27th May 2025
Symbols of the Holy Spirit: Seal
Part of a series for the period between Easter and Pentecost
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 1:13-14 (NIVUK)
One of the pivotal roles attributed to the Holy Spirit is that of a seal, marking believers as God’s own and guaranteeing their inheritance in Christ. This concept, deeply rooted in Scripture, carries immense significance for our faith journey and spiritual identity.
A seal in ancient times served several purposes: it signified ownership, authenticity, and protection. It was often used by kings and officials to endorse documents, indicating that the contents were genuine and carried the authority of the seal’s owner. It was also the symbol of a completed transaction (Jeremiah 32:10).
In the New Testament, we find that the Father has set his seal upon Jesus (John 6:27), and seals us in him (2 Corinthians 1:21-22). Being sealed by the Holy Spirit identified Jesus as the Son of God (Luke 3:21-22), and being sealed by the Holy Spirit means that believers are identified as God’s children (Romans 8:16). This seal confirms our belonging to the family of God, symbolising a transformation from our former selves to new creations in Christ, and confirming our new identities as God’s treasured possession (Ephesians 1:14; 1 Peter 2:9).
Just as a seal guarantees the authenticity of a document, the Holy Spirit assures us of our genuine salvation. It affirms that our faith is real, and that God’s promises to us are steadfast. This assurance is a source of great comfort and confidence, enabling us to live boldly and faithfully, secure in the knowledge that our salvation is guaranteed by divine authority (Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30).
The seal of the Holy Spirit, then, is a promise of eternal inheritance. It is the guarantee that one day we will enter into the fullness of God’s kingdom. But this promise is not merely a future hope but a present reality that should shape our day-to-day life and perspective. It should install a sense of purpose and destiny, motivating us to live in anticipation of the coming glory. This eternal perspective of the Spirit enables us to see that our current struggles and challenges are temporary and provides us with strength and resilience to persevere with hope and faith in our kingdom life as we are being prepared for eternity.
Embracing the symbol of the seal for the Holy Spirit provides us with the deep assurance of God’s unwavering commitment and love towards us, which should spur us on to live boldly for him.
Prayer
Loving Father, thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit which you have given as a seal of our salvation and a guarantee of our inheritance. May the Spirit seal us with his divine presence, so that we are forever identified as children of God, and enabled to live for you in the knowledge that nothing can separate us from your love. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
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Study by: Barry Robinson About the author: |
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Local congregation:
Grace Communion West Hampstead
Sidings Community Centre
150 Brassey Road
West Hampstead
London
NW6 2BA
Meeting time:
Sunday 12.30 pm
Local congregational contact:
Gordon Brown
gordon.brown@gracecom.church
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church