Transformed in Christ: Sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians - Part 10)

Greetings, brother and sisters. Let us turn our hearts and minds to the truths laid bare in the sermon "Sealed by the Holy Spirit" delivered by Pastor Sam Merigala, wherein he explain the Apostle Paul's letter to the Ephesians. Let us, as students of the Scripture, prayerfully consider the rich theological tapestry he has laid before us, drawing from the deep wells of Ephesians verses 1:13-14. In this teaching, we are presented with a magnificent tapestry of our salvation, woven with three golden threads: we are chosen by God the Father, redeemed by God the Son, and sealed by God the Holy Spirit.

Pastor Sam Merigala, masterfully unpacks the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer, by illuminating the sequence of our salvation as described by the Apostle. It is a divine process that commences when a person first hears the "word of truth," which is the gospel itself - the good news of salvation. Upon hearing, the next step is to believe in Him, that is, in Christ. It is only after hearing and believing that one is then "sealed with the promised Holy Spirit". This sealing is the third great affirmation of God's purpose for His people.

The sermon beautifully articulates the distinct yet unified work of the Triune God in securing our redemption:

  1. Chosen by the Father: Our place in God's plan begins with His sovereign choice.
  2. Redeemed by the Son: We are then redeemed by Christ, liberated from bondage and imprisonment. This redemption was secured "through his blood," signifying the immense cost of our deliverance - Christ's violent, sacrificial death on the cross. As Paul asserts in his letter to the Galatians, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us".
  3. Sealed by the Spirit: Finally, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit, which serves as an assurance of God's active presence in the lives of His people.

Pastor Merigala's sermon directs our focus to three profound designations given to the Holy Spirit in Ephesians 1:13-14: He is our promise, our seal, and our guarantee.

1. The Promised Holy Spirit

The first great truth Pastor Merigala illuminates is that the Holy Spirit is a promise. This is not a casual promise, but one deeply rooted in the soil of the Old Testament and brought to glorious fruition in the New Covenant. God spoke through His prophets, like Ezekiel and Joel, foretelling a day when He would pour out His very Spirit upon His people, not merely resting on them, but dwelling within them (Ezekiel 36:27, Joel 2:28). This indwelling Spirit would fundamentally change their hearts and empower them to walk in His ways.

Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, between His resurrection and ascension, reaffirmed this covenant promise, instructing His disciples to wait for the "gift my Father promised" (Acts 1:4-5, 8). He assured them He would not leave them as orphans but would send the Helper, the Spirit of Truth (John 14:18, John 16:7).

The public fulfillment of these ancient promises began spectacularly on the Day of Pentecost. Pastor Merigala rightly teaches that Pentecost was a monumental event, a public marker of the transition from the old to the new covenant. It inaugurated the "day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2), the era where the future life of God's kingdom breaks into our present age. For those who are in Christ, "the end of the ages has come" (1 Corinthians 10:11), and the Spirit is the agent of this new reality.

Pastor Merigala further explains a profound transaction that took place upon Christ's ascension. As Simon Peter preached on that Pentecost day, the exalted Christ received the promised Holy Spirit from the Father and then poured Him out upon the church (Acts 2:33). This act fulfilled the Father's promise not only to His people but also to His Son, the Messiah. Through the Spirit, the Father fulfills His promise to Christ to "make the nations your inheritance" (Psalm 2:8), thereby empowering the Great Commission and ensuring that in Abraham's seed - that is, in Christ - all the nations of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:3, Galatians 3:13-14).

2. The Sealing of the Spirit

Secondly, Pastor Merigala explains that the Holy Spirit is God's seal. In the ancient world, a seal was a mark of ownership and authenticity. Just as a rancher would brand his cattle, God marks His people as His own treasured possession (1 Peter 2:9). However, unlike a physical, external brand, God's seal is internal; He places His Spirit within our hearts.

This indwelling is a central theme in the Apostle Paul's writings. He reminds us that "if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him" (Romans 8:9). It is this same Spirit who bears witness with our spirit, confirming that we are truly God's children (Romans 8:16). This sealing is not a temporary mark. We are sealed "for the day of redemption" (Ephesians 4:30), meaning God has marked us and will faithfully keep us secure until our salvation is complete. This gives believers a profound assurance of their privileged status as God's redeemed people.

3. The Guarantee of the Spirit

Thirdly, and perhaps most encouragingly, the sermon highlights the Holy Spirit as God's guarantee. The Greek word used here, arrabōn, is a commercial term meaning a deposit, a down payment, or a first installment that secures a contract. Pastor Merigala draws a helpful distinction: an engagement ring is a promise of marriage, but it isn't part of the marriage itself. The Holy Spirit, however, is different. He is not just a promise of our future inheritance; He is the first installment of that inheritance.

In giving us His Spirit, God gives us a foretaste of the glory to come. The joy, peace, and love we experience now through the Spirit are a small fraction, a first taste, of the eternal joy we will experience fully in the age to come. The Spirit brings the future into the present, allowing us to begin enjoying our everlasting possession right now. He is the "deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession" (Ephesians 1:14).

The Ultimate Purpose: The Praise of God's Glory

Finally, Pastor Merigala leads us from the "how" of our salvation to the "why." How did we become God's people? By His will. But why did He make us His people? The sermon resoundingly answers: "for the praise of his glory". This phrase echoes like a refrain throughout Ephesians 1. We were destined to be His children "to the praise of his glorious grace" (v. 5-6). We were appointed to live "for the praise of his glory" (v. 12). And He sealed us for the final redemption of His possession, all "to the praise of his glory" (v. 14).

The glory of God is the revelation of who He is, and the "glory of his grace" is His self-disclosure as a gracious, saving God. Therefore, to live for His glory means we worship Him with our words and deeds and, in so doing, cause others to see and praise Him as well. This God-centered purpose stands in stark contrast to the self-centeredness of the fallen world. The Christian life is one of being turned inside out, where our will is submitted to His will and our appetite for self-glory is replaced by a passion for His glory. Everything begins in His will and finds its ultimate purpose in His glory.

Pastor Sam Merigala's sermon provides a rich and detailed exposition of the Holy Spirit's role in our salvation, drawing from Ephesians 1. Here are the central points for our edification:

  • The Trinity in Salvation: Our salvation is a unified work of the Triune God. The Father chooses us, the Son redeems us through His blood shed on the cross, and the Holy Spirit seals us, assuring us of our inheritance.
  • The Spirit as God's Promise: The Holy Spirit is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies (Ezekiel 36:27, Joel 2:28) and the specific promise of the Father and the Son. His coming at Pentecost inaugurated the new covenant era, the "day of salvation".
  • The Spirit as God's Seal: The indwelling Holy Spirit is God's internal mark of ownership, signifying that believers are His treasured possession. This seal provides profound assurance and security until the final day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30).
  • The Spirit as God's Guarantee (Arrabōn): More than just a promise, the Spirit is the actual first installment and down payment of our future inheritance. Through His presence, we receive a foretaste of the full glory that awaits us in heaven.
  • The Ultimate Goal is God's Glory: The entire plan of salvation, from election to final redemption, is designed for one ultimate purpose: "to the praise of his glory". Our lives are meant to reflect the glory of His grace, moving the focus from ourselves to Him.

Let us take these truths to heart. We have not been left alone. The Spirit of God Himself dwells within us as a promise fulfilled, a seal of ownership, and a guarantee of the glorious inheritance that awaits us.  We who were made for praise will only find true satisfaction when we are praising the Triune God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - for His mighty work of salvation. May we, therefore, live each day dependent on His will and dedicated to the praise of His glorious grace. Amen. 

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