Sealed With the Holy Spirit

Pause & Reflect

Paul tells believers that after hearing and believing the gospel, they were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. In the ancient world, a seal could communicate ownership, authenticity and security. Paul then describes the Spirit as the guarantee of our inheritance. Our assurance is therefore not built upon maintaining a constant spiritual feeling. Some days you may feel deeply aware of God. Other days your emotions may be flat. The gospel remains true. God's promises do not become less reliable because your feelings fluctuate. The Spirit points us toward the certainty of what God has promised to complete. This does not encourage complacency. Genuine assurance should produce gratitude, worship and holy living. But it does free us from constantly asking whether one difficult day means God has abandoned us. God finishes what He begins.