Ephesians 1 - Sealed

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Ephesians 1 

​This life can often feel very unstable. Things can change on a dime. It can feel like everything is crumbling around us and we wonder if we can rely or believe anything. And the devil masterfully capitalizes on this, planting seeds of doubt. We start to wonder if maybe it is the same with God; maybe He and His promises are also unreliable. We start to wonder if we really are saved and forgiven and secure in eternity with Him.
 
Steven Cole says, “The enemy knows that if he can stir up doubts about your salvation, you will not glorify God as you should.”
 
Paul tells the Ephesians that this is an area we can have certainty. He says, “In him you also, when you HEARD the word of truth, the GOSPEL of your salvation, and BELIEVED in him, were SEALED with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the GUARANTEE of our INHERITANCE until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:13-14)
 
Paul wants us to know that God is different. God is consistent. God is reliable. Who God says He is and what He says He will do will come to pass. And we have this seal, this guarantee on God’s promise. A seal that represents ownership, authenticity, approval, authority, security, and protection. A seal that says, “this one here…this one belongs to me.”
 
God wants to seal in faith and seal out unbelief. He wants us to live life knowing that WE ARE HIS. No matter what we do, no matter what we don’t do, no matter how bad we mess up intentionally or unintentionally, no matter what is done to us, no matter what pit we find ourselves in. No matter what…when we hear and believe the Gospel; when we accept Jesus as our Savior…we are SEALED with a powerful seal of God Himself in the Spirit form. A seal so powerful even the devil’s most artful prying can’t unseal.
 
John Piper says, “God’s desire for his people is that we feel secure in his love and in his power, even if everything else in the world is uncertain.”
 
Twice in Revelation (Rev 7 and 14), John tells of a physical seal he sees on the forehead of God’s people. Though we don’t see anything in this realm on our foreheads, as believers we have been sealed. The down payment has been made and the fullness of our eternal life and home awaits.
 
This side of heaven will remain unpredictable and often very hard. But we have God’s seal and God’s guarantee that there is something better – something eternal – waiting for us.
 
We have been chosen, we have heard, we have believed, and we have been sealed with a seal that says, “[insert name] belongs to me.”
 
After sitting with this chapter, I made a background/screensaver seal from God for my phone as a reminder. I have included a few seal images below if you would like to save one as your background/screensaver on your phone as a reminder as well.

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