Safe in Your Faith
Have you ever wondered what it means to be secured in the Messiah? Or how does you know that you're completely protected in His hands? I, myself, have wondered, not necessarily because I doubted, but I just wondered how I could explain how I know that I belong to the Lord, other than just saying that I just know. I recently came across three verses that answer this question for myself. I don't know if it will answer yours in the same way, and if not, I hope and pray that you will find your own answer to these questions as you continue your walk with God. If you haven't yet come to know Messiah as your Savior, then I pray that this might help you learn more about what it's like and what it means to be held in the hands of the Almighty Father.
The first verse I came across that jumped out at me and screamed within me that this was the answer I was looking for is 2 Cor. 1:22: "who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee." In the context of this book, Paul is writing to the Corinthians after Titus was sent to Cornith and he's defending his character and the sincerity of his ministry of preaching the gospel (referenced from NKJV Study Bible). The previous verse says, "Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God," (v. 21). This is saying that the God that does the 'establishing' is the same God that does the 'anointing.' But this God also does the 'sealing' and 'has given' the Holy Spirit. Paul is essentially making a point that God is the One doing all the work in keeping him secured in his faith in the Messiah, and the proof of that is the giving of the Holy Spirit, which Yeshua (Jesus' Hebrew name) promised before He was arrested (John 14:15-18). Even though Paul is Saul turned into Paul, and wasn't a follower of Yeshua for his entire life, he was still able to walk into this promise of being secured in Messiah. He was baptized by Ananias (Acts 9:17-18) and immediately started preaching that Yeshua is the Son of God (Acts 9:20, emphasis added). Paul knew who he was in the Lord, to the point that he knew how to defend himself, as he was doing in writing the whole book of 2 Corinthians.
So, first you are being established and anointed by Him, which already reveals the security that you have when you believe in Messiah. In Greek, the two words are actually connected, and the confirmation of the establishment was shown through the anointing, which I believe is the Holy Spirit, Himself. Moving into verse 22, 'sealed' and 'guarantee' also go hand in hand, which is amazing in and of itself because 'to seal' something means to denote the seller's guarantee of the validity of a purchase (NKJV Study Bible). Therefore, the giving of the Holy Spirit that this verse talks about is proof that the price that was paid by Yeshua is a legitimate and valid price.
However, that's not where the story ends. There are still two more verses that have the word 'guarantee' in them, and I'm still blown away by the fact that all three verses are all connected. Only God can write in such a way to drive a point, or idea, home. So, this second verse is found in 2 Cor. 5:5, which says, "Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee." Here, the context is talking about the assurance of the resurrection and how we all have earthly bodies and yearn to "be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven" (2 Cor. 5:2). Paul is making a point that there's something else to look forward to when we meet our King in heaven: a new body. However, he's also saying that God is the One who has prepared us to be further clothed, "that mortality may be swallowed up by life" (2 Cor. 5:4). Side note: re-read this line again, it literally is so powerful. We have this hope ahead of us that life will literally swallow death, and then we will be resurrected and live eternally with our beautiful King by our side. Okay, anyway, God has prepared us and has also given us the Spirit as a guarantee (2 Cor. 5:5). Guarantee of what? That we, His holy people, are purchased by the blood of Yeshua. We are no longer slaves to sin, but we are called the "children of God," which is a right given to us when we receive Him (John 1:12). The connection between the first chapter and this chapter is astounding. Paul reiterates that we are purchased and sealed as a result of Yeshua dying on the cross for us. Then, as if that weren't enough, He gives us the Spirit for us to know that we know that we are held in His hands, forever. Our salvation is guaranteed because of the price that was paid because of His great love for us.
Tying it all up with the final verse: "who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory" (Eph. 1:14). The context of the book of Ephesians is as such: Paul is in Rome and in custody because he was trying to defend himself when the Jews arrested him and accused him of defilement and teaching against the people and the law (Acts 21:26-36; Chronological Bible places this right before the letter to the Ephesians). So, Paul is under guard, yet he still is able to preach/teach, and write. The first chapter of Ephesians is talking about the spiritual blessings and the redemption that we have in Messiah. In order to understand verse 14, we need to know the previous verses, starting from verse 11: "In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose who works all things according to the counsel of His will,12that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.13In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,14who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory." Paul mentions this 'inheritance' that we have in Messiah, and the guarantee of this inheritance, the guarantee of seeing Messiah in our lives and in our hearts, is the Holy Spirit. What better guarantee is there? One of the reasons the Holy Spirit was given was to give this guarantee. I hadn't thought about it because He's introduced in the Gospels as 'Comforter' or 'Helper' and to be sent as a guarantee of my faith in Messiah is definitely a new realization. God wants us all to know our worth in Yeshua, and to know that we are truly securely found in Him.
I also love that Paul used the word 'sealed' in Ephesians as well. We are indeed 'sealed' and safe in the arms of the Father. It is literally quite amazing how all three of these verses tie together and how important it is for us to understand that the presence of the Holy Spirit is how we know that we are safe in our belief in and acceptance of our Savior and King, Yeshua Messiah. The beautiful truth found in these words give me so much life and hope, and I can only pray that you will also realize the immeasurable love of God and how perfect His plan is in the giving of the Holy Spirit for each and every one of us. Be blessed, my beloved friends.
The first verse I came across that jumped out at me and screamed within me that this was the answer I was looking for is 2 Cor. 1:22: "who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee." In the context of this book, Paul is writing to the Corinthians after Titus was sent to Cornith and he's defending his character and the sincerity of his ministry of preaching the gospel (referenced from NKJV Study Bible). The previous verse says, "Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God," (v. 21). This is saying that the God that does the 'establishing' is the same God that does the 'anointing.' But this God also does the 'sealing' and 'has given' the Holy Spirit. Paul is essentially making a point that God is the One doing all the work in keeping him secured in his faith in the Messiah, and the proof of that is the giving of the Holy Spirit, which Yeshua (Jesus' Hebrew name) promised before He was arrested (John 14:15-18). Even though Paul is Saul turned into Paul, and wasn't a follower of Yeshua for his entire life, he was still able to walk into this promise of being secured in Messiah. He was baptized by Ananias (Acts 9:17-18) and immediately started preaching that Yeshua is the Son of God (Acts 9:20, emphasis added). Paul knew who he was in the Lord, to the point that he knew how to defend himself, as he was doing in writing the whole book of 2 Corinthians.
So, first you are being established and anointed by Him, which already reveals the security that you have when you believe in Messiah. In Greek, the two words are actually connected, and the confirmation of the establishment was shown through the anointing, which I believe is the Holy Spirit, Himself. Moving into verse 22, 'sealed' and 'guarantee' also go hand in hand, which is amazing in and of itself because 'to seal' something means to denote the seller's guarantee of the validity of a purchase (NKJV Study Bible). Therefore, the giving of the Holy Spirit that this verse talks about is proof that the price that was paid by Yeshua is a legitimate and valid price.
This is how amazing the love of God is: He sent His own Son to pay the price of our debt, and then gives us the Holy Spirit as a guarantee.Therefore, if you have the Holy Spirit living and burning inside of you, that is the confirmation that you are indeed in His hands. Your faith is secured because of the precious gift of the Holy Spirit.
However, that's not where the story ends. There are still two more verses that have the word 'guarantee' in them, and I'm still blown away by the fact that all three verses are all connected. Only God can write in such a way to drive a point, or idea, home. So, this second verse is found in 2 Cor. 5:5, which says, "Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee." Here, the context is talking about the assurance of the resurrection and how we all have earthly bodies and yearn to "be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven" (2 Cor. 5:2). Paul is making a point that there's something else to look forward to when we meet our King in heaven: a new body. However, he's also saying that God is the One who has prepared us to be further clothed, "that mortality may be swallowed up by life" (2 Cor. 5:4). Side note: re-read this line again, it literally is so powerful. We have this hope ahead of us that life will literally swallow death, and then we will be resurrected and live eternally with our beautiful King by our side. Okay, anyway, God has prepared us and has also given us the Spirit as a guarantee (2 Cor. 5:5). Guarantee of what? That we, His holy people, are purchased by the blood of Yeshua. We are no longer slaves to sin, but we are called the "children of God," which is a right given to us when we receive Him (John 1:12). The connection between the first chapter and this chapter is astounding. Paul reiterates that we are purchased and sealed as a result of Yeshua dying on the cross for us. Then, as if that weren't enough, He gives us the Spirit for us to know that we know that we are held in His hands, forever. Our salvation is guaranteed because of the price that was paid because of His great love for us.
Tying it all up with the final verse: "who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory" (Eph. 1:14). The context of the book of Ephesians is as such: Paul is in Rome and in custody because he was trying to defend himself when the Jews arrested him and accused him of defilement and teaching against the people and the law (Acts 21:26-36; Chronological Bible places this right before the letter to the Ephesians). So, Paul is under guard, yet he still is able to preach/teach, and write. The first chapter of Ephesians is talking about the spiritual blessings and the redemption that we have in Messiah. In order to understand verse 14, we need to know the previous verses, starting from verse 11: "In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose who works all things according to the counsel of His will,12that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.13In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,14who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory." Paul mentions this 'inheritance' that we have in Messiah, and the guarantee of this inheritance, the guarantee of seeing Messiah in our lives and in our hearts, is the Holy Spirit. What better guarantee is there? One of the reasons the Holy Spirit was given was to give this guarantee. I hadn't thought about it because He's introduced in the Gospels as 'Comforter' or 'Helper' and to be sent as a guarantee of my faith in Messiah is definitely a new realization. God wants us all to know our worth in Yeshua, and to know that we are truly securely found in Him.
Once we accept Yeshua as Messiah and ask Him into our hearts, the Holy Spirit also shows up, immediately.It's a beautiful picture of how God never leaves us, and because we have this guarantee, there is nothing in this world that can take it away. We will always have the Holy Spirit living inside of us, therefore, we are able to walk in love and in truth. I think it's important to know who you are in Messiah, but it's also important to know that your purchase is sealed and established, as proven by the presence of the Holy Spirit.
I also love that Paul used the word 'sealed' in Ephesians as well. We are indeed 'sealed' and safe in the arms of the Father. It is literally quite amazing how all three of these verses tie together and how important it is for us to understand that the presence of the Holy Spirit is how we know that we are safe in our belief in and acceptance of our Savior and King, Yeshua Messiah. The beautiful truth found in these words give me so much life and hope, and I can only pray that you will also realize the immeasurable love of God and how perfect His plan is in the giving of the Holy Spirit for each and every one of us. Be blessed, my beloved friends.
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