A remarkable revelation of God is given to us in 2 Corinthians 1:22, Ephesians 1:13-14, 4:30, 2 Timothy 2:19 and Revelation 9:4. These verses speak of how God has put His wonderful seal on every believer. Ephesians 1:13-14 states: “…having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession…” The seal is said here to be the promised Holy Spirit.

The sealing work of the Holy Spirit is linked to our being God’s exclusive possession and to the security of being guaranteed a wonderful inheritance in Christ. Verse 13 above shows such a marvellous sealing by the Holy Spirit is received by faith in Jesus Christ.

In the original Greek of Ephesians 1:13, the verb “sealed” is a form of the word “sphragizo”. Bauer defines “schragizo” as “mark (with a seal) as a means of identification…so that the mark which denotes ownership also carries with it the protection of the owner”. [1] Earle comments: “The dominant idea of a seal is that it was a mark of ownership. When a person surrenders himself completely to Christ, to belong wholly to Him and no longer to be his own property then he is ‘sealed’ with the Holy Spirit as a sign that he belongs no more to himself but to God.” [2]

In ancient times, a seal was attached to an object to:

 

·         to guarantee the document or article was genuinely what its owner promised it to be (see Esther 3:12).

·         to express who owned it (see Song of Solomon 8:6).

·         to protect it from being harmed or illegally tampered with against the owner’s wishes. This related to its security and making sure it reached its intended destination.

 

In the verses, the revealed meanings of a seal express wonderful truths about born-again believers. God owns believers. He guarantees we are what He promises we are in Jesus Christ. He will protect us and will ensure we reach our intended destination – being with Him in heaven.

 

 

Bible Study Questions

 

1.         What did it mean in ancient times to attach a seal to something?

2.         Explain what it means to be sealed by God.