Jesus’ Sermon on Anxiety

 

MATTHEW 6:24-34

SUBJECT: WORRY/ ANXIETY

THEME: Jesus assured us we can trust God in anxious times; by faith we can attack our anxiety instead of having an anxiety attack!

RELEVANCY: We will miss out on the primary purposes of life if we waist them worrying and scurrying around trying to take care of basic needs.  Instead of worrying, we need to be seeking the living God, and progressively realizing His righteousness in our own spiritual development.  God promises to take care of the rest of our needs as we make Him the priority of our lives.

LESSON:

1.     Our World Is Filled with Anxious People.  It doesn’t seem to matter in which profession or area they work—business, education, ministry, politics, parenting—people are anxious about the future, unseen dangers, personal status and approval, their health, and their general ability to work and succeed in life. Many are anxious about the state of their souls and whether they are in right standing with God. Even Christians have these concerns.

2.     In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus Dealt with Anxiety More than Any Other Topic:

a.     Matthew 6:28-34, And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: [29] And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. [30] Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? [31] Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? [32] (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. [33] But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. [34] Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

b.     In this passage Jesus strikes at the tendency to center our lives around food and clothing, thus missing life’s real meaning. The problem is not so much what we eat and drink today, but what we shall eat, drink, and wear ten, twenty, or thirty years from now. Such worry for the future is sin because it denies the love, wisdom, and power of God. It denies the love of God by implying that He doesn’t care for us. It denies His wisdom by implying that He does not know what He is doing. And it denies His power by implying that He isn’t able to provide for our needs.

3.     The Words Anxious and Anxiety Aren't Found in the Bible.

a.     We don’t even find the word worry in our Bible. But, the concept of anxiety is found throughout the New Testament. In this passage you find the phrase “taking thought,” “take no thought” or “take ye thought.” (Vs. 25, 27, 28, 31). Issues such as these that Jesus raised aren’t even to enter our minds, but if they do, we are to give them no lodging. That is, “Don't give it a second thought,” or “It isn't worth thinking about.” 

b.     The problem is that this type of concern causes us to devote our finest energies to making sure we will have enough to live on.  Then before we know it, our lives have passed, and we have missed the central purpose for which we were made.  God did not create us in His image with no higher destiny than that we should consume food.  We are here to love, worship, and serve Him and to represent His interests on earth.  Our bodies are intended to be our servants, not our masters.

4.     And Yet, How Many of Us Spend Anxious Moments Pondering What We Will Eat, Drink, or Wear? How will we meet other daily practical and material needs in our lives? After all, food, drink, and clothing are some of our most basic needs. And that is the point that Jesus is making: God knows our basic needs. He is capable of meeting them, and He desires to meet them.

5.     “Learning to Trust God”

a.     “I felt like I was hanging onto the end of a long rope. There was nothing around me or under me that I could see. But I was being asked to let go of the rope. God was saying to me, ‘I will catch you.’ All I needed to do was trust him.”

b.     “Trust God. It seems like it should be a simple thing to do. But it is a lifelong struggle for most of us. Each day we discover new meanings to that little phrase. Each day we discover again how hard it is to do.

c.     People from dysfunctional families have learned from experience that people are not always trustworthy. Promises are broken. Responsibilities are avoided.

d.     In many ways we transfer these experiences of broken trust into our relationship with God. Even though the Bible proclaims God’s faithfulness and even though our personal experience of God may have shown him to be faithful in the past, we still struggle to trust him.

e.     Many people from dysfunctional homes will read “take no thought” or simply do not worry and will immediately feel guilty and ashamed of their anxieties. They will feel less spiritual and more depressed. It is very important to help each other focus on what Jesus is really saying here. When Jesus says “take no thought,” he is not saying “don't pay any attention to your needs.” Neither is he saying “your needs don't matter.” Nor is his purpose to merely say “shame on you for worrying.” (Dale and Juanita Ryan)

6.     Instead, Jesus assumes that worry is part of our daily experience and reminds us that God pays attention to the things that concern us.

a.     Jesus reminds us that God takes seriously His responsibility to care for His creatures and His children.

b.     In addition, while taking seriously our concerns (God knows your need), Jesus calls us to a perspective that takes us beyond ourselves into the life of Faith/Trust and God’s kingdom.

7.     As Believers we must recognized each of the following points: Matthew 6:25-34

a.     There’s more to life than the things we usually worry about (vs. 25)

b.     God feeds the birds and dresses the flowers and will also care for us (vs. 30)

c.     We are valuable to God (vs. 26, 30)

d.     Worrying is ineffective (vs. 27)

e.     God knows our needs (vs. 32)

f.      God invites us to focus on the concerns of His kingdom (vs.33)

CONCLUSION: If you have a loss of interest in life—a loss of enthusiasm, a loss of productivity and energy, a loss of output—consider whether you have developed an attitude of anxiety. If so, it's up to you to take action to break the hold that worry has over you. God will help you, but you must face what you have allowed to develop in your life and take action to counteract your response of worry and anxiety.

As believers we cannot tolerate any anxiety relative to our salvation in Jesus Christ. Remember when we are born again, at least four things happen. First, our sins were forgiven. When we received Christ, He forgave our sins, past, present and future, as far as our eternal destiny is concerned. Of course, sin has earthly consequences (Hebrews 12:5–11), and will influence our eternal rewards (2 Corinthians 5:10). But they will never keep us out of Heaven (Romans 5:20–21). Why? Because Jesus “bare our sins in His own body on the tree [cross]” (1 Peter 2:24). Because sin causes death, either we will die for our sins, or else we must accept Christ, who substitutes His death as the payment for our sins. So, if Christ has paid for our sins and we have accepted His payment, then we cannot pay for them also. Whether or not we as a new Christian can sense an immediate forgiveness for sins or not, we can rest on the promise of God that our sins have been blotted out. We dare to believe such an unbelievable thing because the Bible literally expresses this truth. Ephesians 1:7 says, “In whom [Christ] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” Then, in Ephesians 4:32 we read, “And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Yes, the first, wonderful thing that happens to us when we are born again is that our sins are forgiven.

As believers, the basis of our reconciliation is our union with Christ, the foundation of all spiritual growth. Second Corinthians 3:18, says, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” Those of us linked with Christ will demonstrate growing Christ-like qualities here on earth, and one day will be transformed fully into His likeness.

Of course, we don’t always feel very Christ-like and can become anxious about it. We see the hidden lust, the secret surges of selfishness and pride, the flashes of anger or the smoldering envy. Aware of our commitment to self-determination, self-protection, and self-gratification, we know our own hearts. But God knows our frame. He is mindful that we are but dust (Psalm 103:14) and takes care of that now. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). And eventually we will stand before Him, rid of these sin-corrupted bodies, never to sin again (Romans 8:23). There is no reason to be anxious about our souls and ultimate future when we know Christ Jesus as Savior.

The Proof of Justification

 

ROMANS 5:1; 8:1, 33-34; PHILIPPIANS 3:5

SUBJECT: SALVATION/ JUSTIFICATION

THEME: You can know by the work of the Spirit of God and the statements of the Word of God that you are viewed as righteous before God. Peace, assurance, acceptance, freedom from condemnation, and a lifestyle of fruitful activities that honor God and help others are proofs of justification.

INTRODUCTION:

We know that God on the basis of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection declares believing sinners justified in His sight. Therefore, we are no longer obligated to sin’s penalty, and we are set free from its guilt to live for God’s glory. But, how can we know we are justified? How can we hear the Judge’s verdict and final declaration concerning our case? Is there real proof in the Bible…is there a standard by which I can examine my own heart to discover whether I am indeed justified before God? Can I truly know God views me as righteous? What about those times when I feel guilty for past sins that God has forgiven? Is it possible for God to declare us as un-justified because we failed morally?

These are great questions and yes, God has anticipated such inquiries and provided answers in his word to help us with this. Let us look together at his answers....

LESSON:

I. What is The Proof of Justified Sinners?

When a person is fully accepted by the Lord based on the work of Jesus Christ, they should have some evidence or indication in their lives that they are indeed justified. The following is a list of what God stated specifically about the characteristics of justification with regards to the Believer’s experience.

A.  BECAUSE WE ARE JUSTIFIED WE HAVE PEACE WITH GOD.

Romans 5:1, Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Clearly, the great apostle links justification by faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ to a consequent spiritual and internal “peace” for the new convert. This is not relational in its nature nor is it horizontal referring to other people. No, it is entirely vertical pointing directly to the state of affairs between the Lord God and the repentant-believing new convert. I love what W.A. Elwell says regarding this peace,

The nature of this gift of peace brought by Jesus may be easier to explain by stating what it is not. It is not an end to tension, an absence of warfare, domestic tranquility, nor anything like the worldly estimation of peace (Lk 12:51–53; Jn 14:27; 16:32, 33). Its presence may, on the contrary, actually disturb existing relations, being a dividing “sword” in familial relations (Mt 10:34–37). Jesus’ gift of peace is, in reality, the character and mood of the new covenant of his blood which reconciles God to man (Rom 5:1; Col 1:20) and forms the basis of subsequent reconciliation between men under Christ (Eph 2:14–22).^[1]

I can clearly recall the turbulence and fantastic disturbance in my own soul prior to my conversion while under the preaching of the gospel. I was anxious, concerned, fearful, ashamed, and desperately in need of God to deal graciously with me. I had lived in sin for years…real sin occupied my heart, thoughts, motives, dreams, and life. I was guilty in the presence of perfect holiness, righteousness and justice…. I was entirely without excuse and there was nothing I could leverage to secure a plea bargain or win the righteous judge’s favor.

I am so thankful that the preaching that night I was saved pointed to Jesus as the payment for all my sins! Yes, even my darkest sins…Jesus paid for it and that night I acknowledged my guilt and embraced the complete payment of Jesus Christ on my behalf…for my sins…all of my sins. When God forgave me that night…when he released me from the eternal responsibility for my sinfulness…when God declared me righteous through faith in Jesus…I knew it! The joy and peace and the sense that I was forgiven flooded my soul like the noon day sun fills the sky! I was no longer under conviction to be saved; I was now being assured that I was saved by the same Spirit of God. Peace with God was the new reality for me. Peace…wonderful sweet eternal peace with the righteous Judge!  

The first great benefit enjoyed by those of us who have been justified by faith is peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. The war is over. Hostilities have ceased. Through the work of Christ all causes of enmity between our souls and God have been removed. We have been changed from foes to friends by a miracle of grace.^[2]

Why Indian Found Peace At Once

An Indian and a white man were brought under deep conviction of sin by the same sermon. The Indian was immediately led to rejoice in pardoning mercy. The white man was for a long time in distress, almost to despair. But he was at last brought to a sweet sense of his sins forgiven. Some time after, meeting his red brother, he said to him: “How is it that I should be so long under conviction, when you found peace at once?”

“O brother,” replied the Indian, “me tell you! There comes along a rich prince. He proposes to give you a new coat; you look pretty good, it will do a little longer. He then offers me a new coat. I look at my old blanket; I say, this good-for-nothing, and brother, you try to keep your own righteousness, you won’t give it up; but I, poor Indian, had none, so I glad at once to receive the righteousness of God—the Lord Jesus Christ.”—Scattered Seed^[3]

This gift of peace or reconciliation with God, made available through Christ, places an ethical demand on the Christian; it calls for the exercises of “peace” (as reconciliation between persons) within the church. Peace, as a fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22), is to be the goal of the Christian’s dealings with others (Rom 12:18; 14:19; Heb 12:14, etc.), that which marks one’s identity as a “child of God” (Mt 5:9).^[4]

B.  BECAUSE WE ARE JUSTIFIED WE ARE NO LONGER CONDEMNED.

Romans 8:1, There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Having trusted Jesus Christ as Savior, we are shielded from official and legal condemnation from a divine direction. Yes, our hearts may still condemn us at times, and the devil will point a finger of accusation, but zero condemnation will come from God—the God who declared us as righteous. Note the insightful observations of J.A. Witmer,

But first Paul reminded his readers that therefore—since deliverance is “through Jesus Christ our Lord” (7:25)—no condemnation (katakrima, “punishment”) awaits those who are in Christ Jesus, as a result of their faith and identification with Him (cf. 6:13; John 5:24). They are justified, declared righteous, and therefore stand in His grace (Rom. 5:2) and not under His wrath (1:18), and possess eternal life (5:17–18, 21). Christ is the sphere of safety for all who are identified with Him by faith.^[5]

God has declared us as righteous in Christ Jesus and his word is final. He will not change his mind if we fail in some area or sin. Our justification before God is not based on our performance or the lack thereof; it is entirely based on God’s work in Christ Jesus. God is not so confused that he will eventually condemn people who have believed the Gospel. There is zero condemnation from the divine direction; instead there is full acceptance and security in Jesus Christ for such believers. Dr. Wiersbe’s thoughts on this cannot be improved upon saying,

The verse does not say “no mistakes” or “no failures,” or even “no sins.” Christians do fail and make mistakes, and they do sin. Abraham lied about his wife; David committed adultery; Peter tried to kill a man with his sword. To be sure, they suffered consequences because of their sins, but they did not suffer condemnation. The Law condemns; but the believer has a new relationship to the Law, and therefore he cannot be condemned.^[6] 

So, again because we are justified by God because of faith in Jesus Christ we are no longer in threat of eternal condemnation in the Lake of Fire forever. We should experience peace and deepening assurance based on these first two points alone. The Spirit of God is working to bring these spiritual realities to the conscious and experiential level for real believers. Peace and assurance are yours due to the Spirit of God’s work deep within as we embrace these statements of Scripture. None of this negates the Lord’s work of chastening and correcting believers when we live in a disobedient manner, but remember God chastens his children (Heb. 12). That is correct, chastening by God for disobedience in believers is a legitimate indicator of real spiritual sonship to God. In contrast, real believers will never be condemned to hell by their heavenly Father…we have been declare as righteous and are viewed as no longer guilty before God. Jesus paid it all!

C.  BECAUSE WE ARE JUSTIFIED WE ARE NO LONGER CHARGED WITH SIN.

Romans 8:33-34, Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.  34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

The Apostle Paul aptly poses the question, "Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect?" That is who can effectively bring a charge or accusation of guilt against believers? Who can place responsibility for our sins, the moral failures of God's chosen people, upon us? Certainly, no mere human being can play this role! Who is left to make such a charge then? God?.... Wait...God is responsible for justifying real believers, so why would he then charge them with sin? "It is God that justifieth." With this being the case, it is reasonable to conclude that absolutely no one can make a charge of sin stick against a real child of God!  Because we are justified by the God-Judge we are no longer subject to any charges of sin before the divine court. 

Furthermore, the believer cannot be charged with sin because our sins were tried, condemned and judged completely on the Cross of Calvary. Our past sins, present sins, and future sins were all already paid for. When we sin we do break fellowship with God, but we can never break relationship to God. This is why we can never be charged with sins or condemned to hell for them. It is Christ who died and it is Christ who rose again; we are entirely identified with the Lord Jesus who conquered sin, death, the grave, and hell through his resurrection. We share the credit for achieving all of this also! We are with Christ and victorious over death, sin, hell, and the grave! This is our position in Christ and the Bible challenges us to live out this victorious reality in every facet of our lives and experiences. Finally, to further assure us of our security in the work of Christ…God tells us that Jesus is at his right hand presently praying for you and me and all believers! Remember, the place at God’s right hand is the place of power and authority after Christ’s triumph at Calvary and the resurrection. He ascended back to heaven to represent and minister on the behalf of every real believer. He is there to preserve us until we are changed in the Rapture—when redemption is completely and fully realized.

Webster And John Colby

The oldest sister of Daniel Webster was married to John Colby—the wickedest man in the neighborhood in respect to swearing and impiety. Then news came to Webster of a change, and he went to visit him.

On entering the house, he saw a large-print Bible opened which Colby had just been reading. The first question Colby asked Webster was, “Are you a Christian?” and then suggested that both kneel and pray!

When the visit was done, Webster told a friend: “I would like to hear what enemies of religion say of Colby’s conversion. Here was a man as unlikely to be a Christian as any I ever saw; and he had gone his godless way until now with old age and habits hard to change! Yet see him—a penitent, trusting, humble believer! Nothing short of the grace of Almighty God.”^[7]

D.  BECAUSE WE ARE JUSTIFIED WE ARE COUNTED AS RIGHTEOUS.

Philippians 3:9, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

This is the focus of this entire study—through faith in Jesus Christ alone we are justified before God. This is a present reality—we are counted as righteous before God and by God. Our spiritual account has been credited with the marvelous righteousness of God himself. The righteousness graciously given to repentant believers is identical in quality, duration, value, and perfection as that of the Triune God-head! You and I as believers in Christ Jesus are regarded by God himself as righteous! Just like himself!

Paul upon exposure to Christ the Savior yearned to truly be found in Christ fully relinquishing any scrap of self-righteousness or works righteousness from the Law and trusting Christ alone for God-righteousness! The justified ones possess God-righteousness alone and are rightly counted as righteous by God.

E.  BECAUSE WE ARE JUSTIFIED WE PERFORM GOOD WORKS.

James 2:20-26, But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?  21, Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?  22, Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?  23, And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.  24, Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

I only wanted to mention this fact to state that this form of justification is before people and not before God. People can make judgments about the legitimacy of our claims to be Christian. What demonstrates that our claims are genuine is the fact that we live and serve like real believers. Again this is not justification in the court of God by God. No, this is vindication before fellow human beings regarding the reality of our claims to be Christians. Justification before people is the idea. There is only one way to be declare righteous before God and it is by faith in Jesus Christ alone. However, the way we justify ourselves before other professing believers is by living out our faith—involving ourselves in wholesome activities that glorify God and help our fellow man. Our faith takes on street credibility when it positively impacts our world. While anyone can claim to be a believer in Jesus Christ, only those who live out the implications of their faith through service should be taken seriously. It is true we cannot see the true hearts condition of another person, but it is equally true that we can discern the fruit of a tree to detect its true nature.

George Muller’s Turnabout

At the age of sixteen George Muller of Bristol, England, was imprisoned for theft; and later at the university he lived a drinking, profligate life, acting dishonestly even toward his friends. At twenty years of age he came under the influence of the Bible, and the miracle of regeneration was wrought. He who had been a thief was now so utterly a new creature that in the course of the years he gave away, of the money sent to him for his personal use, no less a sum than $135,000, and when he died his personal possessions were valued at less than $1,000.—Christian Digest^[8]

CONCLUSION:

God on the basis of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection declares believing sinners justified in His sight. Therefore, we are no longer obligated to sin’s penalty, and we are set free from its guilt to live for God. The Perfect Judge declares believing sinners as righteous! Beloved, He has the final Word in this matter. In addition, justification can be experienced. You can know by the work of the Spirit of God and the statements of the Word of God that you are viewed as righteous by God. Peace, assurance, acceptance, freedom from condemnation, and a lifestyle of fruitful activities that honor God and help others are certifiable proofs of real conversion. We are not justified by these efforts, but these realities are sensed deeply in our own spirits and the Spirit of God shows us we are just before God.

Once again an anatomy affords us a structure and some organization of this giant topic in the Bible. Hopefully this article with the other two on this topic enables conversation on the topic of justification; my aim has been to expose the constituent parts and their relationship to each other. Much like a human anatomy diagram will demonstrate the various internal organs and their approximate relationship to each other. In this anatomy of justification series we showed the relationship of other grand theological concepts to each other. In this article we demonstrated some ways justification is experienced by the genuine child of God, and this provides proof of our standing before God.

Before I close this article I would like to ask one last question. Have you been saved God’s way or have you been deceived by false notions associated with Christianity? I realize the question is a bit intrusive, but you are important to God. There is but one way to God and his name is Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth, and the Life (Jn. 14:6). Absolutely no one can come to God for salvation and relationship without the Lord Jesus Christ. There is only one divine liaison between humanity and God and he is our Lord Jesus Christ. No one else in the entire universe qualifies for this job. 

Yes, there is such a thing as self-righteousness where people hold themselves up as a standard of acceptable lifestyles and behaviors. The problem is they judge others by their actions and give themselves a pass by judging themselves based on their intentions. Condemnation, pride, and estrangement are the natural out workings of this poor system. It does not even slightly approach the righteousness of God (Rom. 3).

Another misconception is works-righteousness which consists in our personal performance and obedience to God’s Law and requirements. In this model we fain to keep the Ten Commandments, to obey the Golden Rule always, to treat others right, and to generally be good people (Phil 3). The problem with this approach is that we cannot do only right and we cannot stop all sinning. Even one sin by any person is a violation of the entire standard requirements of God! No matter how hard we try to do well and right—to live good lives—we still cannot change our very nature. We are sinners. That is correct…we sin because we are deeply sinful within our hearts, minds, spirits, and desires (Rom. 3).

We need a miracle from God to change us. We need God to graciously save us. That is why Jesus died willingly at Calvary…to do for us what we could only do for ourselves if we were condemned to hell forever. Instead Jesus took our place and suffered and died in our stead for our sins and evil. Jesus rose again the third day exactly as he repeatedly said he would. This signified that he is indeed the Savior and that he did pay for sin completely and that God the Father was utterly pleased with Christ’s sacrifice (1Cor. 15). Beloved, Jesus is the only means of real salvation and obtaining God-righteousness (2Tim. 1:9-10). I ask again…have you been saved God’s way? If not…discard your self-righteousness and your works righteousness and choose instead God-righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ. There is no need to delay. Trust Jesus Christ today for the forgiveness of sins. Then God will graciously declare you as righteous. He did this for me and he will do the same for you. Trust Jesus Christ for God-righteousness.  

 

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^[1] Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. (1988). Peace. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible (Vol. 2, p. 1635). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.

^[2] MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 1695). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

^[3] Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (p. 1204). Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc.

^[4] Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. (1988). Peace. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible (Vol. 2, p. 1635). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.

^[5] Witmer, J. A. (1985). Romans. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 469). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

^[6] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 538). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

^[7] Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (p. 1230). Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc.

^[8] Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (p. 1230). Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc.

Why Spiritual Sealing Matters

Again the sealing of the Holy Spirit refers to His ministry of marking the children of God as His own possession and guaranteeing their complete salvation. Having discovered from Ephesian 1:13-14, that this holy sealing transpires at conversion and primarily signifies that believers belong to God, it is vital that we explore the significance of this divine act further. In this article we will consider how spiritual sealing refers to spiritual authority, security, and protection. So, not only does the sealing by the Holy Spirit denote ownership, but it further signifies power and safeguarding for every genuine child of God. These are blessings afforded by the Heavenly Father to every believer without a single exception. They are not privileges earned through obedience, but given as pure acts of grace through the Holy Spirit. Note once more what the insightful Apostle Paul says in Ephesians 1:12-14,

That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 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, ¹⁴ Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.^[1]

DIVINE PROTECTION

Spiritual safeguarding is afforded because the true Christian is sealed by the Spirit. This is God provided protection and security—it is unparalleled and without equal in potency. The Roman seal on the tomb of the Lord Jesus carried this meaning of security and protection rooted in governmental authority (Matt. 27:66). The tomb was under the protection of Roman authority and was to remain secure and the seal unbroken. This was the Jewish rulers and Roman officials’ effort to insure the disciples of the Lord Jesus did not come secretly to steal his body to then make a false claim that Christ had risen from the dead. Likewise, the believer belongs to God, and is spiritually safe because he or she is under divine authority and protection—we are “kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation” (1Pet. 1:5). According to the Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit will abide with the believer forever—He will not break this seal nor forsake this ministry of safeguarding God’s people (John 14:16-17). Certainly, it is possible for Christians to grieve the Spirit and thereby lose the blessings of His ministry (Eph. 4:30). But He does not leave them; in fact, this a far cry from forsaking believers because of some area of unfaithfulness in the believer.  The Spirit keeps each believer safely and securely in God’s grace and love as He promised (Rom. 8:26-39). The result is life-long eternal security and spiritual protection that will never expire! The truth highlighted here is that the Christians can never…ever…ever be lost again.

Anders (1995, Chapter 3) gives one commonly used story picturing the power and significance of a seal through an emissary that Alexander the Great once sent to Egypt. This representative of the most powerful man on earth at the time traveled to Egypt without weapons or military escort. He carried only the seal of Alexander, possibly a signet ring bearing Alexander’s official seal.

The emissary met with the king of Egypt, who stood with his army behind him, and communicated to him that Alexander wanted him to cease hostilities against Alexander’s interests. The king of Egypt, wishing to save face, said that he would consider Alexander’s request and let him know later what his response would be. At that, the emissary drew a circle in the dirt around the king of Egypt and said, “Do not leave the circle without informing me of your response.” Think of that! The king of Egypt was standing there in full military array, with his army instantly ready to obey his commands. The emissary was unarmed. Yet the king dared not harm or defy the emissary without defying Alexander. Whatever he did to the emissary, he did to Alexander. Realizing that he was facing, by extension, Alexander himself, after a long, tense moment he said, “Tell Alexander he has his request,” and stepped out of the circle.

That is the power and significance of a seal. It carries the full weight of the one who owns it. Christians have God’s seal, the Holy Spirit, which carries the full weight of God the Father behind it (2Corinthians 1:22). The entire power and authority of Almighty God stands behind the believer’s security in Christ! The seal signifies that believers are God’s possessions; God is for them guarantying their security. If God is for them, who can successfully stand against them.

BELIEVERS’ ASSURANCE

It should also be reemphasized that the Spirit’s seal in the believer’s life is meant to be experiential. The Spirit grants inner assurance that a repentant believer is indeed justified before the Lord God because of their faith in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Though a believer is sealed but once, the spiritual blessing can be experienced continually. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1997 p. 260) in God The Holy Spirit taught that this is part of the value in God communicating this truth to the child of God. The truth is given that Christians might have assurance, enjoyment and blessed security in the salvation of the Lord. They are secure until the ultimate complete redemption and perfection in Christ. There is no need to fear being abandoned by God for whatever reason. We are blessed with the assurance that we belong to the Lord and that He belongs to us!

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine

Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine

Heir of salvation, purchase of God

Born of His spirit, washed in His blood—Fanny Jane Crosby (1820-1915)

BELIEVER’S AUTHENTICITY

Another use for the seal is as a mark of authenticity (Wiersbe 1989, Vol. 2. p. 13) (John 6:27; 3:33). When the Lord Jesus said that God the Father had set His seal on Him, He meant that God had sent Him and approved Him as the genuine Giver of eternal life (Jn. 6:27). Christ’s power to give life rested in the authority which God the Father had vested in him. Thus Christ’s offer of eternal life is legitimate and real; we are free then to trust Him…to believe any claim He makes…to regard ourselves safe under His influence and care. The Father set his seal of approval and authenticity on the Son at his baptism when the Holy Spirit came upon him and the Father spoke of him. When one sets his seal to something, it means that they promise that it is true or genuine. God sealed the Son of Man in the sense that He endorsed Him as the authentic Giver of eternal life, and the One who spoke the truth. Such clear declarations of the authenticity of the Lord Jesus connects deeply with our need to trust Him...believe Him…commit ourselves to following Him. Christ and His message are confirmed by God; He is real about what He promises. Jesus is free of mere clever manipulations! 

Just as a signature on a letter attests to the genuineness of the document, so the presence of the Spirit indwelling believers proves the believer is genuine. There is more here than a claim to believe…more is involved than participation in religious meetings, something far weightier is of interest than meager assertions about being serious about our faith. Paul said, “If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His” (Rom. 8:9). It is wise to permit that biblical statement to persist with the intended strength with which it was given! Wiersbe (1996, Vol. 2. p. 13) taught it is not simply our “lip profession, our religious activity, or our good works, but also the witness of the Spirit that makes our profession of faith authentic” (Rom 8:14-17).  This reality should be well understood and never diminished. Romans 8:16 says, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God”^[2] Denney says…Our own spirit tells us we are God’s children, but the voice with which it speaks is, as we know, prompted and inspired by the divine Spirit itself.”^[3] So the significance of the seal is that it declares divine ownership, provides eternal security, and testifies to an authentic conversion experience.

EARNEST

The second observation of the apostle Paul reveals the Spirit’s seal is the “earnest of our inheritance” (Eph. 1:14). Consider Paul’s affirmation, “…ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, ¹⁴ Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory” (Eph. 1:14). Therefore, receiving the Spirit was only the ‘first installment’ of the spiritual inheritance. This can be seen through a study of the word “earnest.” And one can be certain “earnest” is a fascinating word!  McGee (1997) indicated in his Thru the Bible with J. Vernon McGee commentary that in Paul’s day, it meant the down payment to guarantee the final purchase of some commodity or piece of property.

Even today one will hear a real estate agent talk about earnest money to secure a property interest. Naturally speaking, earnest has to do with the deposit one puts down when making a sizable purchase.  It means one is contracting that they will certainly pay the rest; they is putting down on account; it is the first installment, paid as a kind of security (Anders 1995, Chapter 3). It’s a pledge that one will follow on with something more.  Basically there are two other passages of Scripture that communicate this concept of the Spirit’s ministry in the believer and they are 2Corintians 1:22 and 5:5.  This seal, the presence of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling believers, guarantees the final and full redemption of believers (Richards & Richards 1987). It intimates that the present activities of the Spirit foreshadow the type and quality of ministry He will do more fully in the new creation, and so the Spirit with whom God marks them with his stamp of ownership is also appropriately called the “earnest” meaning “caution-money deposited by a purchaser in pledge of full payment,” ‘guarantee’, even ‘first installment’ of believers inheritance (Rom. 8:23; 2Cor. 1:22; 5:5)  according to Wuest’s Word Studies in the Greek New Testament (Wuest 1997, Vol. 1, p. 49). Max Anders (1995, Chapter 3) in The Holy Spirit: Knowing our Comforter adds yet another valuable insight to the concept of “earnest” by saying, The word earnest also means “engagement ring.” In Greece today you would find this word being used that way. But, after all, isn’t an engagement ring an assurance—a guarantee—that the promises made will be kept? Our relationship to God through Christ is not simply a commercial one, but also a personal experience of love. He is the Bridegroom and His church is the bride. We know that He will come and claim His bride because He has given us His promise and His Spirit as the “engagement ring.” What greater assurance could we want?

GUARANTEE

Then notice the phrase the “redemption of the purchased possession” (Eph. 1:14); it refers to the full inheritance. The seal guarantee to believers the Spirit will finish His work and eventually bring them to glory. Note what Paul stated in Romans 8:23, which says, “And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” The “redemption of the purchased possession” refers to the redemption of the body at the return of Christ in the Rapture (Rom 8:18-23; 1John 3:1-3). It speaks of a finished transaction. Even today when important legal documents are processed, they are stamped with the official seal to signify the completion of the transaction. The fact that Christians know the Holy Spirit is living in them is a perfect guarantee of their ultimate salvation—the redemption glorification (1Cor. 1:30). The Holy Spirit has been given to them in order that they might have some kind of idea of what awaits them when they arrive in glory.  God has given them the first fruits.  

One also should view the earnest of the Holy Spirit as having some experiential value for the believer in Christ Jesus.  It seems correct to think that this is afforded to them to give comfort and encouragement.  Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1997, p. 260-262) observed in God The Holy Spirit, that life can be hard and trying and filled with certain temptations and uncertainties, but God affords Christians these assurances to help them through this pilgrimage. What they have experienced of the Spirit is but a foretaste, it is but a sample, a kind of first fruits of the tremendous heritage God is preparing for them.  Again believers not only take these truths by faith, they are moved by them and their emotions are touched deep within, their entire being is influenced and stirred by this truth. Their conduct is curtailed and their actions are guided by this wonderful guarantee. 

The seal and earnest of the Spirit provide assurance of a finished transaction and a guarantee the believer will receive the entire inheritance as an heir of God. Finally, Max Anders (1995, Chapter 3) provides another helpful insight into the seal of the Spirit by noting how the trucking industry provides an interesting illustration of the sealing of the Spirit. For certain types of loads, when a truck is fully loaded and ready for its run, plastic seals are placed around the lock on the door. Breaking this seal before the truck reaches its destination will have at the least the appearance of thief and will mean the loss of one’s job. This is similar to the sealing of the Spirit. The seal of the Spirit cannot be broken before the Christian reaches his heavenly destination. It is the believer’s guarantee of reaching the destination God intends for them.  

Again, the blessings Christians receive now are just a foreshadowing: according to Paul, they still await their “inheritance” in the final and total redemption of the world by God at the end of time. Ephesians 4:30, re-emphasizes this truth, reminding them that they are sealed with the Spirit “unto the day of redemption” to come. Then God’s purpose, initiated in Christ, will be brought to consummation, and seeing it from beginning to end will evoke all creation’s praise of the Creator.

So then regarding the Spirit’s sealing, believers can know they belong to God, is secure in salvation, and their profession of faith is genuine. Then regarding the earnest of the Spirit, believers are assured of a finished transaction. They are guaranteed all the inheritance provisions will be realized fully for each child of God. If the ‘down payment’ was God the Spirit, what in eternity will the full payment be! Clearly, these are important matters to the people of God. 

One other truth should be realized. All these ministries of the Holy Spirit to Christians are simultaneous at the moment of conversion. While the conviction process may be long and drawn-out previous to salvation, people are not saved without it. It is still present at the moment of salvation, convincing sinners to repent, to turn from their previous attitudes about Christ, and to accept Him as their personal Savior. Regeneration, indwelling, and sealing all happen the moment one says “yes” to the invitation of Christ. Then a whole new and wonderful work of God begins in the life of the new convert. Sanctification and spiritual growth are the next natural considerations following such discussions. 

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^[1] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Eph 1:12–14). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[2] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Ro 8:16). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[3] Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament: for the English reader (Vol. 2, p. 135). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.