“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,”

Ephesians 1:13

At this point, as we’ve been going through Ephesians chapter one, something should becoming very, very clear to us – God orchestrates our lives in a way that EVERYTHING, yes E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G we need is in Christ! I mean, this is even better than Walmart! I know people say you can get anything you need at Walmart and that is almost true, but it’s even more true In Christ. Let’s review for a moment:

– We have blessed us with every spiritual blessing …IN CHRIST (vs 3)
– He has chosen us IN CHRIST to be holy and without blame (vs 4)
– We are adopted as children by JESUS CHRIST (vs 5)
– IN CHRIST we have redemption through His blood (vs 7)
– He made known to us the purpose of his will IN Christ (vs 9)
– IN CHRIST we have obtained an inheritance (vs 11)

Now, in verse thirteen, Paul reminds us that our salvation is based on trusting IN CHRIST through the Gospel and then he adds one more thing – we are sealed IN CHRIST with the Holy Spirit of promise.

I know it’s easy to look at this verse and think that God is simply telling us that once we have been saved we can’t lose our salvation, but there is much more to it than that. To be sealed means that Christ has set His mark upon those who have believed. Normally we might think of cattle being branded with a specific mark by their owner in order to be identified as belonging to them. The same ideas applies to vehicles, clothing, tools, etc. Each one has a mark or seal giving it identity or stating ownership. But Christ has sealed us with something much greater than a brand or logo. In fact it’s not something at all…it’s Someone – the Holy Spirit of promise. That’s right, the very Spirit of God. The third person of the Godhead is the seal which Christ has placed in everyone who believes.

Now notice that it says the Holy Spirit of promise. As I was meditating on this, I realized that these last two words mean a lot when you dig into it a bit deeper. And honestly, the Holy Spirit has been a mystery to me in many ways for most of my life. I know He is real, and that He is here to help me, but what does that look like? What does He do? How do I know if the Holy Spirit is working in my life or not? What’s His purpose? Well, Jesus actually answers these very questions plain and clear. Let’s check it out.

The words “of promise” definitely refer to the fact that God has promised to send the Holy Spirit to indwell the life of every believer (see Ezekiel 36:27 and Luke 24:49), but I think it also means that there are promises about the Holy Spirit and what He will do in and through the life of the believer. Look at the following verses and read them carefully with this in mind.

Ezekiel 36:27 “And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them..” (Emphasis added)

John 14: 16-17 “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” (Emphasis added)

John 16:7-15 “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:…Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” (Emphasis added)

Romans 8:16 “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:” (Emphasis added)

Romans 8:26 “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered..” (Emphasis added)

Notice each specific thing that God promises the Holy Spirit will do. I could expound on this more but I think God has made it pretty clear. Each of these are promises regarding the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life. This is the reality of what Christ has provided….and I haven’t even mentioned all of what is promised about the Holy Spirit.

The challenge I want to leave you with is this: Are you continually going to Christ for all that you need, and are you living filled with the Holy Spirit? The promises are there, but the Holy Spirit will not push His promises on you. Cry out to the Holy Spirit and ask Him to fill you and watch His promises come to pass in your life as your yield to Him.

~ Kevin Boyes