How does Ephesians 1:13 describe the process of receiving the Holy Spirit? Ephesians 1:13—Word for Word “And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth — the gospel of your salvation — you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.” A Three-Part Sequence in One Verse • Hearing the word of truth • Believing the gospel • Being sealed with the promised Holy Spirit 1. Hearing the Word of Truth • “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17) • The gospel message is the Spirit’s chosen instrument; no one receives the Spirit apart from this truth. • Jesus stressed the same priority: “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.” (John 17:17) 2. Believing the Gospel • The verse links hearing directly to believing; intellectual awareness becomes personal trust. • Acts 16:31: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” • John 1:12: “To all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” • Belief is not mere assent; it is wholehearted reliance on Christ’s finished work. 3. Sealed with the Promised Holy Spirit • “He has also sealed us and put His Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.” (2 Corinthians 1:22) • A seal in biblical times marked ownership, authenticity, and security; God marks believers as His own. • Ephesians 4:30 warns against grieving “the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption,” underscoring permanence. Why “Promised” Matters • The sealing Spirit fulfills Old Testament prophecy: – Ezekiel 36:26-27: a new heart and Spirit within. – Joel 2:28-29: God’s Spirit poured out on all flesh. • Peter ties the promise to the cross and resurrection: “Having received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, He has poured out what you now see and hear.” (Acts 2:33) Immediate, Not Delayed • Galatians 3:2: “Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?” The answer is “hearing with faith,” matching Ephesians 1:13. • Romans 8:9: “If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.” Conversion and indwelling are simultaneous. Assurance Anchored in the Seal • Ephesians 1:14 calls the Spirit “the pledge of our inheritance.” • 1 John 4:13: “By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit.” • The seal is God’s guarantee that He will complete the redemption He began. Living Out the Seal • The sealed life is Spirit-led: “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16) • It is Spirit-filled: “Be filled with the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:18) • It is Spirit-fruited: love, joy, peace, and every virtue listed in Galatians 5:22-23. In Ephesians 1:13, receiving the Holy Spirit is plainly described as a seamless movement: hear the gospel, believe in Christ, and God Himself seals the believer with His promised Spirit—guaranteeing ownership, authenticity, and eternal security. |
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