The Holy Spirit: Our Seal and Assurance in Christ

 

Summary

In our exploration of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, we delve into the profound concept of the Spirit's role in the application of salvation. The Father orchestrated the plan of salvation, the Son executed it, and the Holy Spirit applies it to our lives, making it real and experiential. This evening, we focus on the sealing of the Spirit, a term used in Scripture to describe the Holy Spirit's work in authenticating, securing, and marking us as God's own.

The sealing of the Spirit is mentioned in three key passages: 2 Corinthians 1:22, Ephesians 1:13-14, and Ephesians 4:30. A seal serves three primary functions: authentication, ownership, and security. The Holy Spirit authenticates our identity as God's people, marking us as His peculiar possession. This is not just a personal assurance but a testimony to others of our Christian identity. The presence of the Holy Spirit in us, producing the fruit of the Spirit, is the evidence of our faith.

Furthermore, the Holy Spirit as a seal assures us of our ultimate security in Christ. It is a guarantee of our final redemption and glorification. The Spirit's presence is a pledge that we will be preserved until the day of redemption, ensuring that nothing can separate us from the love of God. This assurance is not merely intellectual but deeply experiential, as the Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.

In addition to being a seal, the Holy Spirit is also described as the earnest of our inheritance. This means He is a foretaste, a first installment of the glory that awaits us. The Spirit gives us a glimpse of the heavenly joy and fulfillment we will experience in full measure in eternity. This experiential knowledge of the Spirit's presence is crucial for our spiritual growth and assurance.

To fully enjoy the Spirit's work, we must avoid quenching or grieving Him. Quenching the Spirit involves resisting His leading, while grieving the Spirit occurs when we sin or fail to follow His guidance. Instead, we are called to be led by the Spirit, walking in His ways, and allowing Him to guide us into deeper knowledge and love for Christ.

Key Takeaways:

- The Holy Spirit authenticates our identity as God's people, marking us as His own. This is not just a personal assurance but a testimony to others of our Christian identity. The presence of the Holy Spirit in us, producing the fruit of the Spirit, is the evidence of our faith. [06:13]

- The Holy Spirit assures us of our ultimate security in Christ. His presence is a guarantee of our final redemption and glorification, ensuring that nothing can separate us from the love of God. This assurance is deeply experiential, as the Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. [15:52]

- The Holy Spirit is the earnest of our inheritance, a foretaste of the glory that awaits us. He gives us a glimpse of the heavenly joy and fulfillment we will experience in full measure in eternity. This experiential knowledge of the Spirit's presence is crucial for our spiritual growth and assurance. [22:47]

- To fully enjoy the Spirit's work, we must avoid quenching or grieving Him. Quenching the Spirit involves resisting His leading, while grieving the Spirit occurs when we sin or fail to follow His guidance. Instead, we are called to be led by the Spirit, walking in His ways. [30:03]

- Our relationship with the Holy Spirit should lead to a deeper knowledge and love for Christ. The ultimate test of the Spirit's work in us is not just what we feel but our relationship with Jesus, our love for Him, and our knowledge of Him. [40:15]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:10] - Introduction to the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit
- [01:31] - The Sealing of the Spirit
- [03:46] - Functions of a Seal
- [06:13] - Authentication by the Spirit
- [09:06] - Ownership and Assurance
- [12:25] - The Spirit's Witness
- [14:12] - Security in the Spirit
- [17:01] - Experiential Knowledge of the Spirit
- [19:29] - The Earnest of the Spirit
- [22:47] - First Fruits of the Spirit
- [25:34] - Encouragement and Comfort
- [30:03] - Avoiding Quenching the Spirit
- [33:37] - Avoiding Grieving the Spirit
- [37:23] - Walking in the Spirit
- [40:15] - The Ultimate Test of the Spirit's Work

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- 2 Corinthians 1:21-22
- Ephesians 1:13-14
- Ephesians 4:30

#### Observation Questions
1. What are the three primary functions of a seal as described in the sermon? ([03:46])
2. How does the Holy Spirit authenticate our identity as God's people according to the sermon? ([06:13])
3. What assurance does the presence of the Holy Spirit provide to believers? ([15:52])
4. How is the Holy Spirit described as the earnest of our inheritance? ([22:47])

#### Interpretation Questions
1. In what ways does the Holy Spirit's sealing provide a sense of security and assurance to believers? How does this relate to the concept of final redemption? ([15:52])
2. How does the sermon explain the experiential aspect of the Holy Spirit's presence in a believer's life? Why is this important? ([19:14])
3. What does it mean to quench or grieve the Holy Spirit, and how can believers avoid doing so? ([30:03])
4. How does the Holy Spirit as the earnest of our inheritance give believers a foretaste of heavenly joy and fulfillment? ([22:47])

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt the Holy Spirit's presence in your life. How did it authenticate your identity as a child of God? ([06:13])
2. What are some practical ways you can avoid quenching or grieving the Holy Spirit in your daily life? ([30:03])
3. How can you cultivate a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit to experience the assurance and security He provides? ([15:52])
4. Identify one area in your life where you need to be more open to the Holy Spirit's leading. What steps can you take to be more receptive? ([30:03])
5. Consider the concept of the Holy Spirit as the earnest of our inheritance. How does this perspective influence your view of eternal life and your current spiritual journey? ([22:47])
6. How can you ensure that your relationship with the Holy Spirit leads to a deeper knowledge and love for Christ? ([40:15])
7. Think of a specific situation where you might have resisted the Holy Spirit's guidance. How can you respond differently in the future to align with His leading? ([30:03])

Devotional

Day 1: The Spirit's Seal of Identity
The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in authenticating our identity as God's people. This authentication is not merely a personal assurance but also serves as a testimony to others of our Christian identity. The presence of the Holy Spirit within us is evidenced by the fruit of the Spirit, which is the outward manifestation of our faith. As believers, we are marked as God's peculiar possession, and this mark is visible to the world through our actions and character. The Spirit's work in us is a powerful witness to the transformative power of God's love and grace. [06:13]

Ephesians 1:13-14 (ESV): "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, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory."

Reflection: How can you demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit in your interactions with others today, serving as a testimony to your identity in Christ?


Day 2: Assurance of Security in Christ
The Holy Spirit assures us of our ultimate security in Christ, acting as a guarantee of our final redemption and glorification. This assurance is not just an intellectual understanding but a deeply experiential reality, as the Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. The presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives ensures that nothing can separate us from the love of God, providing us with a profound sense of peace and confidence in our salvation. This security allows us to live boldly for Christ, knowing that our future is secure in Him. [15:52]

Romans 8:16-17 (ESV): "The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him."

Reflection: In what ways can you rest in the assurance of your security in Christ today, allowing it to influence your decisions and actions?


Day 3: The Spirit as a Foretaste of Glory
The Holy Spirit is described as the earnest of our inheritance, providing us with a foretaste of the glory that awaits us in eternity. This means that the Spirit gives us a glimpse of the heavenly joy and fulfillment we will experience in full measure in the future. This experiential knowledge of the Spirit's presence is crucial for our spiritual growth and assurance, as it encourages us to persevere in our faith and look forward to the eternal rewards that await us. The Spirit's work in our lives is a reminder of the hope we have in Christ and the glorious future that is promised to us. [22:47]

2 Corinthians 5:5 (ESV): "He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee."

Reflection: How can you cultivate an awareness of the Holy Spirit's presence in your life today, allowing it to inspire hope and anticipation for the future?


Day 4: Avoiding Quenching and Grieving the Spirit
To fully enjoy the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we must avoid quenching or grieving Him. Quenching the Spirit involves resisting His leading, while grieving the Spirit occurs when we sin or fail to follow His guidance. Instead, we are called to be led by the Spirit, walking in His ways and allowing Him to guide us into deeper knowledge and love for Christ. By being attentive to the Spirit's promptings and obedient to His guidance, we can experience the fullness of His work in our lives and grow in our relationship with God. [30:03]

1 Thessalonians 5:19-21 (ESV): "Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good."

Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to be more attentive to the Holy Spirit's leading and avoid actions that might quench or grieve Him?


Day 5: Deepening Knowledge and Love for Christ
Our relationship with the Holy Spirit should lead to a deeper knowledge and love for Christ. The ultimate test of the Spirit's work in us is not just what we feel but our relationship with Jesus, our love for Him, and our knowledge of Him. As we grow in our understanding of who Christ is and what He has done for us, our love for Him should deepen, and our desire to follow Him should increase. The Holy Spirit plays a vital role in this process, guiding us into all truth and helping us to know Christ more intimately. [40:15]

Colossians 1:9-10 (ESV): "And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."

Reflection: How can you intentionally seek to deepen your knowledge and love for Christ today, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide you in this pursuit?

Quotes



The Holy Spirit himself, remember, is the authentification or the certification of the fact that we are indeed God's people. The scriptures talk about our being God's Own peculiar position, translated in the authorized version as a peculiar people. What it means is a people for his own peculiar possession. [00:06:16]

It is the presence of the holy spirit in US producing the fruit of the spirit that certifies to other people that we rarely are Christians. Now it's possible for a man to make a profession of Christianity. It is possible for us to give a mental or an intellectual Ascent to the truth and to certain propositions and teachings of scripture. [00:07:40]

The Holy Spirit is a seal manifest the fact to others as well as to ourselves that we are Christian people. But then going on to the second meaning of this term, this second idea of property is something that speaks very particularly to us ourselves in the same way it does make the proclamation to all. [00:08:57]

A part of our assurance and in my opinion the most important part of the Assurance of Salvation is the testimony of the spirit with our spirits that we are the children of God. Now let me go back to that and put it like this because I do feel it's very important. [00:10:13]

The spirit beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. That's the ultimate ground of assurance in my own Spirit I'm assured of my salvation. I believe the scripture I am able to detect these evidences of the spirit in me as I read the first Epistle of John. [00:12:22]

The fact that we know that the holy spirit is in US is a guarantee of our ultimate salvation. Perfectly I mean by that what the scriptures often describe under the term Redemption. He of God is made unto us wisdom righteousness sanctification and Redemption that means the ultimate consummation including glorification itself. [00:14:19]

The presence of the Holy Spirit within us as a seal that is that guarantee to us now I mustn't stay too long with this but I am stressing it and emphasizing it partly for this reason that a reading the other day a book not long published in the United States on this doctrine of the Holy Spirit. [00:16:09]

The Holy Spirit therefore has been given to us by God in order that we might have some kind of an idea as to what awaits us when we arrive in glory. God is given us the first fruits you remember how the ancient people used to do they had a festival in connection with the first fruits. [00:22:47]

The Holy Spirit is the earnest of our inheritance until the Redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of his glory. Those are the two references in the books but there is a third and that is is in 2 Corinthians 5:5 which reads like this now he that ha wrought us for the selfsame thing is God. [00:20:22]

The Holy Spirit is the earnest of our inheritance until the Redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of his glory. Those are the two references in the books but there is a third and that is is in 2 Corinthians 5:5 which reads like this now he that ha wrought us for the selfsame thing is God. [00:20:22]

The Holy Spirit is the earnest of our inheritance until the Redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of his glory. Those are the two references in the books but there is a third and that is is in 2 Corinthians 5:5 which reads like this now he that ha wrought us for the selfsame thing is God. [00:20:22]

The Holy Spirit is the earnest of our inheritance until the Redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of his glory. Those are the two references in the books but there is a third and that is is in 2 Corinthians 5:5 which reads like this now he that ha wrought us for the selfsame thing is God. [00:20:22]

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Transcript
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