SATURDAY, APRIL 8
1 Corinthians 1:4-9
Ephesians 1:13-14

"I thank my God always
on your behalf…"

SEALING AND ANOINTING OF THE SPIRIT
(from Theology for Every Christian by Tow and Khoo)

"Paul speaks of the actual presence of the Spirit in the life of God’s people as a ‘seal’ or mark of identification. In 2 Corinthians 1:21-22, Paul refers to ‘he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.’ …The actual presence of the Spirit is a pledge of future blessings.

Twice in the epistle to the Ephesians the actual presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of a Christian is referred to as the ‘seal’ of God (Eph 1:13, 4:30). Although the Holy Spirit is not directly mentioned in Revelation 7:2-4, this is doubtless the meaning of the ‘seal of the living God’ in the faces of God’s people.

The sealing of the Spirit also means that we are eternally secure in Christ (Eph 4:30). When God’s people are said to be ‘sealed’ by His Spirit, it means that they are His possession – they belong to Him. The word ‘seal’ denotes ownership. The Lord has bought us with a price. That price was Christ’s shed blood on the cross (Eph 1:14, Acts 20:28). God owns us completely, and we are indebted to Him eternally…

There is an aspect of the anointing of the Spirit that concerns service and not salvation. The indwelling of the Spirit and salvific anointing (1 John 2:20, 27) that comes with it at the time of regeneration is permanent and can never be removed. But the anointing of the Spirit which pertains to service is temporary and can be taken away…. These two aspects (i.e., for salvation and for service) of the Spirit’s anointing must be clearly distinguished. The anointing of the Spirit for salvation speaks of the Spirit’s residence within the person (i.e. indwelling, sealing), while the anointing of the Spirit for service speaks of His ministry upon the person (i.e., enabling, empowering)."

THOUGHT: The Holy Spirit is the seal of my salvation.
PRAYER: Grant me a full assurance of my salvation, O Lord!