|
The seal of the Spirit and assuranceEphesians 1.13-14 is a crucial text that explains how the Holy Spirit provides assurance of salvation for the believer. ‘And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession — to the praise of his glory.’ There are numerous biblical references relating to the practice of sealing which contribute to understanding Paul’s exhortation. In addition, the use of seals in the Ancient World sheds light on the significance of ‘sealing’. The act of sealingIn context here, the seal emphasises both the authenticity and the security of a Christian’s salvation, as the Holy Spirit is ever present (John 14.16-17) and the true believer belongs to God forever. Although the Spirit may be grieved (Isaiah 63.10, Ephesians 4.30) or quenched (1 Thessalonians 5.19), he cannot be removed because salvation is permanent (John 10.28-30, 14.16-17).1 Also, the term ‘sealed’ is used for that which is permanent (Isaiah 8.16), confirmed (John 6.27, Romans 4.11), impenetrable to men but known to Christ (Revelation 5.2) and approved by him (John 3.33).2 The seal was used also as confirmation of a covenant (Nehemiah 9.38, 10.1)3 and, though one may grieve the Holy Spirit and thereby lose the blessings of his ministry (Ephesians 4.30), it is reassuring that the Holy Spirit never leaves one.4 OwnershipThe use of seals in the Old Testament provides further clarification regarding the meaning of the seal of the Spirit. The seal was the personal sign of the owner, distinguishing what was true from what was spurious.5 Cattle and slaves were branded with their owner’s seal, which was a mark of ownership and preservation of the owner’s property.6 A seal on a letter authenticated an item as genuine or a document as legally valid7 (Esther 8.8, Daniel 9.24, 1 Kings 21.8, Nehemiah 3.8). Moreover the believer is sealed by the Spirit and approved as his purchased possession. Since sealing in first-century Ephesus was related to ownership, the seal of the Holy Spirit assures believers of their identity in Christ alone. People belonging to religious cults in that time often bore the images of their gods.8 First-century Ephesus had nearly 50 gods plus a multitude of philosophies laying claim to possess a knowledge of the truth. Being sealed by the Holy Spirit confirmed the identity of the believer as being distinct from the counterfeit. Furthermore, all of a person’s significant possessions were marked with the impression of the seal.9 The impression made by a seal had the same validity as a signature.10 The similarity, therefore, between the believer being sealed by the Spirit on conversion and the believer having his name recorded in the Book of Life is evident as their spiritual identity is related to their future inheritance. Also, he is literally the Holy Spirit of promise because God promised through the Old Testament prophets and through Jesus to send him.11 The word ‘promise’, eppagelia in this verse, is primarily a legal term denoting a summons or promise to do something and is used only of the promises of God, except in Acts 23.21.12 The assurance that God is active in the lives of his people is given three designations: ‘a promise’, ‘a seal’ and ‘a guarantee’.13 It is clear that Paul greatly desired that the reader should know that the Holy Spirit is genuine, authoritative, owns and is a protective covering and promise for the believer’s salvation. Guarantee of our inheritanceThe word ‘earnest’ or ‘guarantee’ is derived from the word arrabon meaning a pledge, part of the purchase money or property given in advance and security for the rest.14 Arrabon is used just three times in the New Testament (Ephesians 1.14, 2 Corinthians 1.22, 5.5) and on each occasion is unequivocally identified as pertaining to the Spirit who seals the believer as guarantee of our spiritual inheritance. Evidence of the guarantee in believers is that they are already granted redemption, forgiveness of sins, a heavenly existence, access to the Father, knowledge of the truth and the gift of the Holy Spirit (1.13-14).15 A part payment arrabon was a word that came into Greek from Phoenician traders, which was the guarantee or assurance that full payment would be made.16 Therefore, the believer is able to enjoy the ‘already and not yet’ aspect of spiritual blessings in that they have received every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1.3) but are waiting for their inheritance (v.14). The down paymentA helpful illustration can be used to demonstrate the manner by which the Holy Spirit guarantees the spiritual inheritance of the believer and the way banks or estate agents regard down payments from proprietors. Ironically, banks provide guarantees concerning deposits, yet no bank can provide an absolute guarantee as obviously there is no bank incapable of going under!17 Even today, though, estate agents talk about ‘earnest’ money.18 Subsequently the Spirit is a superior guarantor as he resides in believers, sealing them with the guarantee of their inheritance.19 ‘Earnest’ is also a term denoting an engagement ring and is still used in this context in Greece currently. Therefore the relationship of the believer with God is not limited to commercial or legal means, but also involves a personal experience of love.20 Considering that the ‘earnest’ is the down payment or the engagement ring as a pledge of marriage, the Spirit is the divine pledge that believers shall receive their inheritance.21 The earnest of the inheritance refers to the Spirit making a pledge, providing assurance for the believer of eternal life in Christ.22 ‘Already and not yet’The Spirit plays an important role in the eschatological aspect of redemption whereby believers will be completely freed from all the effects of sin.23 At his appearing, the Lord shall redeem by power what he has acquired and then believers shall receive their inheritance.24 Thus believers are redeemed, but await a time when they will take full possession of their redemption. The Spirit functions guaranteeing the believer’s inheritance looking toward redemption for which he has made down payment, so he will finally take possession of those already his.25 With regard to the ‘already and not yet’ aspect of redemption, the believer has been redeemed but awaits the fulfilment of those blessings at the second advent.26 This confirms what Paul wrote to the Corinthians who were being saved in 1 Corinthians 1.18. Believers are saved, are being saved and finally will be saved when Christ returns. Notice also, in Ephesians 1.14 and 4.30, redemption has a future reference, while in Ephesians 1.7 it was regarded as a present possession of believers.27 The Spirit is the first instalment and guarantee and, in the context of 2 Corinthians 5.5, the complete inheritance guaranteed is the spiritual resurrection body (cf 1 Corinthians 15.44).28 Great assuranceIn summary then, Ephesians 1.13-14 provides assurance for believers of their incorruptible inheritance, spelling out the ‘already and not yet’ aspect of salvation. The Holy Spirit is the earnest, (down payment) and spiritual blessings are enjoyed immediately until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of his glory! The author is currently training to become an evangelical pastor with FIEC and also writes apologetics articles for the Reachout Trust. Footnotes John Taylor© Evangelicals Now - December 2009 |