April 3 Sealed

Ephesians 1:13-14 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, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.  
 
THIS is the 8th day on the first sentence of Ephesians! One aspect of Scripture is the power and economy of its language. So much is said in a few words. We cannot count the words and volumes written of the Bible. Our Lord certainly gave us much to learn. Our minds must always be eager to see what next truth God will offer to us.
    In these two verses Paul writes of how we learn God’s Word. This is a comforting and encouraging summary of our faith. Here we understand our knowledge is revealed to and sealed in us by the Holy Spirit.
     First, you know and believe the gospel because you have “heard the word of truth”. Sin entered the world when Satan caused Eve and Adam to doubt the truth. From that time on, mankind’s sin-filled souls have asked, “What is truth?” Everywhere we have sought the truth, even within our own minds, but we have refused too often to learn the true Word of God. Tragically, the world strives after vain and useless things because mankind is born to believe the Liar’s lies. Falsehoods flood the world. Confusion, mistrust and emptiness create restless and broken hearts.
    In contrast, we find great comfort and hope to know in our hearts that God has truly revealed the truth through his Spirit. As Jesus is recorded to have prayed in John 17:17 “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” he prayed we would be set apart from the world’s lies and be safe in God’s truth. Paul affirms this. God’s Word has, indeed, set us apart from the world as he tells the church that we “were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.”
    Yes, as you confess Jesus to be your Lord, be assured the Spirit has awakened you, set you apart and sealed you in your faith. As God has predestined you to faith, he will keep you in your faith. The Spirit “guarantees our inheritance” sealing us in Jesus’ blood until we are fully with God in Heaven.
    Some will say you can “lose” your salvation. That is akin to saying, “You can lose the Spirit’s seal.” May it never be! Yes, we know people who confess Christ, then they live as if the world is their lord. We aren’t the judge of their salvation, but perhaps such people are not sealed. One evidence of the Sprit’s seal is his mark on the way we live. If one purposefully lives in disobedience to God with no desire to live into God’s truth, it is our work to offer him instruction, prayer and care. We must be ever faithful to love one another in the knowledge of God’s true word. Love people enough to tell them the truth.
    Indeed, none of us are free of sin. Yet, our Master has called us to “be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48) When we sin, we repent. When we need to know more of God, we go to the Bible. When we are asked of our faith, we eagerly respond. When we are commanded to respond to God’s call, we go. Sealed in the Spirit, you proclaim victory in Jesus as you know “We are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37)
    Rejoice and praise God as you are his own forever!
 
Prayer: I can scarcely thank you, Father, Son and Spirit for your great love to seal me in you forever. Amen.