Welcome To Ephesians Study 4

Ephesians 1:13-14 The Believer’s Riches in Christ Blessings from the Holy Spirit

Ephesians 1:13-14 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.

I. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR SEAL (v. 13b) … you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit…

I. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR SEAL (v. 13b) A. DEFINITION: An ancient device, usually a signet ring or cylinder seal engraved with the owner’s name or with some design, used to seal goods, show ownership, attest documents, or impress an early form of trademark (ZPEB, vol. 5, p.319).

I. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR SEAL (v. 13b) B. BIBLICAL USES:

I. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR SEAL B. BIBLICAL USES: 1) To guarantee the genuine character of a document Then on the thirteenth day of the first month the royal secretaries were sum- moned. They wrote out in the script of each province and in the language of each people all Haman's orders to the king's satraps, the governors of the various provinces and the nobles of the various peoples. These were written in the name of King Xerxes himself and sealed with his own ring. – Esther 3:12

I. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR SEAL (v. 13b) B. BIBLICAL USES: 2) Figuratively of a person as evidence of apostleship Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. – 1 Corinthians 9:2

I. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR SEAL (v. 13b) B. BIBLICAL USES: 3) To mark ownership Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. – Song of Songs 8:6

I. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR SEAL (v. 13b) B. BIBLICAL USES: 4) To protect against tampering or harm So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard. – Matthew 27:66 Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. – Revelation 5:1

I. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR SEAL (v. 13b) C. HOW IS THE HOLY SPIRIT OUR SEAL?

I. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR SEAL (v. 13b) C. HOW IS THE HOLY SPIRIT OUR SEAL? 1) All of the above could be said of our relationship to the Holy Spirit:

I. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR SEAL (v. 13b) C. HOW IS THE HOLY SPIRIT OUR SEAL? 1) All of the above could be said of our relationship to the Holy Spirit:  In Romans 8:16 the Spirit Himself “testifies with our spirit” that we are children of God (i.e. guarantee of our character)

I. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR SEAL (v. 13b) C. HOW IS THE HOLY SPIRIT OUR SEAL? 1) All of the above could be said of our relationship to the Holy Spirit:  In Romans 8:9 the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is considered evidence that we are truly Christ’s (mark of ownership).

I. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR SEAL (v. 13b) C. HOW IS THE HOLY SPIRIT OUR SEAL? 1) All of the above could be said of our relationship to the Holy Spirit:  In Ephesians 3:16 we find that the Holy Spirit “strengthen(s) (us) with power” (i.e. to some degree helping to protect against tampering or harm).

I. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR SEAL (v. 13b) C. HOW IS THE HOLY SPIRIT OUR SEAL? 2) The context of Ephesians leads us to proof of ownership as the central issue Paul has in mind.

I. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR SEAL (v. 13b) C. HOW IS THE HOLY SPIRIT OUR SEAL? 2) The context of Ephesians leads us to proof of ownership as the central issue Paul has in mind.  He goes on to speak of the Holy Spirit as a “deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession” (Eph. 1:14 - more on this later).

I. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR SEAL (v. 13b) C. HOW IS THE HOLY SPIRIT OUR SEAL? 2) The context of Ephesians leads us to proof of ownership as the central issue Paul has in mind.  He later says that we were sealed by the Spirit “for the day of redemption” (Eph. 4:30).

I. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR SEAL (v. 13b) C. HOW IS THE HOLY SPIRIT OUR SEAL? 2) The context of Ephesians leads us to proof of ownership as the central issue Paul has in mind.  So until that “day of redemp- tion”, the Holy Spirit is given to the Christian as evidence that we truly belong to God.

I. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR SEAL (v. 13b) D. WHEN ARE WE SEALED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT?  When the following occurs:

I. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR SEAL (v. 13b) D. WHEN ARE WE SEALED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT?  When the following occurs: 1) We hear the word of truth, the gospel And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation -- Ephesians 1:13a

I. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR SEAL (v. 13b) D. WHEN ARE WE SEALED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT?  When the following occurs: 2) We believe the gospel …Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit – Ephesians 1:13b

I. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR SEAL (v. 13b) D. WHEN ARE WE SEALED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT?  When the following occurs: 3) We become a child of God Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir. – Galatians 4:6-7

I. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR SEAL (v. 13b) D. WHEN ARE WE SEALED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT?  When the following occurs: 4) We obey the gospel of Christ …"Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit – Acts 2:38 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.“ – Acts 5:32

II. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR “DEPOSIT GUARANTEEING” (v. 14) (The Holy Spirit) is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory. – Ephesians 1:14

II. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR “DEPOSIT GUARANTEEING” (v. 14) A. DEFINITION OF “DEPOSIT GUARANTEEING” (one word in Greek):

II. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR “DEPOSIT GUARANTEEING” (v. 14) A. DEFINITION OF “DEPOSIT GUARANTEEING”: 1) Used to refer to money given as a pledge or downpayment that the full amount will subsequently be paid.

II. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR “DEPOSIT GUARANTEEING” (v. 14) A. DEFINITION OF “DEPOSIT GUARANTEEING”: 2) In the LXX (Septuagint – Greek translation of the Old Testament) the word is translated “pledge” three times in Genesis 38:17-20.

II. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR “DEPOSIT GUARANTEEING” (v. 14) A. DEFINITION OF “DEPOSIT GUARANTEEING”: 3) In modern Greek this word is used for an Engagement Ring.

II. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR “DEPOSIT GUARANTEEING” (v. 14) B. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A DEPOSIT GUARANTEEING OUR INHERITANCE

II. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR “DEPOSIT GUARANTEEING” (v. 14) B. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A DEPOSIT GUARANTEEING OUR INHERITANCE 1) God has given the Holy Spirit in our hearts as a deposit (God) set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. – 2 Corinthians 1:22

II. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR “DEPOSIT GUARANTEEING” (v. 14) B. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A DEPOSIT GUARANTEEING OUR INHERITANCE 2) He is a guarantee of what God has prepared for us (see next slide for text)

Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. – 2 Corinthians 5:1-5

II. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR “DEPOSIT GUARANTEEING” (v. 14) B. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A DEPOSIT GUARANTEEING OUR INHERITANCE 3) While we wait for the glory that will one day be ours, here are some biblical examples of what the Holy Spirit can do for us now

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. – Romans 15:13

3) While we wait for the glory that will one day be ours, here are some biblical examples of what the Holy Spirit can do for us now I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being – Ephesians 3:16

3) While we wait for the glory that will one day be ours, here are some biblical examples of what the Holy Spirit can do for us now …the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self- control. Against such things there is no law. – Galatians 5:22-23

II. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR “DEPOSIT GUARANTEEING” (v. 14) C. THE HOLY SPIRIT SERVES IN THIS WAY “UNTIL THE REDEMPTION OF THOSE WHO ARE IN GOD’S POSSESSION”

II. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR “DEPOSIT GUARANTEEING” (v. 14) C. THE HOLY SPIRIT SERVES IN THIS WAY “UNTIL THE REDEMPTION OF THOSE WHO ARE IN GOD’S POSSESSION” 1) God’s Spirit in our lives is God’s promise that He will finally claim us for His own and take us home to heaven.

II. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR “DEPOSIT GUARANTEEING” (v. 14) C. THE HOLY SPIRIT SERVES IN THIS WAY “UNTIL THE REDEMPTION OF THOSE WHO ARE IN GOD’S POSSESSION” 2) At the moment when believers receive their full inheritance, which includes a glorious resurrection body, the redemption of God’s own possession takes place, that is, the full release to Him of that which is His by virtue of the fact that He both made it and bought it ~ Hendriksen

III. WE HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT AS A SEAL AND A GUARANTEE ~ WHAT SHOULD OUR REACTION BE?

A. FOR THE THIRD TIME (1:6,12,14) PAUL SAYS THESE BLESSINGS ARE “TO THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY”

III. WE HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT AS A SEAL AND A GUARANTEE ~ WHAT SHOULD OUR REACTION BE? B. OUR REACTION SHOULD BE THE SAME AS PAUL STATED AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS SECTION: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. – Ephesians 1:3