Near and Far Faith

I like historical movies—ones set back hundreds of years ago. They used to do this thing called a seal. When any kind of correspondence was sent from one to another, to ensure the privacy of it, wax was melted onto the flaps of the letter and a stamp pressed into it. If the seal was broken you’d know the letter had been compromised. The various elaborate stamps serve as a return address—noting whether it was from a king, or a check-yes-or-no-whether-you-like-me note. Paul uses this this as an analogy for what the Holy Spirit does for us in Ephesians 1.

Study Ephesians 1. Really study it—don’t just read it. Look up some background info online. Ask God some questions about things. Put the chapter into your own words and sum it up in a sentence.

The Holy spirit serves as many things for those who call Jesus king of their lives—it gives guidance, convicts of sin, reveals truth. But it also seals. This is the primary passage for the proof of eternal security—meaning once sealed, always sealed.

While your identity can be stolen over and over—this is the battle we fight against—but as a Christ-follower you can never truly be lost. This confuses us. It’s unlike anything else in our world. The best description I can come up with is this: God the Father sent his son Jesus to offer the gift of being called his son or daughter. Only his sons and daughters can enjoy fellowship with Him.  Once you have been called a son of daughter of God, the Holy Spirit marks you and God will never not you his again. Spend some time thanking God for your seal.