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Holy Spirit: We Hardly Know You—But We Know We Should
The Guarantee Of Our Future
Ephesians 1:13-14; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 12:13

Introduction: What Do You Know About The Holy Spirit?

There are many spiritual activities in which the Holy Spirit is involved. Much of the confusion surrounding the ministry of the Spirit in the life of the believer is the result of not knowing what these activities are and when they take place. Let’s try a little quiz this morning to see what we know about the Holy Spirit.

Possible answers to the following questions are: indwelling, baptizing, sealing, sanctifying and filling. Fill in the blanks with the correct answer. More than one answer may be correct.

1.                  The work (works) of the Holy Spirit that occurs at the moment one becomes a Christian is ______________________________________________________________________

2.                  The work (works) of the Holy Spirit that guarantees our salvation is ________________________________________________________________________

3.                  The work (works) of the Holy Spirit that is a process lasting for the rest of life is ________________________________________________________________________

4.                  The work (works) of the Holy Spirit that is dependent on the active cooperation of the believer is _______________________________________________________________

5.                  The work (works) of the Holy Spirit that indicates a believer is controlled by the Holy Spirit is _________________________________________________________________

There is a danger that this exercise has only deepened our confusion about the ministry of the Holy Spirit. In order to clear up our confusion, let’s start the process of increasing our understanding  by looking today at the indwelling, sealing and baptizing work of the Spirit.

The Indwelling Work Of The Holy Spirit

We have seen this work of the Spirit earlier in the series because there is possibly no clearer truth about the Holy Spirit in the New Testament than the teaching that the Holy Spirit lives in each and every believer.

The Fact Of His Indwelling

Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.                                                                   1 Corinthians 3:16-17 NLT

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;                                    1 Corinthians 6:19 NLT

The Purpose Of His Indwelling

Why does the Spirit come to live in believers? Paul answers this question.

You are no longer ruled by your desires, but by God's Spirit, who lives in you. People who don't have the Spirit of Christ in them don't belong to him. But Christ lives in you. So you are alive because God has accepted you, even though your bodies must die because of your sins.

                                                                                                Romans 8:9-10 CEV

Paul tells us that those without the Spirit do not belong to God. Those with the Spirit are alive because this affirms that God has accepted them.

The Extent Of His Indwelling

How many believers are indwelled by the Spirit? Because the Spirit is given to teach God’s truth, the Spirit comes to live in all believers. In writing to the church at Corinth, which struggled with sin more than any of the other early churches, Paul emphasizes that the Spirit is given to all believers.

And we (all) have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.                                                          1 Corinthians 2:12 NLT

There is no special class of Christians who receive the Holy Spirit or greater amounts of the Holy Spirit. This was one of the problems Paul attacks in this church. Instead of living like God’s people, they still evaluated people by their class level in that society.

The Importance Of His Indwelling

You need to know I understand the differences in you who are listening to this. Some of you just love theology. There is nothing better than digging into the great doctrines of the church and doing exhaustive research. For others of you, you simply find it exhausting. You didn’t come to church for a theology class. You came find help for a pressing need in your life or maybe even to be challenged to stretch higher in seeking God. But, you didn’t come for a theology class.

The truth is we need theologians who are willing to do the exhaustive work so the rest of us don’t exhaust ourselves in seeking to stretch higher. The clear delineation of God’s truth provides us with solid footholds to help us as we stretch higher. Here is the foothold that comes from a clear understanding of God living in us by His Spirit.

The Holy Spirit Takes Up Residency In Believers—Forever! He Doesn’t Just Pass Through. He Makes Us His Home And He Comes To Stay!

This provides the transition to the second work of the Holy Spirit for this morning.

The Sealing Work Of The Holy Spirit

The Act of Sealing

The best place to start is the statement of Paul in Ephesians where he celebrates our spiritual blessings in Christ for the redemption that has been planned by the Father, provided by the Son and possessed through the Spirit.

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit…

                                                                                                Ephesians 1:13 NIV

The moment of sealing is directly identified as the moment when the gospel of salvation is received. Having believed, the seal is given. The seal is the Holy Spirit. Believers are sealed in Christ by the Holy Spirit.

God the Father is also involved in the sealing work of the Holy Spirit.

Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

                                                                                                2 Corinthians 1:21-22 NIV

God the Father does the sealing. The Spirit is the deposit that guarantees what is to come. What is that? We will answer that question in just a moment.

The key point of encouragement here is that the Holy Spirit serves as the earnest payment guaranteeing the completion of the transaction—in this case our salvation.

We understand the concept of a deposit from our experience in real estate transactions. When a contract has been agreed upon by both parties the buyer pays a deposit—earnest money—that guarantees the rest of the purchase when the transaction is completed.

How secure is your salvation?

·                     The Father seals you.

·                     The Father seals you in Christ.

·                     The Father seals you with the Holy Spirit.

Everything God has as Father, Son and Holy Spirit is invested in your salvation. That’s as secure as it comes.

The past few weeks have been very uneasy days in the tenuous realm of finances. Some have identified the beginning of troubles as the decision years ago to no longer have our money guaranteed by the gold standard. Up until then our currency was guaranteed by a real, hard, tangible asset—gold that was pegged at $35 an ounce. Since that time our currency is backed essentially by our common agreement of what it is worth. When trust erodes, money can become worthless and the price of gold soars.

That’s not true with salvation. Salvation is based on a standard far more sure than the gold standard; it is based on the God standard. It doesn’t get any better than that!

The Duration of Sealing

When a seal was placed upon a document, a statement was often made about the length of time the seal would be effective. God makes the duration of our sealing clear.

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.                                                                                    Ephesians 4:30 NIV

When a person commits to following Christ, God’s seal guarantees salvation until the day of redemption—the day when we enter into God’s presence in heaven—arrives. Sealing isn’t dependent on behavior. It can never be undone.

God’s grace is truly amazing, but His grace is not a reason to take advantage of Him by living to satisfy our selfish desires. Some have done so, only to flippantly respond when challenged, “It doesn’t matter; God has already forgiven me and says He won’t reject me.” Well, it does matter—to God. It’s true that heaven is guaranteed, but the way we make the journey does make a difference.

When sin is committed by a child of God it grieves the Holy Spirit of God. One of the other translations says that it brings sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit. Another says that it breaks His heart. I just want to make sure it’s clear that just because God places the seal of His Holy Spirit upon us it doesn’t give us a license to sin.

Because the indwelling of the Spirit and sealing with the Spirit take place simultaneously and instantaneously they are closely connected and difficult to separate. There are, however, distinctive elements involved with sealing that are to be appreciated as we look at…

The Purpose of Sealing

Sealing Signifies A Finished Transaction

In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.            Philippians 1:4-6 NIV

When the ruler placed his seal upon something it carried the understanding that the transaction was complete. The ruler was the only one who could undo it. God says He will never undo the work completed on the Cross when Jesus cried out, “It is finished!”

Sealing Signifies Ownership

Traveling through the American West one becomes aware of how important the brands that ranchers placed upon cattle were. The unique brand associated with each ranch identified ownership.

When Jesus asked the disciples whose insignia was on the coin, they answered, “Caesar’s.” He told them they were to give to Caesar what was Caesar’s and to God that which was God’s. The sealing of the Holy Spirit is God’s pledge of the good things He has for us in the future. His seal guarantees you belong to Him!

Sealing Signifies Authority

In the Old Testament we read about Pharaoh giving Joseph a ring that signified Joseph had the full authority of Pharaoh. When Joseph spoke it was the same thing as Pharaoh speaking. God gives us the Holy Spirit to assure us we have received His power. That’s exactly what Jesus told His disciples.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."           Acts 1:8 NIV

Sealing Signifies Security

We understand sealing from some very important actions we take in our houses. We seal windows and doors to make sure our houses stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter. We seal our basements to keep moisture out. We lock our doors and windows to keep thieves out. Then, if there is a security system, we make sure the seal of the company providing security is visible. I’m not sure the security systems really threaten the thief or just encourage him to move down the street to the neighbor’s house that has no security system. What we understand is that sealing signifies security.

When God sets His seal upon us we are secure. Only God can break the seal that He has set upon us. We began this section celebrating the blessings of redemption. We need to complete the reason for our celebration.

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.                           Ephesians 1:13-14 NIV

God promises us He will never break the promise guaranteed by His seal of the promised Holy Spirit.

The Baptizing Work Of The Holy Spirit

The other work of the Holy Spirit that takes place exclusively at the time of conversion is the baptizing work of the Holy Spirit. There is tremendous confusion about what Scripture teaches. We need to make sure we can answer the following questions.

·                     How would you define the baptism of the Holy Spirit?

·                     Where do we find in Scripture the need to be baptized by the Holy Spirit?

We will investigate the answers to these questions more fully next week when we look at the sanctifying and filling work of the Holy Spirit. For today, let me provide some brief introductory comments.

The Command To Be Baptized With/By/In The Spirit

There is a strong emphasis among many believers about the need to be baptized with/by/in the Spirit. It is taught that this is the defining moment when one knows the Holy Spirit has been received. A comparison is often made to Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River when the Spirit came on Him in the form of a dove. There is a problem. Jesus didn’t receive the Spirit of God when He was baptized. He was anointed and set aside to complete His redemptive mission.

There is no place in Scripture where a command to be baptized with the Spirit is written. To be clear, one would think that if being baptized with the Spirit is so important that there would be. But, there isn’t.

The Meaning Of Being Baptized With/By/In The Spirit

That’s because the baptism of the Spirit is confused with the filling of the Spirit. The word baptism is actually the transliteration of a Greek work that means to submerge or immerse. It pictures placing something or someone completely into something else. The baptism of the Spirit doesn’t involve something that happens to or in us. It involves placing us into something else.

That something else is the body of Christ. Here is what the Bible tells us about the baptizing work of the Holy Spirit.

For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.              1 Corinthians 12:13 NIV

At the time of conversion we are placed into the body of which Christ is the Living Head by the Holy Spirit. See if this makes sense.

This baptism with the Holy Spirit does not bring the Spirit to us, but rather puts the believer into a vital union with Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit.

                                                                        Theodore Epp, The Other Comforter, p. 79

Conclusion: Answers To The Questions And What It Means For Us

1.                  The works of the Holy Spirit that occur at the moment one becomes a Christian are indwelling, sealing, baptizing and sanctifying.

2.                  The work of the Holy Spirit that guarantees our salvation is sealing.

3.                  The works of the Holy Spirit that are a process lasting for the rest of life are sanctifying and filling.

4.                  The works of the Holy Spirit that are dependent on the active cooperation of the believer are sanctifying and filling.

5.                  The work of the Holy Spirit that indicates a believer is controlled by the Holy Spirit is filling.

How does this help us today?

I recently had the privilege of taking an airplane flight with one of the guys from the church. While we were in Longville (near Leech Lake) we ate at a family owned and operated restaurant. They also were selling homemade jelly. I bought a jar of Corn Cob Jelly. When I asked what it was, the wife told me it’s made from corn cobs after the corn has been blanched. Once the kernels have been removed the cobs are boiled extensively. The liquid is then strained several times, mixed with the pectin and made into jelly. I still had one question: “How did this ever come to be?” She told me that it was her grandma’s recipe developed during the Great Depression when people used anything and everything just to survive.

With the current meltdown in financial markets people are frantically seeking a guarantee that their money is safe and secure. What many thought were good investments dramatically declined, and in some cases disappeared, almost overnight. Even ultra conservative money market accounts are being cashed out. One pundit observed that investors are turning to the tried and tested security of the past—the mattress!

In our world where Jesus cautioned us against storing up treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal, people long for something that is sure. The Bible tells us that is found in our relationship with God. The only way Jesus could urge us, “Let not your hearts be troubled,” was by making sure we live our lives based on the God Standard.

As we come to the Communion Table this morning we celebrate the redemption accomplished and secured for us by God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In coming to the Table

1.                  We celebrate that the Spirit of God lives in us.

2.                  We celebrate that our salvation is eternally secured.

3.                  We celebrate that we belong to the body of Christ.