Ephesians 1:13-14

"In Him you also who have heard the Word of Truth, the glad tidings (Gospel) of your salvation, and have believed in and adhered to and relied on Him, were stamped with the seal of the long-promised Holy Spirit" Ephesians 1:13.

There it is again... that two word question "In Him"... so easy to read past, but whatever we read right after we see those two words it doesn't hurt to stop and pause for just a moment... because whatever Christ has told His writer to say next, always hinges completely on this question!

It either applies to us, and we can take it to the bank, so-to-speak... or it doesn't, and we may as well go buy a self-help book or spy novel... we'll not get much benefit from memorizing this verse! I'm not going to bully this point for the sake of those whom rest in their status, but for anyone not sure... Go back to the point where you made your vow with God and ask Him to settle this question once and forever!

And so what is it that those whom are "in Christ" can take to the bank... It is something so amazing! Let's break it down together, and then look at what it means.

First, we have heard the "Word of Truth." Word is capitalized, because it literally refers to Jesus... To the list of things God says His Son is, we must add that He is literally The Word of God also.

"In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself." John 1:1

If we are "In Him", the Bible says that He is in us... He abides in us... And He is The Word also. Hold on to this thought for just a moment, as we continue with the next thing Paul says in verse 13.

Another thing we can take to the bank is, if we are in Christ, we have believed in and adhered to and relied on Him.

"He who believes in the Son of God [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] has the testimony [possesses this divine attestation] within himself" 1 John 5:10.

You "will" believe all the things The Word says if you are "in Christ"... Now hold on to this point too, and we will look at how beautifully this all happens, in just a moment.

The third thing Paul says in verse 13, which we can take to the bank is, if we are in Christ, we were stamped with the seal of the long-promised Holy Spirit!

So, for those whom are "in Christ"...
1. We have heard the Word of Truth.
2. We have believed in and on Christ Jesus.
3. We were stamped with the seal of the Holy Spirit.

Now, what does this mean for us and why is it so amazing? If we are in Christ, we have recieved both, the Word (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit residing within us, and so now, when we read the written word of God, the Holy Spirit within us reveals the Truth of The Word which is within us. When we read the bible now, we actually come into agreement with the Truth (The Word) which is within us because of the work of The Holy Spirit.

We could not understand nor agree with The Word before, because The Word, nor The Revealing Holy Spirit were not within us! That is an amazing miracle of what is happening to us today, right there, dear Friends! And remember the riches and the generosity of His gracious favor Paul spoke of earlier in verse 7... listen to our next verse here in chapter 1.

14. "That [Spirit] is the guarantee of our inheritance [the firstfruits, the pledge and foretaste, the down payment on our heritage], in anticipation of its full redemption and our acquiring [complete] possession of it--to the praise of His glory."

Mmmm, I love the way this verse speaks of The Holy Spirit! God, through Jesus, gives us This Spirit, "in anticipation of its full redemption and our acquiring [complete] possession of it"! He's anticipating, or, "waiting with confidence", of The Holy Spirit's purpose. And again, Why? "To the praise of His glory". Amen.

Let's pick up with Ephesians verses 1:15 next time.

I love you.