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!