Parables from Ephesians 1 ~ Part Two

There is some interesting terminology that Paul uses in 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.

Paul is saying that when we first hear the gospel and are brought to a point of salvation where we put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ, that we are then sealed with the Holy Spirit. And this isn't just something that happens randomly, this is a promise that God fulfills every time someone comes to know Him.

He comes through on His promises.

Awesome, eh!?

Question: what does it mean to be sealed with the Holy Spirit?

Answer: it means that the Holy Spirit holds everything together about our lives.

Above is a picture of a sealed envelope. Nowadays we don't see envelopes sealed like this very often, instead we lick the adhesive and seal them like so. This, however, is a wax seal, and was used to secure the envelope. Most often you may see stickers or labels serving this purpose as well.

When Paul speaks of a believer being sealed with the Holy Spirit, this is the picture that comes to my mind.

The definition of a seal [not the animal] is:

1) anything that tightly or completely closes or secures a thing, as closures or fastenings for doors and railroad cars, adhesive stamps and tapes used to secure the flap of an envelope, etc.

2)ownership and security, together with destination

So we can only assume that the Holy Spirit secures us, and that when one comes a believer, the Holy Spirit has now taken ownership of them.

God holds everything about our lives together and He does that through fulfilling His promise to us of receiving the Holy Spirit.

YAY Holy Spirit! :]