The Seal of Ownership
The Seal of Ownership
Dr. J. Mike Minnix, Editor, www.pastorlife.com
Introduction
2 Corinthians 1:21-22: "Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, 22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee."
What is a seal? Is it an animal, a gasket for a mason jar, or a seal on an automobile transmission? When a lawyer uses the term “seal” it means something printed, embossed, waxed or stamped, which makes a document legal, authentic, and/or valid. Also, however, a seal can be meant to secure something from abuse, damage or theft. In our text today, the word "seal" means that God has authenticated and protected all who have placed their trust in Jesus. He seals them against harm or theft. The word "seal" in the text today is a word that speaks of security. It is a legal thought – a devine, spiritual, and legal thought that God has conveyed to us in His Word.
When a person places faith in Christ, he or she has a seal placed upon the soul by the Holy Spirit of God. The seal does not belong to the church, the preacher or some Christian organization. The seal is God’s seal and therefore it is eternal. Conversely, one without this seal is unsaved, lost and unprepared to meet God. We read in Romans 8:9 these words, “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His." In other words, without God’s seal you certainly do not belong to the Lord, but if you have God's seal it means that you have fully trusted in Christ and you are eternally secure..
So, think with me today about God’s seal of ownership and what it means to each of us.
I. The Finality of God’s Seal
When something is sealed, it remains that way until someone with power and authority breaks it. You may not realize it, but right here in Atlanta there is a “Crypt of Civilization” kept in an airtight room. It was sealed up in 1940, following ideas developed from the New York World’s Fair in 1939. The crypt is kept at Oglethorpe University here in Atlanta, Georgia. The crypt is to be kept sealed for 6,000 years. So, what’s in this 20 by 10 by 10 foot crypt?
1 pair ladies stockings
1 set artificial fingernails
1 set artificial eyelashes
1 package playing cards
1 container of beer (about one quart)
1 cigarette holder
1 model air conditioner apparatus
1 electric toaster
1 mannikin (female) in glass case
1 mannikin (male) in glass case
1 African doll
1 plastic flute
1 Donald Duck
Interesting! Actually, it is a bit strange. After all, here we are a few years later and we have digital data that can reproduce practically anything ever made. We have actually launched into space billions of bits of data stored on disks. Yet, this strange crypt sits at Oglethorpe University waiting thousands of years to be opened. Also, I’ve read the list of all the items that are in the crypt, and as far as I can tell there is no Bible included. But, don’t worry about the Bible – it is sealed in heaven forever!
There is only one seal that can never be broken by man or by anything or anyone other than God, and that is the seal the Lord places on every person who trusts in Christ as Lord and Savior. Jesus purchased you with His own blood! Without Jesus nothing can be done about the soul, and with Jesus nothing else need be done. When Jesus died on the cross He said, “Tetelestai!” – That means, “It is finished.” He did all that was necessary for your salvation and mine. Those who turn to Him in repentance and faith are sealed with the Holy Spirit against all enemies of the soul. When God does it, it is final! Complete! Done! Eternal!
Note also, that this seal speaks of …
II. The Security of God's Seal
We can say without equivocation that a seal is as secure as the one who makes it. We read in Ephesians 4:30, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” God made the seal that is placed upon your soul the day you are saved. In human terms, we can see how important a seal is by reading Esther 8:8, “You yourselves write a decree concerning the Jews, as you please, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s signet ring; for whatever is written in the king’s name and sealed with the king’s signet ring no one can revoke.” Humanly speaking, when a king seals something, it is sealed as long as the king’s authority remains in place. Likewise, what God has sealed can only be broken if one greater arises. Well, now, there is none greater and there shall never be one greater than our God.
So, let’s see six reasons we can believe fully in the eternal security (the divine seal) of a believer in Christ.
A. His Presence in Me
In John 14:20 Jesus says, “At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.” We are in Him, so as along as He lives, we live.
Someone has said, “No man can drown with his head above water!” When we are in Christ, are heads are above the water line of judgment. In fact, our presence in the Lord or His presence with those who trust Him is mentioned 88 times in the Bible. That is security, indeed!
B. His Promise to Me
In John 5:24 we read these words of Jesus, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.”
Look at that word, “has”. The promise of Christ is that the personj who has turned from sin and trusted Jesus for salvation “HAS” eternal life. The promise is a "know so" salvation and not just a "hope so" salvation. My redemption does not depend on me "holding out" in the Christian life, but rather it depends on God keeping tight the seal He has placed on my heart and soul. I would be greatly worried if my salvation was resting on my ability to keep it. I'm not worried, because the Bible clearly reveals that Jesus seals and keeps those who belong to Him. When I say that I know I’m saved, I’m not bragging, I’m just agreeing with Jesus! He will not give me eternity when I die - I'm already eternal. He will not save me at the judgment - I'm already saved from the judgment. It is not what He will do but what He has ALREADY DONE. I'm sealed for eternity through the authority and power of God. If God's Son is King, and God's Word is true, then I'm secure. Now, you can be sure that the risen Savior is King and not one promise of God has ever failed. How wonderful to know that the Christian has what God says he had and what God gives never spoils. You are sealed when you are saved - that is His promise.
Note also ...
C. His Purpose for Me
Look at Philippians 1:6, “…being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ…”
God completes what He starts. He will fulfill His purpose in those of us who are saved. After all, if God failed to do that, He would reject the completed work done by Jesus on the cross and would negate His promises found in His Word - the Bible. God will keep His Word and He will fulfill His purpose in those who are saved. You see, Paul was confident that God would complete what He started. When you were saved, God started a divine work in your life. God doesn't start something and fail in completing it. He will work in you to complete that which He began.
Now see ...
D. His Protection around Me
Note John 10:27-28, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”
God’s hand holds me. I’m as safe as God’s hand is strong! If the devil could pry me out of God’s hand he would, but you can be sure that Satan does not have the power to open the hand of God that protects me. That is what God is saying in this passage. Only someone strong enough to overcome the hand of God could possibly remove you from His redemption. You are safe!
Observe also ...
E. His Prayers concerning Me
We read in John 17:9, “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours.”
Jesus prayed for you and He prays now for you. Do you think His prayers to the Father go unanswered? Jesus is our advocate and He stands before the Father in your behalf and mine. The risen Savior speaks for you and for me. I have no word of authority in myself, but I have an advocate who has all authority in His words. Yes, eternal security is eternal and secure because the One who promised it is before the Father to ensure that this security never fails.
Number six, note ...
F. His Power over Me
1 Peter 1:3-5 is one of my favorite passages. It reads, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
You are “kept” by a person!
You are “kept” in heaven and not just on earth!
You are "kept" by the power of the resurrection and that assures us of the security of our redemption.
Somewhere I read of a person who said, “I’d rather be a Saved Saint than Innocent Angel.” How true. Angels fell from heaven with no chance of salvation, but we have been rescued from the fall without any danger of falling from the grace once given to the redeemed. What a Savior we have!
Now, think with me about the seal of our salvation in regard to …
III. The Identity of God's Seal
What does a seal reveal? It speaks of ownership and only the owner is allowed to break the seal. Only someone authorized by the seal-er is able to loose the seal.
You see, when I became a Christian, I came to be identified with Christ. That is actually what the word “Christian” means. We who are saved have trusted Him and now we are His. We are identified eternally with Christ - I am His and He is mine. We are not identified with Him because we are better than anyone else, but only because He died for us, rose from the grave for us and called to us to come to Him for the eternal life He provides. We are identified with Him because He first identified with us. Thus, I am secure as long as Jesus is secure - and Jesus is the eternal Lord of glory. The Lord will never abdicate His throne - His is the eternal Lord - the King of Heavne forever. His seal is upon me because I turned from my sin and trust Him as Lord and Savior. If Satan comes along and tries to claim me he will fail in the court of eternity. When the seal of ownership is checked it will reveal that I belong to another - I belong to Jesus. His seal is upon me. The great God of heaven will throw Satan out of the courtroon, disbar him and send him into eternal judgment.
Conclusion
Let me finish. Have you ever thought about how much you pay for certain items? I will assure you of this, the more you pay for something the better you take care of it. To put it another way, the more something is worth, the greater the care you give it. Your soul was redeemed with the blood of Christ. Now, what could be more important than a thing paid for with the blood of the Son of God? You can be sure God will take great care of that which He purchased at such a great price. In fact, the Bible puts it this way: … “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” (1 Peter 1:18-19)
My friend, you are sealed with the blood of Christ. Is there someone here who has doubt about his or her salvation? Come during this invitation and settle it once for all at an old fashioned altar. Don't leave here today in doubt of your eternity, but trust Christ and have the seal of heaven upon your soul. You can walk out of this service today in full assurance of your salvation - not because of who you are but because of who Jesus is and what He has done for you.
Perhaps there are some of us who know we are saved, but we are not living up to the name of the One with whom we are identified. Now is the time to rededicate your life.
A Christian man was dying and his minister was by his side. The dying man looked deeply troubled. The minister said, “My dear friend, you are a committed child of God and a true believer in Jesus. Listen to me, you don’t have to be afraid to die.” The dying man looked at the preacher and said, “You don’t understand. I’m not afraid to die, I’m ashamed to die. I know I’m saved, I just wish I had honored my Lord more with my life than I have.”
Let us honor Him now – let us honor Him in this time of invitation and commitment.