Scripture: Ephesians 1:1-14
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ
3 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. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. (NIV)
Observation:
“13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.”
I look to this pericope (means cut out) for this excerpt is cut out of the larger reading to focus on a singular truth of this scripture from Ephesians 1:1-14. Paul writes that we who have received the Holy Spirit in our belief of Jesus as Christ and Lord of our lives have been sealed with The Holy Spirit which Paul writes is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance. It is like the “Earnest Money” that you would place on a home that you intend to purchase. By putting the deposit of “Earnest Money” as a down payment you are saying to the seller that you will secure a mortgage and will complete the purchase of that home. No one else can purchase that home from the seller once the Earnest Money is received from the buyer unless the buyer can-not complete the purchase. In our case as being sealed in The Spirit, it is the Spirit that is placing the “Earnest Money” upon us. It is the Holy Spirit’s Deposit guaranteeing that we are being saved through the actions of our faith and the involvement of the Holy Spirit in our lives. This is what we call Blessed Assurance!
Application:
So how do I apply this truth from scripture in my life? First, I can be confident in knowing that the ongoing work of God’s Holy Spirit in my life is a constant and very real presence and that whatever good work the Spirit is doing in me will be carried out to completion, because it is what God is doing in my life. Second, the Holy Spirit’s role in our salvation is the wooing, the inviting us into an acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Third, the Spirit is there to remind me of everything that Jesus ever taught his disciples. So, I have no excuse but to become a fully devoted follower of the Living Christ by the power and the presence of His Holy Spirit, I lack nothing because of this seal and because of the active participation of The Holy Spirit in my life. I therefore, will allow the Spirit to inform me and transform me on a daily basis as I approach the Scripture with trust and an open mind. Fourth, The Spirit is there to show me myself, convicting and convincing me to follow the truth of God’s word. When, God’s Word is counter to what I have come to believe or practice, I am the one who is convicted by the Spirit to conform my ways to God’s ways.
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for your guarantee of my salvation in your Holy Spirit. Help me in my life to have ears to hear your word and allow your Spirit to aplly your truth to my life. Help me adjust my will to your will. The truth is that when I have adjusted my ways to your Spiritual direction in my life, I find that your will fits me just right and I am extremely blessed because of it.
Amen!