The Holy Spirit & The Believer Series

Introduction

Last week we saw how the Holy Spirit ministers to the non-believer in convicting them of their wrongs and drawing them to Jesus Christ the only hope of salvation, but what happens then? Does the Holy Spirit stop or does He go further? Emphatically yes! He stays with us and goes much further with us.

When we are Saved

The ministry of the Holy Spirit is numerous and varied so we will be only going over several of the major points. I encourage you to continue to study further yourself but hopefully this will whet your appetite.

The Holy Spirit Seals Us.

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, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14)

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:29-32)

Sealed: sphragizo (sfrag-id’-zo); from NT:4973; to stamp (with a signet or private mark) for security or preservation (literally or figuratively); by implication, to keep secret, to attest: KJV - (set a, set to) seal up, stop.[i]

So stop to think about this, when you are saved the Holy Spirit of God is your seal, the private mark that God puts on you to identify you as His own. A private mark for security and preservation, and how long does this seal last? Is it a temporary thing? It says it is the earnest (that is like the earnest money put down on a house) until the redemption of the purchased possession.

Eph. 1:14

Earnest - the first instalment paid as a pledge that the rest of the purchased inheritance will follow [arraboon]: a portion of the purchase-money paid as earnest.

Until - rather, ’unto [eis] the redemption,’ etc.: joined thus, "ye were sealed" (Eph 1:13) unto; i.e., for the purpose of and against, "the redemption;" namely, not redemption in its first stage, made by the blood of Christ securing our title, but in its final completion, when the possession shall be ours, the "redemption of the body," as well as of the soul, from every infirmity (Eph 4:30). The deliverance of the creature (the whole visible creation) from the bondage of corruption, and from the usurping prince of this world, into the glorious liberty of the children of God. [ii]

So what we have here is God the Father sowing His only Begotten Son in love so he can produce a harvest of Christians to worship Him forever. We have the Son, despising the shame of the cross but looking forward to the joy that has been set before Him (and guess what, that is those who would believe on Him. And then we have the Holy Spirit, sent by the Son and sealing the believer, but that is not all.

The Holy Spirit Adopts Us.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 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. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (Romans 8:14-17)

Sons of God are defined as those who are led by the Spirit of God. The Spirit does the leading. The verb is in the present tense and in the passive - as many as allow themselves to be led (cf. Arndt, ago, 3, p. 14}). 15. The phrases spirit of bondage and Spirit of adoption are parallel. The outcome of the former is fear; the outcome of the latter the ability to pray and to address God as Father. The word Abba is an Aramaic word put into Greek letters and then transliterated into English. It means "Father." The bringing together of both Jew and Greek (Gentiles) in Christ is seen in these opening words of address in prayer.[iii]

The Holy Spirit Indwells Us

Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (John 14:17)