When a person believes the gospel, God seals him or her with the Holy Spirit of promise and makes that person His own.
The biblical order is hearing the word of truth, believing, and then being sealed with the Holy Spirit. Les Feldick stresses that nothing is added to faith — not baptism, church membership, or any other work. At that moment the gospel becomes the power of God, the believer becomes a child of God, and the Holy Spirit is given as God's mark of ownership and the earnest of the inheritance.
Ephesians 1:13 — This verse directly provides the sequence: hearing the word of truth, believing, and being sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.
Ephesians 1:13 shows the order plainly: "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." Verse 14 says that Holy Spirit "is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory." Paul also defines the gospel that must be believed in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4: "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures." Ephesians 2:1 describes the state from which the gospel delivers: "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins." Romans 8:9 gives the test of belonging to Christ: "Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."
Les Feldick points to the order in Ephesians 1:13: a person hears the word of truth — the gospel of salvation — then believes, and then is sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. He repeatedly says salvation is faith plus nothing. Baptism, church membership, catechism, and becoming a communicant are not in the salvation verse; they follow afterward rather than being conditions for heaven. Les describes the sealing as God's mark of ownership, like a brand on cattle, and the Holy Spirit as the earnest or down payment of our inheritance. He also says the moment a person believes the gospel, it becomes the very power of God, and by that power the person becomes a child of God. The believer is not only sealed but also indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and that indwelling Spirit is the criterion for belonging to Christ.
Paul defines the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day. Les Feldick says that is the gospel — nothing more, nothing less. When a person believes this gospel with all his heart, it becomes the power of God to make that person a child of God.
No. Les notes that Paul's order is "after that you believed," not after joining the church, catechism, baptism, or becoming a communicant. These things are not in Ephesians 1:13. Salvation is faith plus nothing; anything added is a human addition to Paul's gospel.
After believing, a believer is sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. Les describes this sealing as God's mark of ownership, comparable to a brand on cattle, and the Holy Spirit as the earnest or down payment of the inheritance. Because the believer is sealed, there is no condemnation.
Les uses Romans 8:9 as the criterion: if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he or she is none of His. The Holy Spirit is received by believing the gospel. When a person believes, God does it all — He puts Himself in the believer and puts the believer in Him.
Hearing the Word of Truth
Les shows that a person must first hear the word of truth, which is the gospel of salvation; this is why salvation cannot be inherited or accomplished by someone else.
The Gospel and the Sealing
Les identifies the gospel as Christ died, was buried, and rose again, and then traces the moment of hearing, believing, and being sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.
The Earnest of Our Inheritance
Les teaches that the Holy Spirit is the earnest, or down payment, of the believer's inheritance, making the sealing part of the salvation experience.
Faith Plus Nothing and No Condemnation
Les emphasizes that after believing, a person is sealed with the Holy Spirit, and that sealing is why there is no condemnation.
The Gospel as the Power of God
Les teaches that when a person believes the gospel of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, the gospel becomes the power of God and makes that person a child of God.
Believed, Sealed, and Indwelt
Les shows that salvation comes after believing, not after church rituals; the believer is sealed and indwelt by the Holy Spirit, a Pauline truth.
Branded by the Spirit
Les uses the imagery of a cattle brand to explain the Holy Spirit as God's mark of ownership, and the earnest of the inheritance.
The Spirit of Christ as the Test
Les gives the test of belonging to Christ: having the indwelling Holy Spirit, which is received by believing the gospel. God does it all, putting Himself in the believer and the believer in Him.
Ephesians 1:13: 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,
This is the central verse that answers what happens when a person believes the gospel.
Ephesians 1:14: Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
This explains that the Holy Spirit given at belief is the down payment of the believer's inheritance.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4: For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
This defines the gospel message that must be believed for salvation.
Ephesians 2:1: And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
This describes the spiritually dead condition from which believing the gospel delivers a person.
Romans 8:9: But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
This is the scriptural test for belonging to Christ through the indwelling Holy Spirit.
According to Ephesians 1:13, after you believe you are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. Les Feldick says the gospel — Christ died, was buried, and rose again — is believed, and God's power makes you a child of God with no condemnation because you are sealed.
No. Les says baptism is not in the salvation verse; the pattern is "after that you believed." Baptism and church membership follow salvation but are not conditions for getting to heaven.
If you have heard the word of truth and believed the gospel, God sealed you with the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:9 says that if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.
Paul's gospel in 1 Corinthians 15 is that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, was buried, and rose again the third day. That is the good news that, when believed, brings salvation.
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