THE SEAL OF THE LIVING GOD (Part 3)

THE SEAL OF THE LIVING GOD (Part 3)

Kenute P. Curry

1 Timothy 2:19 states:

Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” (2 Timothy 2:19)

This most likely is a reference to the Church (1 Timothy 3:15) which cannot be overcome by the forces of hell (Matthew 16:18) and is made up of those who belong to Him. The Greek word for seal here is “σφραγίς sphragís” which means a signet or stamp impressed as a mark, which denotes ownership and authenticity. Paul gives two characteristics of those who have this divine seal:

1.     The Lord knows those who are His. Jesus Christ knows every believer who belongs to Him. In John 10:27 he said: My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. Jesus not only knows them in recognition, but in approval and appreciation. He knows us in appropriating and effective love. We are His and we are sealed.

2.     Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity. This statement reflects the pursuit of holiness of all believers. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 states that our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit and that we should glorify God in our body. We are not our own, for we have been bought with the blood of Jesus and sealed until the day of redemption.

In Revelation 7:1-4, we have an interesting group of people that are also sealed by God:

Saying, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed (Revelation 7:3-4)

In this scene we have the sealing of the 144, 000 servants of God, 12,000 from each tribe of Israel. This enormous group would be the redeemed Jews who are instrumental in the salvation of many Jews and Gentiles alike during the Tribulation (Revelation 7:9-17). They will be the firstfruits of a new redeemed Israel (Zechariah 12:10). The word sealed is the same Greek word used in Ephesians, chapter one, that means to stamp with a signet or a private mark.  These believers are sealed with the name of God, thus they are guaranteed protection and security by God through the Holy Spirit. These redeemed Jews and their converts are also protected from the demonic horde in Revelation 9:4 that are released from the bottomless pit; and in Revelation 14:1, they come off victorious against the Antichrist and his kingdom.

All Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version (NKJV) of the Holy Bible, Copyright ©1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc.

©2011 Kenute P. Curry. All rights reserved.