THE SEAL OF PROMISE

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. (Ephesians 1:13-14 ESV)

The seal of promise is the life-giving Holy Spirit who gives new life to the redeemed. The Holy Spirit sanctifies us to make us more holy as we live out our lives. He guides us into all truth. (John 16:12-15 ESV) He is the assurance of our birth right in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is our promised Helper. (John 14:15 ESV) It is the Holy Spirit who empowers us to do various kinds of ministries. (Acts 1:8) He empowers our prayers. (Romans 8:26) The Holy Spirit empowers us to overcome spiritual opposition as we carry out our callings and God’s work in our lives. (Ephesians 6:10-18 ESV) He is our instructor and helps us to remember the teachings of Jesus. (John 14:26 ESV) The Holy Spirit also brings us conviction of sin; “And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.” (John 16:8-11 ESV) John writes that it is by Him we know that we belong to God: “By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.” (1 John 4:13 ESV) “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” (John 14:16-17 ESV) The Greek word translated “Helper” or “Counselor” or “Comforter” is parakletos. Parakletos means “one called to the side of another”. In the verse above you can see how this phrase may be translated “Helper”, “Comforter”, or “Counselor”. The Parakletos is the Holy Spirit: The third member of the Trinity. Jesus, during His presence on earth, was our Helper, Counselor, and Comforter and more; now He has sent us the Holy Spirit to finish His mission and so we will never be alone. The ministry of the Holy Spirit, in coordination with the Word of God, will result in a life of fruitfulness and power – all to the honor and glory of Jesus Christ. We must continually seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance and power if we are to express the loveliness of Christ and the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. If Christ is our Savior, we should pray for rivers of living water (the Holy Spirit) to flow out from our hearts. (John 7:38 ESV) All who have this water will never thirst again. (John 4:13-15 ESV)