Sealed unto the day of redemption

Ephesians 4:30

And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

There is no greater consolation, no more encouraging truth in the whole of Scripture than that contained here and throughout the pages of the New Testament—that we are sealed unto the day of redemption. Sealed! Confirmed! Secure! Settled! This is a transaction carried out outside of our own effort, and without our contribution. No one can seal himself. For you see, this is the work of the Holy Spirit of God. That which is sealed cannot be broken. That which is shut cannot be opened. That which the Lord has settled is forever settled in Heaven. Therefore, my beloved, do not worry that you have compromised the seal, that you have undone that which God has done. If you have received Christ Jesus our Lord, and have believed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered unto you, you have no reason to fear. For your salvation is settled! It is kept by the power of God! It is ready to be revealed in the last time! You have received the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls! See 1 Peter 1:3-9.

This principle is reiterated more than once, as we see the Apostle Paul, in the first chapter of Ephesians, in the thirteenth verse, saying that we are “sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.” And that, moreover, He “is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession.” The second epistle of the Corinthians tells us that God has “sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” See 2 Corinthians 1:22. We are told that we are kept in the hand of God imperishably. See John 10:27-30. We cannot be removed or extricated from His hand. There is no power in Heaven or in earth that could effect such a thing. Our salvation is of the Lord. It is secured by Him, kept by Him, and sealed through Him. Let us rest in this wonderful truth today. Let us bask in the joy of this realization. Let us revel in the peace and joy that such a doctrine imparts to any true and believing Christian.

But, as we ponder on this topic, it behooves us to notice the first half of our verse today. We know that we have been sealed, and this sealing is effectual until the day of redemption. But, now that we have come upon this great truth, it becomes even more incumbent upon us to obey the first part. “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God.” If the Spirit has sealed us, and we are secure in Him, and He abides with us for ever, should we not take diligent care to please Him in all things. For He is with us, and shall be in us. Therefore, let us be reminded that He is perpetually with us in everything we say, do, and think. Oh, let us not grieve Him! Oh, let us not quench Him! Oh, let us do that which is pleasing in His sight! For He will never leave us. May our bodies serve as His temple. May our own souls be a fitting tabernacle for His dwelling. May there be no evil that would defile His dwelling place. May there be no unworthiness that would encroach upon His home. May it be pure and clean! Righteous and holy! May no filthiness intrude on the holy place wherein the Spirit dwells. Is there any uncleanness that can be discovered today? Is there any impurities or sinfulness? May we eradicate it today! May we cast it out as a filthy rag! May we hate the garment spotted by the flesh! For our bodies are His temple. The context of Ephesians 4:30 tells us which works of the flesh grieve the Holy Spirit of God. Lying grieves Him! Wrath is grieving to Him! Stealing grieves Him! Corrupt communication grieves God’s Holy Spirit. Bitterness, anger, wrath, clamor, and evil speaking all grieve the Holy Spirit. Instead, let us do that which pleases Him. Let us be kind one to another. Let us be tenderhearted. Let us be forgiving toward one another. Let us love others even as Christ loved us, and gave Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor. Let us cast off all uncleanness, wickedness, worldliness, and fleshly pride, and let us submit to the Holy Spirit of God this day. For He is our constant companion! He is God’s presence within us! And He has sealed us unto the day of redemption!

“Father, we want to thank you for giving us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. We praise you that we are sealed unto the day of redemption. Thank you that we do not have to worry about our eternal destiny. For it is safe in Thy hands, and it is secured and sealed by Thy Holy Spirit. You have comforted us greatly through this truth. You have given us peace and settlement in you through these wonderful words of life. And now, as we have come to a deeper realization of these things, we pray that we would give all diligence to please the Holy Spirit of God; that we would live as though we are His temple. Help us to leave off all works of the flesh, and let us yield ourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and our members as instruments of righteousness unto God. We are His dwelling place. May we never grieve Him; but rather help us to please the Holy Spirit of God who lives in us, for by doing so, we are pleasing our Savior, and our Father in Heaven. In Jesus’ name we pray and ask, Amen.”