2 Corinthians 1:22 Who has also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. Christ is the first sealed (John 6:27). God hath distinguished Him, and set a stamp upon Him to be the Messiah by the graces of the Spirit. Christ being sealed Himself, He sealed all that He did for our redemption with His blood, and hath added for the strengthening of our faith outward seals — the sacraments — to secure His love more firmly to us. But in this place another manner of sealing is to be understood. I. WHAT IS THE MANNER OF OUR SEALING BY THE SPIRIT? Sealing, we know, hath divers uses. 1. It imprints a likeness of him that seals. When the king's image is stamped upon the wax, everything in the wax answers to that in the seal. So the Spirit sets the stamp of Christ upon every true convert. There is no grace in Christ but there is the like in every Christian in some measure. 2. It distinguishes. Sealing is a stamp upon one thing among many. It distinguisheth Christians from others. 3. It serves for appropriation. Men seal those things that are their own. So God appropriates His own to show that He hath chosen them for Himself to delight in. 4. It serves to make things authentic, to give authority and excellency. The seal of the prince is the authority of the prince. This gives validity to things, answerable to the dignity and esteem of him that seals. II. WHAT IS THE STAMP THAT THE SPIRIT SEALS US WITHAL? III. HOW SHALL WE KNOW THAT THERE IS SUCH A SPIRITUAL SEALING IN US? (R. Sibbes, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.WEB: who also sealed us, and gave us the down payment of the Spirit in our hearts. |
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