SEALED WITH THE SPIRIT

EPHESIANS 4:3

A. PURPOSE OF A SEAL
  1. A distinguishing mark or token by which a claim to property may be shown and established: Jude 9-14; John 17:11, 12
  2. A mark of assurance that the Lord is in earnest to make good His promises to us: Heb. 6:13-15; Eph. 1:13
  3. In this sense, the sealing with the Spirit of promise is God's approval of our adoption into the heavenly family: 2 Cor. 5:5
B. IMPLICATIONS OF THE SEAL
  1. That an attempt will be made to alienate the believers from God and His promises:
    1. John 10:7, 10, 17, 27-29
    2. Matt. 4:1-12 Think of the first sinful temptation and its effect upon the human race! Gen. 3:1-3
  2. The seal of the Holy Spirit is our assurance that we are God's children and that His promises are reliable:
    1. Eph. 1:4-6; 3:14, 15; Rom. 8:12-17
    2. It is God's Holy Spirit that witnesses to our spirit that we are sons and daughters - John 1:10- 12; 1 John 3:1-7
  3. The seal of the Holy Spirit is the divine badge of the believers' eternal security in Christ:
    1. Against condemnation - Rom. 8:1-3, 31-33
    2. Against the day of judgment - Ezek. 9:1-6; Rom. 8:32-38; John 8:1-8
    3. It is the power by which God will impress His own image upon our lives -
      1. Rom. 8:29; 2 Cor. 3:18
      2. Phil. 3:21; Gal. 2:20
      3. 1 Cor. 11:7; 15:49
C. OUR RELATIONSHIP TO THE SEALING WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
  1. Series warning:
    1. ". . . grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." Eph. 4:30
    2. "Quench not the Spirit." - 1 Thess. 5:19
    3. ". . . lie not against the truth." - Jas. 3:14; Acts 5:3, 4
    4. "Harden not your hearts, . . ." - Heb. 3:7, 8
  2. The right attitude of the believers to the sealing work of the Holy Spirit:
    1. Obey His instructions at all times, regardless of the cost - EXAMPLES -
      1. Stephen - Acts 6:7
      2. Peter and John - Acts 4:19; 5:29
      3. Paul - Acts 19:21-41
    2. Have an open ear to His counsel at all times.
    3. This counsel is of special signification when we consider how the Lord closes the messages to the seven churches -
      1. "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches" - Rev. 2:7
      2. "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches" - verse 11
      3. "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches" - verse 17
      4. "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches" - Rev. 3:6
      5. "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches" - verse 13
  3. These and other implications of the seal of the Holy Spirit show plainly the need for our complete surrender to God and His Holy Word and will:


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