Sermon by Al Nuemann, 3/5/2005
Ephesians 1:13: "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit."
Today, I just want to confirm the words already inspired by God, Christ and the Holy Spirit that is: the believer's destination has already been reached and it is sealed by the Holy Spirit.
What does sealed by the Holy Spirit mean? There are 3 scriptures of prominence.
Ephesians 1:13: "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit."
When the gospel is believed the person is sealed by the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 4:30: "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."
The Holy Spirit is the seal that guarantees the believer's future.
2 Corinthians 1:22: "Set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come."
The Holy Spirit in the believer's heart seals the ownership of God. Our redemption is sealed by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit equals the first installment of the full inheritance yet to be given.
John 6:27: "Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."
Christ is the authentic and authorized giver of life. The believer is sealed so they can reach the day of redemption. The salvation from sin, death and wrath of God are all from the precious blood of Christ.
John 14:15-17: "If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you."
Another guarantee that is promised to the believer is that the Holy Spirit will never leave the believer. Interrelate the Holy Spirit and Notary Public. The Notary Public is an official authorized to certify or attest documents. The Holy Spirit is the Spiritual Notary who is authorized to certify God's word.
John 6:39-40: "And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."
Jesus Christ fulfills God's will and Jesus Christ will not lose one person that God has given to Him.
Romans 8:9-11: "You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you."
The Holy Spirit is the very spirit of Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:9-10: "However, as it is written: 'No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him' – but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God."
The Holy Spirit shows us God's deep secrets.
2 Corinthians 5:1-5: "Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come."
The Holy Spirit is the assurance of the resurrection.
John 16:13-15: "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you."
Whatever Christ wants the believer to hear He informs or declares it through the Holy Spirit. I used to underestimate the Holy Spirit but I do not now.
1 John 2:26-27: "I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit – just as it has taught you, remain in him."
Jesus Christ's Spirit continues to teach when we remain in Him.
John 5:24: "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life."
Judgment is not required for the one who has received eternal life. The believer's future is already sealed.
John 10:24-30: "The Jews gathered around him, saying, 'How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.' Jesus answered, 'I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one."
Because of the sealed condition the sheep will never be snatched out of the Father's hand.
JESUS WILL BE THERE!
The surgeon sat beside they boy's bed, the boy's parents sat across from him.
"Tomorrow morning," the surgeon began, "I will open up your heart."
"You will find Jesus there," the boy interrupted.
The surgeon looked up annoyed and said, "I will cut your heart open, to see how much damage has been done."
The boy said; "When you open up my heart, you will find Jesus there."
The surgeon said, "I will sew your heart and chest back up that is what I plan to do."
"But you will find Jesus in my heart. The Bible say's Jesus lives there. The hymns all say Jesus lives there. I know that you will find Jesus in my heart," the boy said.
The surgeon had enough. "I will tell you what I will find in your heart. I will find damaged muscle, low blood supply, and weakened vessels. And I will find out if I can make you well."
The boy said, "You will also find Jesus there too because Jesus lives there."
The surgeon left and the next day he recorded his notes from the surgery. The boy had a damaged aorta, damaged pulmonary vein, widespread muscle degeneration, no hope for transplant, no hope for cure, therapy, pain killers and bed rest, here he paused and said "Death within one year."
He stopped the recorder with more to be said. "Why?" the Doctor asked aloud. "Jesus why did you do this? You have put him here, you have put him in this pain and you have cursed him to an early death. Why?"
The Lord answered and said, "This boy, my lamb, was not meant for your flock for long, for he is a part of my flock, and will forever be here. In my flock he will feel no pain and be comforted as you cannot imagine. His parents join him and know peace and my flock will continue to grow."
The surgeon's anger was at the boiling point. "You created that boy and you created that heart and he will be dead in months. Why?"
The Lord answered, "The boy, my lamb, shall return to My flock, for he has done his duty. I did not put my lamb with your flock to lose him, but to retrieve another lost lamb." The surgeon wept.
Later, at the boy's bed side, he awoke and whispered, "Did you cut open my heart?"
"Yes", said the surgeon.
"What did you find?" asked the boy.
"I found Jesus there." said the surgeon.
Sermon summary prepared by local Glendora church member Charlie Schreiner.