What role does "the word of truth" play in Ephesians 1:13? Setting the Scene in Ephesians 1:13 “And in Him, you also, after hearing the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—and believing in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.” Paul recounts three linked moments in every believer’s story: 1. Hearing “the word of truth.” 2. Believing in Christ. 3. Being sealed by the Holy Spirit. Unpacking “the word of truth” • It is the gospel—good news rooted in historical fact, not human speculation. • It is objective truth, unchanging and reliable, because it is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16). • It centers on Jesus Christ: His sinless life, atoning death, and bodily resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). The Word Heard: Gateway to Faith • Faith begins with exposure to the message. – “So faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17) • The word carries divine power to awaken spiritually dead hearts (Ephesians 2:1-5). • Hearing implies more than sound waves; it is attentive reception—letting the truth confront mind and conscience (Hebrews 4:12). The Word Believed: Channel of Salvation • Once heard, the gospel must be trusted. The order is clear: hearing → believing → sealing. • Belief is personal reliance on Christ alone, turning from every rival hope (Acts 16:31). • God uses the same “word of truth” to bring new birth: – “He chose to give us birth through the word of truth.” (James 1:18) – “You have been born again… through the living and enduring word of God.” (1 Peter 1:23) The Word and the Seal of the Spirit • The moment of genuine faith, God “seals” the believer with the Holy Spirit—a permanent mark of ownership and security (2 Corinthians 1:22). • The Spirit applies what the word proclaims, making salvation experiential. • Thus, the gospel word is both the instrument of conversion and the foundation for ongoing assurance. Wider Witness of Scripture • Colossians 1:5 – “The word of truth, the gospel” that bears fruit worldwide. • 1 Thessalonians 2:13 – The word “performs its work in you who believe.” • John 17:17 – “Your word is truth,” the means of our sanctification. • Psalm 119:160 – “The sum of Your word is truth,” affirming total reliability. Living Response • Guard the purity of the gospel; add nothing, subtract nothing (Galatians 1:8-9). • Keep the word central in teaching, counseling, and worship (2 Timothy 4:2). • Share it confidently; God has pledged to use it to awaken faith and seal lives for eternity. |
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