Isaiah - Verse By Verse

Walking through Ephesians - Day 13

versebyverse | October 28, 2007 16:45

Thought:  To me, it is clear that the Holy Spirit participates in our choice for Christ and comes to indwell us at the time of our salvation.  God does all the work!

Question:  Have you heard and believed the gospel and been marked and sealed by the Holy Spirit?

Scripture:  Ephesians 1:13 (NIV):  "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.  Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,"

How does eternal life come to us?  First, we hear the scriptures, the Word, the gospel (good news of Jesus' life).  Second, we believe it.  If we believe, then we immediately are marked, and sealed into permanent salvation.  Salvation is not kept up to date, as it were, from that point on, by our behaviors being kept in line.  No.  We are saved by belief and we are kept saved by the sealed promise of the Holy Spirit.  What promise is this?  The Holy Spirit enters us when we believe.  He stays, like a seal showing permanence, privacy and ownership over the flap of a letter's envelope.  This seal, however, cannot be tampered with or removed.  God promises to own us from that point on.  Therefore our salvation hinges not on our behaviors but on God's promise.  Is God good for His promises?  I think so!  Can we ever behave well enough to earn our own salvation?  I don't think so!  "Only believe--only believe!"  That's what salvation is.  This "believing" includes us in Christ, we are told here.  Here Paul again uses the term "in Christ."  We get "in Christ" by believing, we stay "in Christ" by abiding in that same place we entered to believe, that is, by agreeing with God we needed a Savior--by confession and repentance of sin.  To be "in Christ" is to be sinless by His blood over us and dependent on His blood day by day.

Prayer:  Father, thank You for "covering all the bases" with Your thorough salvation! You've given the gospel, helped us to believe it, marked us out as Yours and sealed us with Your Holy Spirit.  Praise You, God!  Amen.

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