An Important Aspect of Salvation
Guest Post by John Rataczak, Ph.D.
Now He which stalisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God: Who
hath sealed us, and given us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts
(II Corinthians 1:21-22)
When a child is born, a birth certificate is issued. When a piece of property or an automobile is paid for, a title is issued. When one successfully completes a college degree program, a diploma is granted.
In most cases a “seal” is easily seen on all these documents.
According to the Scriptures, when God saves a soul He places a seal on that important transaction.
The idea of having seals and official state insignias is an old one. For instance, when our Lord died and was buried, there were those who were concerned that the disciples might try to steal His body from the grave and then claim that He had risen from the dead. When Pilate heard about this he determined to place the seal of the Roman government at the burial site:
Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as you can. So they went, and made the sepulcher sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch (Matthew 27:65-66).
There are three passages in the New Testament which give us insight into this precious doctrine of sealing:
- II Corinthians 1:21-22 (quoted above).
Four important points can be made from these verses:
- God the Father establishes the believer in Christ.
- God the Father anoints the believer.
- God the Father seals the believer.
- God the Father gives the Holy Spirit as an earnest (a downpayment) to the believer. The promise is that eternal life and better conditions await the believer in heaven!
- Ephesians 1:13-14.
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 the Holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory.
Two important points can be made from these verses:
- The sealing took place after belief in Christ.
- Believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit.
- Ephesians 4:30.
And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye were sealed unto the day of redemption.
Two important points can be made from this verse,
- The verb translated “ye were sealed” is in the aorist tense in the Greek, indicating completed
action. Believers in Jesus Christ are immediately sealed the moment they are saved!
- The sealing lasts until “the day of redemption.” This means that until the Lord takes believers
home to heaven the sealing of the Holy Spirit is upon his soul!
There is a logical connection between sanctification, justification, and sealing. In positional sanctification the believer is made holy in his standing before God. In justification he is declared holy by God. In sealing, the record is made official in the court
of heaven.
Satan can make whatever accusation he wants against a believer. It simply does not matter. Why? A believer has been sanctified, justified, and sealed, and God did it all!
Generally speaking, sealing involves such things as security, official status, ownership, and a guarantee. These things are granted to all believers. They are precious truths that the Bible teaches clearly, and they cannot be taken away or nullified.
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John Rataczak, Ph.D. is the sole proprietor of Eleutheros Books. “Eleutheros” is the Greek word which means “free,” and the theme verse for the ministry is John 8:36: If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
blog: www.christiancontactwithjohn.com
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