Notes compiled by Marty Zide and Steve McAtee
The sealing ministry of the Holy Spirit is that which preserves all true believers until the redemption of their bodies which totally completes their salvation.
Three times in the New Testament the Holy Spirit is represented as a seal of the believer’s redemption. His presence indwelling the believer is the sign and seal of the ultimate fulfillment of God’s redemptive purpose in that individual. The word “seal” indicates security, safety, ownership, recognition, etc. When a king put his seal on something it identified who it belonged to and that others needed to keep their hands off of the object having the seal.`
2 Cor 1:21-22 - Now He who establishes us with you in Messiah and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.
Eph 1:13-14 - In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.
Eph 4:30 - Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
It is clearly seen by these verses that all believers are sealed by the Holy Spirit. All believers are potentially able to grieve the Holy Spirit, the reason being is because all believers are sealed with Him. It’s not just a select few who are exhorted to not grieve the Holy Spirit, but rather it is an exhortation directed to all believers.
The point of greatest significance in the sealing ministry of the Holy Spirit is the eternal security of the believer. The seal guarantees our security. He is given with a view of keeping believers safe unto the day of redemption. This is the time of complete deliverance from all sin. Our security does not rest in our power to keep ourselves saved, but rather in rests in the power of God.
1 Pet 1:3-5 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus the Messiah, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus the Messiah from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Remember the seal of the Holy Spirit is given as a pledge of our inheritance. A “pledge” is similar to a down payment. It’s like an engagement ring that promises something more is to come. All of this points to our eternal security.
Eph 1:13-14 - In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.
Jude 24 - Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy.
Heb 7:25 - Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
From the time that we are saved until we experience the full redemption of our bodies, we are kept safe by the seal of the Holy Spirit. All that was originally given to the Son by the Father will arrive safely in heaven.
Rom 8:23 - And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.
Phil 3:20-21 - For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus the Messiah; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.
John 17:11-12 - I am no longer in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are. While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and not one of them perished but the son of perdition, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.
Coming Next -There is another vital ministry of the Holy Spirit that every believer has the potential of experiencing.