Through the Bible with Les Feldick
LESSON 1 * PART 2 * BOOK * 36
YOU ARE SEALED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE – PART 2
Now let’s get ready for this next lesson, and let me say that we covet your prayers every day. We’ll start this lesson in verse 14, but to show you where we’re coming from we need to read verse 13 again.
Ephesians 1:13
“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: (and remember that Gospel is that Christ died for your sins, was buried, and He rose from the dead.) in whom (Christ) also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with (or given that mark of ownership) that Holy Spirit of promise.”
The moment a person believes then God’s Spirit enters that individual, and then becomes the mark of ownership as well as the source of power for living. Now a lot of times when I make the point that we’re not under Law, but rather Grace, we’re under no demands to keep the commandments. When I say that, I get people saying then, “Well what are you, just sort of set loose, and set free?” No, here’s the difference. We now have the Holy Spirit that comes in, and he becomes our rudder He becomes what the Law was before. And so it doesn’t give us freedom to steal and covet, and all these other things that the Ten Commandants dealt with, because the Holy Spirit Himself takes care of that. I think that the moment we’re saved our want to is changed. Our whole design on life is changed, and this is what the world around us can not understand. Now coming into verse 14 the Holy Spirit of promise of verse 13 –
Ephesians 1:14a
“Which is the earnest…”
Or another good word for earnest is down payment. The word earnest here means exactly as we use it today in a transaction when we put down earnest money. In other words, we put enough down to guarantee that neither party is going to back out So that’s what the Lord has done here with the Holy Spirit, He has declared us as His, and to make sure that neither one of us backs out He has given us the mark and the power of the Holy Spirit –
Ephesians 1:14a
“Which is the earnest (or down payment) of our inheritance (which we looked at in the last lesson) until…”
There is going to come a point in time when the Holy Spirit’s indwelling us will no longer be necessary, and when will that be? When we come into His presence. In fact maybe we’d better look at it for a moment in II Thessalonians chapter 2. This is a long way from Ephesians I know, but we’re having so many questions at this time about this verse that it’s probably a good time to go ahead and explain it. The moment we’re saved as we saw in our last lesson, the Holy Spirit baptizes us into the Body of Christ, He indwells us, and becomes our mark of ownership. He will remain with us until we either leave this life or are taken out in the Rapture. This chapter in II Thessalonians is referring to that point in time when those who are alive and remain will be “Raptured” or caught up as the Scripture says in I Thessalonians chapter 4:17, to meet the Lord in the air. Now the question that keeps coming up all the time then is about verse 6.
II Thessalonians 2:6-7
“And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth (hindereth) will let, (hinder)until he be taken out of the way.”
So the question is always, “Who is the he that hinders? Some think it’s the Church, and some think it’s the Holy Spirit, well it’s both. Now let’s look at it by breaking the verse down.
II Thessalonians 2:6-7
“And now ye know what withholdeth (or is a dam in the river of iniquity) that he might be revealed in his time. 7. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth (hindereth) will let, (or continue to hinder) until he be taken out of the way.”
The Holy Spirit has always been the Omnipresence of the Godhead. Way back in Genesis 1:1-2, and in creation the Spirit moved upon the face of the water. So the Holy Spirit was there all the way up through the Old Testament, even though there’s not a lot written about the Holy Spirit. Then of course in Christ’s earthly ministry nothing is said about Him until He breathes on the Twelve when it was said, “receive ye the Holy Spirit.” Then He promised the Holy Spirit in John 14, that when He ascended the Holy Spirit would descend.
But we don’t get that concept of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit until it’s revealed in Paul’s writings. Then Paul makes it so plain as we saw in Ephesians that at the moment of salvation the Holy Spirit literally comes in and dwells within us. Now listen, no lost person can ever come to a knowledge of salvation without the work of the Holy Spirit. You know there can’t always be a Christian every time that someone is ready to be saved. So the Holy Spirit, even though He is indwelling us, is still Omnipresence around the earth. So in verse 7, “the until” is when the Body of Christ, the Saints are taken up in the Rapture.
II Thessalonians 2:7b
“…until he be taken out of the way.”
At that time the role of the Holy Spirit indwelling us ends because it’s no longer necessary, because when the Rapture happens we’ll already be in the presence of the Son. So what happens to the Holy Spirit? He remains on the earth as the Omnipresence Spirit of God, because you want to remember during those 7 years of Tribulation the 144,000 young Jews are still going to be proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and that also will need the power of the Holy Spirit. So now look at this verse again, but now more carefully.
II Thessalonians 2:6.
“And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.”
It’s the power of the Holy Spirit that is holding back the forces of iniquity through the presence of believers. Now just stop and think, “What if all of a sudden the Christians were totally removed from the scene?” There would be nobody to oppose the wickedness. Nobody to oppose the breakdown in society, now can you imagine what it would be like? So it’s the Christian influence that still keeps the semblance of sanity on the world. So we are a withholding power because of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling. Now verse 7:
II Thessalonians 2:7
“For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth (or hinders) will let, (or hinder) until he be taken out of the way.”
In other words, when we go up in the Rapture, then the restraining power of the Holy Spirit ends, and we go on into the presence of the Lord, no longer needing the indwelling Spirit, and He remains as the Omnipresence Spirit on God on the earth even during the Tribulation. It has to be that way, or the 144,000 would never be able to win the multitudes that we know that they’re going to. So remember that you and I as believers are the restrainers with the Spirit’s power. But when we’re taken out, the Holy Spirit can withdraw from us, because we’ll be then in the Son’s presence, but the Holy Spirit will remain on the earth to fulfill the work of the Spirit during those 7 years. Now that was all free for nothing. Now coming back to Ephesians chapter 1, looking at verse 14 again.
Ephesians 1:14
“Which is the earnest of our inheritance until (that moment in time when) the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”
Now what’s going to happen the moment Christ returns in the Rapture to meets us in the air, and we suddenly have a new body? Well all of a sudden we’re going to have a redeemed body, because this old body we now have is the one that Christ paid the price for, but it will be changed and it will become a glorified body like His resurrected body. Now on ahead with me to the Book of Philippians chapter 3, and let’s look at this new body, because it’s all part of the redemption process. Now at salvation this body of flesh was not redeemed.Now that may shock a few people, but this old body of flesh as a believer is just as prone to sickness and disease as it ever was. Christians get sick, Christians die, I mean a lot of people think that you should be able to heal them and they’d live forever. But you see that would fly in the face of everything in this Book. Everybody except those in the Rapture is going to have to die! But we are redeemed in the area of the soul and spirit the moment we’re saved. That has been purchased and it belongs to God, and of course the Holy Spirit is the down payment of that, but the body will not be redeemed until we get the new one. Now come back to Philippians chapter 3, and dropping down to verse 20 and 21. These are verses that we’ve looked at several times in the past.
Philippians 3:20-21
“For our conversation (citizenship) is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21. Who (Christ will) shall change our vile body, (this body of corruption and flesh) that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, (isn’t that plain?) according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.”
It’s not going to be a problem for God to suddenly gives us a brand new resurrected glorified body like His was after His resurrection. Now let’s go even further and see what John says about this new body back in his little letter of I John, chapter 3. Now this reference is also so plainly put.
I John 3:1-2
“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons (or children. I personally like born ones) of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2. Beloved, now (that is in this like now on the this earth) are we the sons of God, (John is writing to believers also) and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: (in other words there’s a lot of things out there that we don’t understand.) but we know that when he shall appear, (in other words when we meet Him in the clouds of the air)we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”
Now what does that say? We’re going to have the same kind of body that He left from the Mount of Olives with, the same kind of a resurrected, glorified body. Now let’s come all the way back to Romans chapter 8, and this backs up what I’ve just said. At salvation we were redeemed in the soul and spirit, that’s all settled. In the realm of the invisible, yes we are redeemed we’ve already been bought, we already belong to Him, we’re already settled in the heavenlies, but only in the realm of the invisible. This old body is still here. We’re still putting up against all the things of this life. But at the final redemption when the body the redeemed then of course we’re fit for eternity. Now let’s begin at verse 18.
Romans 8:18
“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.“
Now of course the apostle Paul knew what it was to suffer. Probably like no other human being except Christ Himself. Paul suffered, and suffered, and suffered some more all for the sake of the Gospel. So Paul could say with a clear conscience, “That it was nothing compared to the glory that’s coming.” Now verse 19.
Romans 8:19-20
“For the earnest (sincere, down right) expectation of the creature (creation) waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20. For the creature (creation) was made subject to vanity, (that is the curse) not willingly (in other words, creation didn’t cause the fall, but rather Adam did. So when that happened creation fell with him.) but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,” (by virtue of the Redeemer)
Now always remember when you read a verse like this, just flash back and realize how soon after the fall did God already announce the remedy of the curse? Well the next verse almost. In Genesis chapter 3 we have the fall, but in Genesis 3:15 we have the promise of the redeemer immediately. Just as soon as Adam fell the curse fell, and God came right back with the promise of a remedy, “The Redeemer!” the seed of the woman that would come. Now that’s what Paul is talking about here. Now verse 21.
Romans 8:21a
“Because the creature (creation) itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption (the curse.)
Yes one day the planet is going to be free of the curse, it’s all going to revert back as it was in the Garden of Eden, and all you have to do is just read Isaiah chapter 11. Especially you animal lovers. I’m not going to see the animals I’ve had down here, but there’s going to be new one in that wonderful kingdom. And those animals are going to be just as easy to love as they were. Now looking at verse 21 again.
Romans 8:21-23
“Because the creature (creation) itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. (under the curse) 23. And not only they, but ourselves also, (even we as believers.) which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit the redemption of our body.”
So see we’re waiting for the redemption our body. Now for a moment let’s go to I Thessalonians chapter 5, and we’ll drop down to verse 23.
I Thessalonians 5:23
“And the very God of peace sanctify (or set you apart) you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
In other words does any part of Scripture recognize a human being that is not in all three parts? No. We are never a valid enmity without all three of them together. That’s why when a person dies he becomes useless, because the three become interrupted. The two go on up into glory, the soul and spirit go into the presence of the Lord. Where’s the body? In the grave, it’s useless, but in resurrection that new body that comes out of the grave is reunited with the soul and spirit, and so once again what are we? A complete entity, we are then a complete person, we’ll be body, soul and sprit. But at that time it will be a new glorified body like the Lord Jesus’ body of His post resurrection. I’ve always said, that if you want to know what our new body is going to be like then just read about the Lord in those 40 days after His resurrection, and until His ascension.
The Lord looked like anybody else, He didn’t look like some weirdo from outer space. He walked with them, He talked with them, He ate fish with them on the shores of Galilee. And as He stood on the Mount of Olives they were standing there conversing with Him, and unbeknown to the eleven, of what was going to happen, He suddenly took off and they watched Him go. Well they didn’t watch some ghost, or some spirit, but rather they watched Him go bodily. Now for a moment turn to Colossians chapter 2 and verse 8 and 9.
Colossians 2:8-9
“Beware (be on guard) lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiment of the world, and not after Christ. (why?) 9. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”
In other words, when He left, and went into glory, He went in that resurrected body, and the disciples saw Him go. When He returns, the Book of Zechariah says, “and His feet shall stand on that same Mount of Olives.” Now ghosts don’t have feet, an invisible spirit wouldn’t have feet, but He has been up there for now 2000 years in that resurrected body, and He’s going to return bodily. We’re going to have a body like Him when He returns, we’re going to see him John tells us, “as He is” and that’s what we’re going to be like. So if you ever wonder, “Am I going to float around in some invisible state?” Heavens no! And on top of that we’re all going to recognize each other in our new bodies. Now I don’t know how, because I don’t think we’ll look like we do now, but we’re going to know each other, and it’s going to be a full knowledge, a full understanding that we’ll know every believer that’s up there by name.
Now let’s close this lesson by coming back to Ephesians, and remember the Holy Spirit, the Pneuma, becomes the earnest which now is the Pneuma Hagion, and I guess I should put it this way – The Pneuma is the giver, and the Hagion is the gift. I like that concept, because you have to keep them sorted out when the Scripture talks about the Holy Spirit. If it’s the indwelling person, then it’s the Pneuma the giver. If it’s talking about something that is the power of the Holy Spirit then it’s the Hagion the gift.