Ephesians 1 Part 2

The journey into our eternal inheritance follows a clear, sovereignly established path laid out in Scripture: a person first hears, then trusts, and is subsequently sealed. It all begins with hearing "the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation." This is the necessary starting point—the proclamation of Christ's redemptive work. In response to this truth, a person must trust, or believe, placing their personal faith in the finished work of Jesus. At that very moment of belief, the Creator acts decisively. He seals that person with the Holy Spirit, who serves as His sacred mark of ownership, security, and a finished transaction. This sealing is not something we achieve, but something we receive. The Spirit Himself becomes the arrabōn—the sacred guarantee or down payment—assuring us that the full inheritance God has promised is reserved and will one day be ours.

However, this heavenly seal is not merely a static mark of ownership; it is the beginning of a dynamic, lifelong transformation. The indwelling Holy Spirit actively works to guide, nurture, rebuke, and correct, with the ultimate goal of sanctifying the believer and conforming them to the image of Christ. The tangible evidence of the Spirit's invisible work is the fruit He produces in a believer's life. As described in Galatians, this fruit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—is the undeniable sign of the seal. It is the living proof that a person is truly owned by God, walking in the Spirit, and growing into the glorious inheritance purchased for them by the blood of His Son.

The Holy Spirit is present to guide, correct, and nurture you into the image of Christ. How willing are you to listen to His correction, whether it comes through Scripture, prayer, or the loving rebuke of a fellow believer?