THE SEAL OF THE LIVING GOD (Part 2)

THE SEAL OF THE LIVING GOD (Part 2)

Kenute P. Curry

Ephesians 1:13-14 states:

In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ must be heard, according to Romans 10:17, and believed, as stated in John 1:12, to bring salvation.  The word “sealed” in this passage is the Greek word “σφραγίζω sphragízō” which means to stamp with a signet or private mark. In this passage, Paul refers to an official mark of identification placed on a letter, contract, or other document. That document was officially under the authority of the person whose stamp was on the seal. When we give our life to Christ, the Holy Spirit then comes to indwell the believer and places a seal on him, and marks him as one of God’s children. We are under the authority of Jesus Christ. This is the guarantee of our inheritance and redemption. Four truths are signified by this seal:

1.     Security (Daniel 6:17; Matthew 27:62-66).

2.     Authenticity (1 Kings 21:6-16).

3.     Ownership (Jeremiah 32:10)

4.     Authority (Esther 8:8-12)

Christ’s saving work of grace stabilizes believers and places them on a firm foundation in Him (Romans 16:25; 1 Corinthians 15:58; 1 Peter 5:10). In 2 Corinthians 1:21-22: it states:

Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.  (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)

The authenticity of Paul’s life and that of every believer is verified by these four divine works: “establishes us, anointed us, sealed us, given us the Spirit.” We are anointed by Holy Spirit and empowered for service of carrying the truth of the Gospel to others. The same Greek word that is used for “sealed” in Ephesians 1:14 is used here as well. It is the seal or stamp that indicated ownership, authenticity, and protection. The Holy Spirit attaches all of these meanings to His act of spiritually sealing those who know Christ (Haggai 2:23; Ephesians 4:30). 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.

ll 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.