The Spirit Seals
Ephesians 1:11-14
Main Idea: In Christ, we are given the Spirit of God as the seal and guarantee of our present and future hope.
I. The Problem and the Promise (V13)
A) The Problem
(Ephesians 1:13) - “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him,”
We need set apart hearts. (Deuteronomy 30:6)
We need new hearts. (Jeremiah 31:31-34)
We need clean hearts. (Psalm 51:10)
B) The Promise (v13)
(John 3:5–7)- “Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’”
(Ezekiel 36:25–27) - “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.”
II. The Seal and the Guarantee
A) The Spirit Seals (V13b)
(Ephesians 1:13) - “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,”
(John 16:6–7) - “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.”
1. Ongoing Conviction of Sin
(John 16:8–9) - And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me;
(Romans 7:14–15) - For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.
2. Greater Worship of Christ
(John 15:26) - “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.
3. Dependance on the Father
(Galatians 4:6) “And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into are hearts, crying “Abba! Father!””
4. Fruit of the Spirit
(Galatians 5:22–23) - “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law.”
“Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood
This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long.”
B. The Spirit Guarantees (V14)
(Ephesians 1:14) - “who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.”
