Sealed

“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, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:23 and 24.

In several places, the scriptures tell us that as Christians (those who have believed in the redemptive work of Christ) we have been sealed with the Holy Spirit. I would just like to share a few thoughts on what I believe this means.

In trying to understand the significance of being sealed as children of God, I was lead to the book of Esther. Esther 8 gives the story of how Mordecai and Esther were able to counter a decree that would have resulted in the destruction of the Israelite community exiled in Persia. Earlier in the book, we read of how Haman plotted the destruction of the Jews and how he managed to convince the king to issue a decree that would lead to the Jews being killed by Persian soldiers. However, God, through Esther and Mordecai, intervened and rescued the Israelites from this destruction.

What I find to be very striking in the story given in Esther is how the decree issued under Haman’s instruction could not be repealed. Matthew Henry, in his commentary of Esther 8 says this “According to the constitution of the Persians’ government, no law or decree could be repealed or recalled.” Therefore, whatever the king decreed would stand forever.

Esther 8:8 reads “Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s ring: for the writing which is written in the king’s name, and sealed with the king’s ring, may no man reverse.” Notice what the verse says about the seal of the king and its meaning.

Anything that was sealed with the king’s ring could not be reversed but would stand as decreed forever. It could not be undone unless a nullifying decree was issued out. Matthew Henry, in his commentary of Esther 8 continues to say this “It is God’s prerogative not to repent, or to say what can never be altered or unsaid.” What this basically means is that, whatever God decrees, will stand forever and cannot be undone except by another decree that nullifies the first.

But, the question remains what does the seal signify? The seal, according to Vine’s Expository Dictionary, is an emblem of ownership and security; it is also a mark of authentication. To authenticate means to prove or show (something especially a claim or an artistic work) to be true or genuine.

After the fall, when Adam and Eve had sinned, God did something, He removed the two from the Garden of Eden and placed cherubim and a flaming sword to keep and guard the way to the tree of life (Genesis 3:22-24). Thus He set up a decree which is repeated by Paul in Romans 6:23, “… the wages of sin is death…” Therefore, God decreed that the end result of sin is death and He placed cherubim to guard the way to the tree of life. Remember His words in Genesis 2:17 where He told Adam not to eat of the tree because if he ate, He would surely die. Now this decree cannot be repealed, it stands even to this day, but He has issued another decree which almost nullifies the first. He says in the same Romans 6:23, “…but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ” so we see two decrees at work the same as during Esther’s time; one bringing death whilst the other offers life to those who are ready and willing to abide by the decree.

We cannot remove the decree that brings death it will always stand but God has given us a choice by issuing another decree that can be applied to our lives and have life instead of death. This new decree gives only one means of getting life and it is through Jesus Christ. Acts 4:12 says “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” and that name is none other than the name of Jesus.

It is after we have done what the decree requires of us to receive this salvation that the issue of the seal becomes very important. As has already been pointed out, the seal, is an emblem of ownership and security; it is also a mark of authentication. The seal is what proves to us that whatever has been written in the decree is true of us. It should be noted here that this seal is the Holy Spirit, whom you receive once you have repented of your sins; asked Jesus to cleanse you of all iniquity, accepting His death on the cross as being the propitiation of your sins and handed your life over to Him. It is once this has happened that God deposits into you His Holy Spirit, and one of the reasons for doing this is to give you the assurance that His decree of eternal life stands true in your life.

So, as the scriptures say “…As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name…” (John 1:12) This is the decree God has made concerning your life; you are His child, called by His name if you have received Jesus Christ. However, to authenticate this He has to put a seal on it, the Holy Spirit.

You see, a letter, may be written by the king but it is the seal that authenticates that the letter is indeed from the king. It is the seal that bears witness that the letter is truly from the king. The same is true here, the Bible gives us the assurance that we are the children of God by virtue of receiving Jesus Christ, however we need something to authenticate what the Bible says, we need a witness. Paul in Romans 8:16 says “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God…” If the Spirit does not bear witness within you then you need to check again with God. No man can bear witness on behalf of God that you are a child of God not even your Pastor. It is only the Holy Spirit who has been given the mandate to bear witness within you that you are truly a child of God.

In bearing witness that we are the children of God, the Holy Spirit also acts as a guarantee of our inheritance until the day of Christ’s return. Therefore, it is only if the Holy Spirit remains in you that you can be assured of your salvation. Perhaps that is why He does the work of sanctification in you and me (see 1 Peter 1:2) because it is through this process of sanctification that we are perfected and made holy as God is holy and perfect (Matthew 5:48, 1 Peter 1:15,16).

Therefore, this is the seal that has been placed on you and me, if indeed we are the children of God. That is why it is so important for any Christian to have a good relationship with the Holy Spirit and to get to know the person of the Holy Spirit. Someone once said that you cannot remove the Holy Spirit from being within you but you can stop Him from working in your life. In other words you can almost choose not to benefit from the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life. As a child of God you need to find out more about the nature of this seal by diligently searching the scriptures.

This is the assurance that we have as the children of God; we have His seal upon us, the promised Holy Spirit who bears witness as to our adoption into the family of God. Get to know more of His person and come to an understanding of Him by searching the scriptures.

Grace, mercy and peace from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ keep and preserve you in the knowledge of Him. Amen

Note: Romans 8:16 says the Spirit bears witness with our spirit. We ought always to remember that the Spirit does not bear witness to our being adopted by the circumstances that surround us, rather He bears witness within us. Thus, we should not look at our position in the world as being that which is to bear witness to us of our sonship, look within you. The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, that is, it is not necessarily about the outward things, but rather it is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). We cannot see these three all the time in the material world, so do not let your material possessions or position in the world or other surrounding circumstance be the thing that bears witness as to your adoption into the family of God.