Yes—Ephesians 1:13-14 gives a clear sequence: hear the word of truth (the gospel), believe in Christ, and then be sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.
Paul writes that the Ephesians trusted after they heard the word of truth, the gospel of their salvation, and that after they believed they were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. Les Feldick repeatedly walks through these same verses and stresses that the only action between hearing and being sealed is believing. He also points out that nothing else—no church ceremony, baptism, or catechism—appears in the text.
Ephesians 1:13 — This verse directly shows the order Les teaches: hearing the word of truth, believing, and then being sealed.
Ephesians 1:14 — This verse explains that the Holy Spirit is the earnest of our inheritance after the sealing.
Ephesians 1:13-14 describes the order in which believers come into salvation. Paul writes that in Christ the Ephesians also trusted after they heard the word of truth, the gospel of their salvation, and in Christ after they believed they were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise. The text then calls the Holy Spirit the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession. The sequence is marked by after that ye heard, after that ye believed, and then the sealing. Nothing is inserted between hearing the gospel and being sealed by the Holy Spirit.
Les Feldick takes Ephesians 1:13-14 and walks through the progression. He begins by noting that every child of God came from being a sinner, a son of Adam, condemned already. Then that person hears the word of truth, which Les identifies as the gospel of salvation—the message that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again. After hearing, the person believes. Les emphasizes that the text contains nothing else between hearing and believing except faith. Then, after believing, God seals the believer with the Holy Spirit of promise. Les describes this sealing as part and parcel of the salvation experience—God marks the believer by the Holy Spirit Himself. He also points out that this sealing is Pauline doctrine, not something you see in the Gospels.
In the text, the word of truth is described as the gospel of your salvation. Les identifies this gospel as the message that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again. He makes this connection when reading Ephesians 1:13 and explaining the sequence. So the sequence cannot begin until someone hears this gospel message.
According to Ephesians 1, after a person believes, God seals them with the Holy Spirit of promise. Les teaches that this sealing is part and parcel of salvation and that God marks the believer by the Holy Spirit Himself. The order is not reversed—believing comes before the sealing, and no other step is added between them.
Les emphasizes that Ephesians 1 does not include joining the church, going through catechism, being baptized, or becoming a communicant. When people read the verse, they often want to add other requirements, but the text says believed. The only response between hearing the gospel and being sealed is faith.
Does the Holy Spirit Live in You? Romans 8:9 Explained
No, I don't expect a new person that has just been totally untaught in the Scriptures, and in fact they're the easiest ones to work with, and they know nothing of these things. They don't have to know all of these deep doctrinal things to be saved.
The Order of Hearing, Believing, and Being Sealed
Les shows the progressive order in Ephesians 1:13: hearing the word of truth (the gospel) comes first, then believing, and then the believer is sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.
Sealing as Part of Salvation
Les teaches that being sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise is part of the salvation experience—God marks the believer by the Holy Spirit Himself.
Nothing Else in the Text
Les emphasizes that the only item in Ephesians 1 between hearing and being sealed is believing; people often want to add other things, but the text says only believed.
The Gospel Defined
Les identifies the word of truth as the gospel that Christ died, was buried, and rose again, and shows that after hearing it, the only response in the text is belief.
Believing the Gospel as the Core
Les teaches that reading Ephesians 1:13-14 simply and plainly reveals the order, and that the core of eternal life is believing the gospel.
No Works Between Hearing and Sealing
Les contrasts faith with joining the church, catechism, baptism, or becoming a communicant; the sequence places only believing before being sealed with the Holy Spirit.
Pauline Doctrine of the Sealing
Les quotes Ephesians 1:13 in the context of Paul's unique teaching and observes that you will not see this sealing with the Holy Spirit in the Gospels.
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 key verse showing the order Paul describes—hearing the gospel, believing, and being sealed.
Ephesians 1:14: Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
This verse explains that the Holy Spirit is God's down payment, given after the believer is sealed.
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:
Les uses this passage to define the word of truth / gospel referenced in Ephesians 1:13.
The steps are hearing the word of truth, the gospel; believing in Christ; and then being sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. Les Feldick points out that nothing else is placed between hearing and being sealed.
In the text, the word of truth is called 'the gospel of your salvation.' Les identifies this gospel as the message that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again.
The sealing happens after a person hears the gospel and believes. Ephesians 1:13 says 'after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.'
Watch the Teaching: Does the Holy Spirit Live in You? Romans 8:9 Explained