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Show THE GUARANTEE OF CHRISTIAN INHERITANCE Ephesians God has 1: 11-14 promised us as believers inheritance. That inheritance is as ours looking forward to what God has promised. To give us the assurance that what He promised is ours, this text tells us we are "sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise." (1: 13) That is to say what God promised, is already ours and the Holy Spirit is the evidence of that promise being fulfilled. through adoption and we are Now, this word "seal" is an interesting word. It denotes a signet, an emblem of ownership and security. The package is delivered but disclosure is postponed. Although it cannot be clearly 1 seen, there is sufficient evidence that it is authentic. That which is sealed is permanent and it. It is already secure. We can and on fixed and certain. The Christian seal is based believing count we belong to on our God. We cannot be removed from His presence. We are destined to enjoy His glory. Perhaps, Moses and the children of Israel can help us to understand what this passage in Ephesians means. You remember that God spoke to them and told them he was giving them a land flowing with milk and honey. Moses sent out spies to check it out. They came back and had bunches of grapes so large that it took two men to carry. Even those majority negative report knew that God was no shorter than His word, with the 2 that what He had promised He sealed bunch of grapes. Notice, that in Jesus Christ, "we have obtained an inheritance to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the with a ... counsel of his own will " ... OUf inheritance is undefiled, incorruptible, and unfading. "It doth not yet appear shall be." In other words, God has already give us our inheritance. what we Perhaps, that is what the Scripture mean when they speak of the table being set and the guest have been invited to eat. I heard a preacher tell a story about the seated at the table with empty dishes, empty plates, and no food in family The father said, "Let us turn thanks." He bowed his head and prayer, sight. "Father, help us to be humble and 3 thankful for the food that we are about to receive." About that time, a knock came at the door and a neighbor handed him a bag of peas with a piece y ou do remember that of meat we on walk not top. by given us an inheritance that we have not yet fully realized but it is guaranteed. This inheritance is for us to praise the one in whom we have already trusted. sight but by faith. God has heard His We trusted Christ when we word declared unto That Word our us. ticket to salvation and was we are purchased by His blood. Although we cannot see it or explain it, we know that we "were sealed with the holy spirit of promise. We have the assurance that the Savior is all sufficient. Everything we need can be satisfied by His " 4 blessings. All of His promises are guaranteed because we are sealed by the Holy Spirit and we cannot help but praise the Lord. Psalm 34 puts it: "I will bless the Lord at all times, his praises shall in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the continually be humble shall hear thereof; and be glad. o magnify the Lord with me, and let us together O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him." (Psalm 34: 1-8) Finally, the Holy Spirit is the earnest, exalt his name ... the down payment, the guarantee of our inheritance. We have no need to doubt. Holy Spirit is our assurance that we will be joint heirs in the kingdom. F or the We know that there is more to come. When you find the house you want, you 5 put down that at earnest money as your pledge closing you will pay the rest. Your thousand dollars is far short of the total owed but it is the same As believers in Jesus in kind. Christ, we are purchased by His blood and sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption. We have a common seal-the Holy Spirit of Promise; a common guarantee "if sons, then heirs;" and a common doxology-"Unto the praise of His glory." We shall blend our voices and sing of His marvelous grace. We shall lift our voices and shout of His victory We shall harmonize our voices and hope for His soon return, the fulfillment of His promise. matchless . THEY TRIED TO SEAL HIM IN 6 THE TOMB THAT HE COULD NOT GET UP BUT JESUS ROSE FROM THE GRAVE EARLY SUNDAY MORNING AND LIVES FOREVER AS OUR GUARANTEE THAT WE TOO WILL HAVE A GREAT GETTING UP MORNING. 7 |
