, please read through the Plan of Salvation and prayerfully consider what God is asking you to do.
Sealing can either be a sudden or gradual thing. When I read that, I thought salvation is a sudden and gradual thing, so the sealing probably parallels our growing in the faith.
Either way it comes, faith has to come first. “The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son” (I Jn. 5: 10 NASB). God won’t seal someone who is not His child.
What Responsibility Comes with Sealing?
So, we just get to sit back and enjoy the benefits of being seals? Nope.
Check out what Paul told Timothy. “But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity” (II Tim. 2: 19 ESV).
Because of God’s love, we are called to holiness. The seal does not give us license to keep on sinning.
Remember what Winslow said? The seal is an act “… by which the work of grace is deepened in the heart of the believer, so that he has an increasing conviction of his acceptance in Jesus and his adoption into the family of God.”
Deepened in the heart. Increasing conviction of acceptance. The seal is supposed to help us grow.
One of the tenets of our faith is repentance. Repentance is expressing sorrow for things we’ve done wrong. But it is not just feeling sorry for doing those things. It is making the commitment to changing ourselves so that we no longer do the wrong things.
That change is not going to occur overnight. It is a work in progress. “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2: 12 ESV).
Making the Connections
There was a scene in the movie Overcomer where Hannah was asked to write all the “I am” statements in Ephesians 1 and 2. It is quite a list.
- I am a saint.
- I am blessed.
- I am chosen.
- I am created by God.
- I am loved.
- I am given wisdom and insight.
- I have a future.
- I am sealed.
- I am given an inheritance.
- I am made alive.
- I am raised up.
- I am saved.
- I am His workmanship.
- I am given peace.
- I am reconciled.
- I am a citizen.
- I am redeemed.
Wow! So, the next time we think we are just something the dog drug up, we need to reread these two chapters and see us how God sees us.
Sealing isn’t the end-all, be-all. It happens after believing and before a whole lot of growing. But it is important.
I found another quote that really hit me. “Call it sealing, or what you will, it is a fact that believers in Christ, of every age, have enjoyed an inward, filial assurance, of which we certainly hear nothing from the mere students of nature” (Pulsford).
Our being sealed by God gives us assurance of His love, His watchcare over us, and our salvation through our belief in the sacrifice of Jesus.
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How Do We Apply This?
Well, there is nothing we do to get sealed, except believe. But then we get to use that seal.
What happens when we give our lives over to God’s control? Satan puts a target on our backs — and here comes the trials.
Doesn’t it give a big boost to our confidence that we have the seal within us? We’ve got the Helper, Advocate, and Teacher within us. That should give us assurance.
Yes, being sealed does give us assurance of God’s love and protection.
Loving Father. You loved us so much that You designed a way that our relationships with You could be restored. You sent You Son to be our Savior and Redeemer. Then You sent Your Spirit to be our Advocate and Teacher. You sealed us so that all would know that we are Yours. We are humbled by this unfailing love while we were so unworthy. Only with You in us are we worthy. Help us to grow in Your grace and knowledge (II Pet. 3: 18). Forgive us when we continue to sin. Keep us to the day of redemption (Eph. 1: 14) so that we may live with You eternally. Amen.
Related Links
The Winslow quote was retrieved from https://biblehub.com/sermons/auth/winslow/sealing_of_the_spirit.htm
The Spurgeon quote was retrieved from https://biblehub.com/sermons/auth/spurgeon/the_sealing_of_the_spirit.htm
The Pulsford quote was retrieved from https://biblehub.com/sermons/auth/pulsford/believers_are_sealed.htm
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