Book 36

 

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.

 

Through the Bible with Les Feldick

LESSON 1 * PART 1 * BOOK 36

YOU ARE SEALED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE

Now as we begin book 36 we’ll pick up in verse 13. Now the Book of Ephesians is a doctrinal Book – that is a step up from Paul’s earlier Books of Romans, Galatians, and Corinthians. Ephesians comes into that deeper area of our position in Christ. Few believers realize where we are positionally, and how we can rest on it that it’s not just for this life, but for all eternity. And I’ll remind you that the prepositional phrase “in Christ, in Whom, in Him,” that I’m always referring to, is recorded over 90 times in Ephesians, and is always in reference to our position.

So as we’ve been coming through these first 12 verses, this is what Paul has been showing. As a result of our glorious salvation by faith, and faith alone, God has not only placed us into the Body of Christ, but He has also positioned us in the heavenlies. My oldest son once asked, “Well how do we know that’s where we are?” Well it’s by faith, because we don’t have a diploma on the wall, or anything we can put our hands on, but rather we go by what the Word says. And the Word tells us that this is where we are. So by faith we understand our position is now in the heavenlies, and we’re just pilgrims passing through. As the song writer once wrote, “This world is not my home, we’re just passing through.” Paul tells us in Philippians –

Philippians 3:20a

“For our conversation (or citizenship) is in heaven;…” For all eternity our position is in the heavenlies. Now as we begin today’s study, just for a little review let’s come in at verse 11.

Ephesians 1:11

“In whom also we have (already) obtained an inheritance, being predestinated (God’s sovereign way of doing things) according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:” And of course we digressed on that quite a bit in one of our previous lessons. Now verse 12. All of this has been done on our behalf –

Ephesians 1:12a

“That we should be to the praise of his glory,…”

In other words none of this is for our benefit is it? None of this has been done to glorify us. This has all been done that we in turn might glorify Him. I always like to go back, and I’m not much of a catechism expert, but I remember one of the questions of one of the old Heidelberg catechism which started out with this question. “What is the chief end of man?”And the answer to that question was what? “To glorify God, and enjoy Him forever!” Now I like that answer, because absolutely that’s the whole purpose of man being on the scene. And so Paul puts it in verse 12 then –

Ephesians 1:12

“That we should be to the praise of his glory, (we) who first trusted in Christ.” Not a ritual, not a denomination, but rather “in Christ.” Now in verse 13 we’ll start with some new ground.

Ephesians 1:13

“In whom (Christ) ye also trusted,…” Now in the newer translations the word trusted is italicized, which means it’s been added. I checked with the original, and sure enough the original does not have that word in there. Neither does it have the two words after `trusted.’ So from the original let’s just read like it says, and then we’ll come back and look at the KJV.

Ephesians 1:13

“In whom having heard the word the truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom having believed, you were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.” Now that’s the way the original Greek was written. Now in the King James Version they’re not destroying the concept by any means, but when they say then, “In whom ye also trusted,” or as it was implied in the original, having heard.

Ephesians 1:13a

“In whom ye also trusted,…” Always remember these words that are synonymous in Scripture. Trust is usually used in the Old Testament, but it’s the same thing as believing. Then you also have the word faith which is believing. So I always make the point that trust, faith, and believe all basically mean the same thing, so you can use them synonymously. Verse 13 again.

Ephesians 1:13a

“In whom (Christ) ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth,…”

Now you see we’re living in a day and age where truth is almost being stomped into the ground as irrelevant, and that there are no absolutes. We’re more or less living in a society of instant gratification, and the whole concept that as long as you don’t kill someone in the process then go ahead and enjoy it. But you see that’s not what truth declares. Truth of course is manifested by the Word of God, and it’s to that Word we always have to fly to when we see these things coming upon us. So having heard –

Ephesians 1:13b

“…the word of truth…”

Not from some TV preacher, not from Les Feldick, not from somebody else, but having heard God’s Word. Now that reminds me of a verse in Romans. I didn’t intend to do this, but that’s not unusual, as I never know where I’m going to go next, because I just depend on the Holy Spirit to lead in these lessons. Come back to Romans chapter 10 for a moment, and this is in the light of having heard the Word of truth. Here Paul puts it so explicitly. Drop on down to verse 14, and we may have even looked at this in the last lesson.

Romans 10:14a

“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?…” Do you see the connection? Flip back to Ephesians again, because this is real Bible study. Ephesians says-

Ephesians 1:13a

“In whom ye have trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth,…” And how flip back to Romans where it says –

Romans 10:14b

“…and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? shall they hear without a preacher?” (or proclaimer)

Romans 10:15

“And how shall they preach, (proclaim) except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! Now verse 17 –

Romans 10:17

“So then faith (trust, believing) cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

I always make the comment, can you believe something you have never heard? Can you hear something that’s never been said? This seem mundane I know, but listen, this is foundational. God did not say everything we need to know back in Genesis. You have to realize that as these Old Testament patriarchs were coming up through Scripture, they never heard some of these things that we’re hearing, because God hadn’t spoken it yet, but rather He had kept it secret as Paul said. So always be reminded that you can’t believe something that God hasn’t said. And when you do hear it, He expects us to believe it. Now back to Romans for a moment. Looking at verse 17 again we find.

Romans 10:17

“So then faith (or believing) cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Or in simpler terms, “When God Speaks It!” Now we know that God speaks through the printed page, through the writers, and in this case, through the apostle Paul. Since Paul is the apostle to us Gentiles, then he’s the one we’d better be listening to. You know we’re getting a lot of people that are now able to see that, and there’s still a lot that are confused as to why I constantly empathize Paul. Always remember that Paul is the apostle of the Gentiles. While we’re here in Romans we might as well show you that in chapter 11. So this is the basis of my constantly emphasizing that for you and I today we have to go by what Paul writes, not what Peter says, not what Jesus said in His earthly ministry, but what does Paul write. And remember Paul gets this by revelation from the crucified risen Lord in glory.

Romans 11:13a

“For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles,…”

Now if Paul is the apostle to the Gentiles, and Peter and the eleven were the apostles of Israel, and Israel was under the law, 2 + 2 makes 4, this and this makes that, so we’d better understand that we don’t go by what Peter, James and John said to Israel under the law, but rather we’d better go by what this man says to us under Grace. Can you see that? That’s where the difference come in. We are totally under Grace. Now Ephesians verse 13 again, Paul says –

Ephesians 1:13a

“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, (and what is the word of truth?) the gospel of your salvation:…”

And where do we find the Gospel by which we are saved? Turn with me to I Corinthians 15:1-4. I’m constantly using this for people who call. Now this is the Gospel, and you have to know that this is what God has now said. This is the Word that has been proclaimed by Paul, and we’d better believe it, or we’re in trouble. You can’t go around this, you can’t go over or under it, but rather face this head on, and for goodness sake don’t try to add anything to it, just believe it for salvation!

I Corinthians 15:1

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;” Now that’s our position. You’re not out there floating around from one doctrine to another, or like a ship without a rudder. We are positioned by virtue of our having believed the Gospel. Verse 2.

I Corinthians 15:2

“By which (the Gospel) also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory (or understand) what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.” You have to understand what the Word of truth is all about. Now here comes the Gospel of truth.

I Corinthians 15:3-4

“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, (we understand that from Galatians chapter 1, Paul received this Gospel from heaven. It had been kept secret in the mind of God until Paul received it. He received our Gospel from the ascended Lord in Glory. He received these basic truths, and here it is.) how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, 4. And that he w was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to scriptures;”

Now that’s the Gospel. That’s the truth, and anything that compromises the Gospel is no longer the truth. And if that happens then Paul says in Galatians chapter 1, it becomes a perverted Gospel. But we stick to the truth, and let the chips fall where they may. Now coming back to Ephesians chapter 1, and verse 13 again. This is such a powerful verse and has so much in it, especially in light of what’s out there in Christendom today. This just blows so much of it right out of the saddle. Why? Not because of so much as what it says, as what it doesn’t say! As you read this verse constantly ask yourself this question. “Is what I’ve been taught growing up in this verse?” And I’m sure most of you will have to answer no. But this verse just says, “after you believed.” I’m not going to say all the things that most denominations tell us we must do for salvation, but rather I’ll let you think back and see if they have taught you correctly. If what you’ve been taught isn’t in this verse then it’s superficial, it’s chaff, and you’d better just blow it away. Here is the basic truth –

Ephesians 1:13a

“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: (as we looked at in I Corinthians 15:1-4 in which Christ is the center. He’s the one who died. He’s the one who was buried, and He’s the one who rose from the dead.) in whom also after that ye believed,…” (you placed your trust, your faith in that Gospel, and that was it.)

You see everybody tries to complicate it, and that’s what happens when you try to mix what Peter taught and what Paul taught. Law and Grace cannot mix, and I think that’s a Satanic ploy. Oh there’s nothing the Devil likes better than to make you think, “Well it’s so difficult.” I remember when I was teaching down in San Antonio several years back there was a lady in attendance that I knew was having a lot of problems. She wanted the assurance of salvation, but her religion had just so put her in bondage that she just couldn’t see it. So after one of my classes she came up and talked to me all alone, and I’ll never forget our conversation. I told her all she had to do is believe that as a sinner Christ died for you, and rose from the dead! And when you believe that, God does everything else. Well she looked at me with the most exasperating look, and said, “But Les that’s too simple.”

And isn’t that exactly what most people think? “Hey it’s got to be tougher than that.” But you see it isn’t. It is so simple that even a 5 year old can understand it. 90 year old people can understand it, and every body in between can understand it, but oh you see the religionist, and the theologians, and the powers that be have just loaded it all down with all these other requirements, you’ve got to come this way, you’ve got to come that way, you’ve got to do this, you’ve got to do that, but listen, this verse exposes all that. This verse says it’s just as simple as ABC. That when you come as a lost sinner and you believe the truth of the Gospel then God does everything else, we don’t. Now let’s finish the verse, and we’ll see the first thing that God does when He sees us believe the Gospel.

Ephesians 1:13b

“…ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,”

Now this word sealed, and again I’m not a language expert, I’m not a Greek scholar, but I know this much from my little feeble attempts of studying language that this word “sealed”goes all the way back into antiquity, and it was a mark of ownership. If a king put his seal on something, it meant it belonged to the empire. If someone bought a piece of land, they would put their seal on that title deed, it denoted ownership. This seal never lost it’s meaning all the way back through Scripture, or ahead through Scripture. In fact let’s turn to Jude for a moment. Here you have almost the same word, at least it comes out of the same root if I’m not mistaken.

Jude 1:1

“Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:”

See nobody knows better than women who can fruit and vegetables what that word means. That means that once that jar or can is sealed, my that food is good for who know how long. It’s preserved, it’s sealed. So once God has sealed us, we are not just His for a week or two, but for how long? Forever! Now I know some people don’t like that, but I can’t help it because the Word declares it. We are sealed forever, but we do have to make sure we get into that believing position to be sealed. So looking at verse 13 again in Ephesians.

Ephesians 1:13

“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,”

Being a cattleman, I like to use the Word, “branded.” When that critter is branded, there’s a mark of ownership that you cannot take away. You might be able to mark it up a little bit, but you can’t take it away. And here it’s the same thing, the moment we believe the Gospel the Holy Spirit made us a mark of God’s ownership. Now it’s interesting that in the Greek the word “Spirit” is the Pneuma. And the moment we believe we receive the “Pneuma,” the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is the One who has become our brand, He is the One who denotes ownership that we belong to God. Now in the short time we have left let’s begin verse 14. Once the Holy Spirit has been placed within us as God’s mark of ownership, then it goes into the other part of the Spirit works, and He becomes the earnest money or the down payment of our inheritance.

Ephesians 1:14a

“Which is the earnest of our inheritance…” Now in order to compare Scripture with Scripture let’s compare verse 14 and 11, this is essential for good Bible study.

Ephesians 1:11a

“In whom also we have (already) obtained an inheritance,…” Well what’s the inheritance? Now that requires us to go all the way back to the Book of Romans chapter 8, and dropping down to verse 14. It says the same thing only in a little different way.

Romans 8:14

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, (the Pneuma) they are the sons (or the children, or born ones) of God. It doesn’t say they might be, but rather they already are. Now verse 15.

Romans 8:15-17a

” For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16. The Spirit (the Pneuma) itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ;…”

Now come back to Ephesians. So what is our inheritance? For that which is a part of the One who has purchased us and made us His own. In other words everything that belongs to Christ also belongs to us, and that’s our inheritance. And it’s all because we believe the Gospel. That’s where it starts, then God moves in, and He seals us with that Holy Spirit of promise, and then as a gift of that Holy Spirit He gives us the inheritance. Now the next word for that next verse is the Pneuma Hagion. The Pneuma Hagion to be translated over into English means? That power from high.