Lesson 11

1:13-14 To the Praise of the Holy Spirit

* What we find here is an overview of the work of the Holy Spirit in salvation. Therefore is very important; need to examine carefully!

#1 The message of the gospel; 2 things; its integrity and its power

Its integrity = "the message of truth"

The integrity and truth of the gospel is critical and this is the focus of the Holy Spirit; It is He that convicts man of sin, of righteousness and judgment.

Its power = "the gospel of your salvation"

- The gospel has the power to save you! Rom 1:16

- It is the message of truth that is the means of regeneration Jas 1:18

- It is the message of truth that is the means of sanctification; John 17:17

- It is because of this message of truth that you have a hope! Col 1:5

#2 The requirement of the gospel;

* First an objective message must be heard; "after listening to the message of truth."

- What is so often communicated today is that the gospel is an offer of a subjective experience; not objective truth as it is!

- There are some objective facts that must be heard and believed; 1 Cor 15:3-4

* So first the message of truth must be heard and then 2ndly it must be believed! "having also believed"

#3 The guarantee of the gospel. (the results of hearing and believing!)

"you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise"

The action of the Holy Spirit in sealing is co-incident with one's faith in Jesus Christ; its at the same time!

Observations on the "we were sealed"

1. That we were sealed speaks of a finished transaction.

2. The seal is the Holy Spirit.

Phrase; "with the Holy Spirit of promise"

3. What does it mean to us to be sealed with the Spirit?

The sealing and the pledge of the Holy Spirit; is related to the indwelling of the believer by the Holy Spirit. 2 Cor 1:22; 1 Cor 6:19-20

4. The word seal has several implications that flow from it!

a. Sealing implies ownership; noted in Jer 32:9

- Rev. 7:2; 9:4 sealing of the 144k; belonged to God.

- also 2 Cor 1:22; 2 Tim 2:19 The Lord knows His own!

b. Sealing implies security; Mt 27:66; Eph 4:30 to a day of redemption

c. Sealing implies Authentication and approval; Jn 6:27 He is who He says He is!

d. Seal also implies genuineness; Jn 3:33

5. The Holy Spirit is your seal for how long? Jn 14:16-17;

Ø What about the 2nd metaphor, the pledge;

1:14 "who [H/S] is given as a pledge";

An arrabon legally bound one to the completion of the purchase.

#1. 2 Cor 1:21-22 These 2 verses present 4 major blessings given to all believers.

1. It is God who establishes us; this word means to make certain, sure, and stable.

2. The 2nd blessing is related to the fact that God has anointed us. Anointing indicates separation and commission.

3. The third thing is that God has sealed us. (security, ownership)

4. We are given the Holy Spirit as a pledge.

All by itself this word arrabon teaches an important doctrine, that of the eternal security of the believer.

And with this word and its everyday usage; God is saying to us, You are mine, you are secure I guarantee it and the presence of the Holy Spirit is your indication of this.

#2. 2 Cor 5:4-5 the theme here is the assured future of all Believers.

We are to live now in anticipation of our permanent, our heavenly body;

Our glorification, being in a resurrection body is the crowning experience of God's work of grace in every believer.

In order to assure and guarantee the completion of His work in the believer, God has given us the Holy Spirit as an arrabon, the first installment that absolutely guarantees the completion of the purchase, our glorification.

- In our context Eph 1:13-14 Paul is describing what happens the moment one responds to the convicting ministry of the H/S upon hearing the gospel and believes it;

But here Paul adds what the arrabon guarantees! 2 things!

#1. Our inheritance; this is described by Peter in 1 Pet 1:4-5

#2. We can anticipate with full confidence, a full and complete redemption, the glorification of the believer, body soul and spirit;

* Another aspect in this context that adds to our assurance of eternal security is this;

- By virtue of the fact that He has created us in His own image; and that He has bought us [redeemed us] we are therefore a peripoi,hsij a possession; its used of something that is one's very own!