Signed, sealed delivered – 1:13-14
When Stevie Wonder sang, “Oooh Baby, here I am, signed sealed delivered, I’m yours”, he wasn’t singing about his Christian faith and relationship with Jesus but he could have been. In Paul’s day, a seal indicated ownership and protection. The Holy Spirit spiritually marks believers as God’s people. Ezekiel was to put a mark on the foreheads of each person who had, ‘grieved and lamented over all the detestable things’ Ezekiel 9:4that are done in the temple so that they would be protected from destruction. In a similar way the gift of the Holy Spirit marks the believer for salvation. This is not a separated second blessing, the promised Holy Spirit is given when faith commences. God then sees the believer as his, not to be taken away. The Holy Spirit is the guarantee of salvation and deliverance into our inheritance as a child of God. This will bring about great praise to God. From God’s perspective the Holy Spirit is a sign that we belong to Christ. ‘But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”’ 2 Timothy 2:19