What does it mean to be sealed by the Holy Spirit?
To be sealed by the Holy Spirit means that after believing the Gospel, the Holy Spirit Himself marks and indwells the believer as part of salvation. He is God's earnest, or down payment, guaranteeing the believer's inheritance as a joint heir with Christ until the redemption of the purchased possession.
Les explains that Ephesians 1:13-14 describes sealing as part and parcel of the salvation experience. After a person hears the word of truth, the Gospel of salvation, and believes in Christ, he or she is sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise—marked by the person of the Holy Spirit Himself. Verse 14 calls the Spirit the earnest, meaning a down payment, a sufficient down payment to make sure the transaction is completed. The indwelling Holy Spirit, given as a result of salvation, is therefore the down payment of the believer's inheritance as a joint heir with Christ. He holds that inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession. Les also connects this to 1 Corinthians 15, noting that soul and spirit are redeemed in full for all eternity, while the body awaits redemption.
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
More Questions
When are believers sealed with the Holy Spirit according to Ephesians 1:13?
Believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise after they heard the word of truth and believed in Christ.