How can we ensure we are "sealed with the promised Holy Spirit" today? The Promise Stated Ephesians 1:13: “And in Him, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.” What “Sealed” Means • A finished transaction—God marks His own as eternally His (2 Corinthians 1:21-22). • A protective security—nothing can break God’s ownership (John 10:28-29). • An inward witness—the Spirit testifies to our adoption (Romans 8:15-16). How the Seal Is Received 1. Hear the gospel clearly • “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). • The message: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). 2. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ • “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). • Belief is wholehearted trust, not mere mental assent (James 2:19). 3. Repent—turn from sin to God • “Repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15). • Genuine faith always turns away from known rebellion (Acts 26:20). 4. Receive the Spirit at conversion • Acts 2:38 ties repentance and faith to receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit. • There is no second-class Christian; every true believer is sealed the moment he believes (Galatians 3:2). Living in the Assurance of the Seal • Rest in God’s promise—He “gave us His Spirit in our hearts as a pledge” (2 Corinthians 1:22). • Obey the Spirit’s promptings—“Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30). • Rely on the Spirit’s power for holy living (Galatians 5:16-25). • Stand firm when doubts arise—God’s seal is “a firm foundation” (2 Timothy 2:19). Guarding Against Counterfeits • Salvation by works or ritual cannot seal; only faith in Christ does (Ephesians 2:8-9). • Emotional experiences alone are not the proof; the Spirit produces lasting fruit (Matthew 7:20; Galatians 5:22-23). • False teaching denies Christ’s finished work; hold fast to Scripture’s clarity (1 John 4:1-3). Encouragement from the Word • 1 John 5:11-13—You may know you have eternal life. • Jude 24—He is able to keep you from stumbling. • Hebrews 10:14—“By one offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” Hear the gospel, place your full trust in Jesus, and the promised Holy Spirit will mark you forever as God’s treasured possession. |
    |