2 Corinthians 1:22 Who has also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. What are we to understand by the sealing of the Spirit? It is that act of the Holy Spirit by which the work of grace is deepened in the heart of the believer, so that he has an increasing conviction of his acceptance in Jesus and his adoption into the family of God. 1. It is sometimes a sudden work of the Spirit. A soul may be so deeply sealed in conversion, may receive such a vivid impression of Divine grace, as it never afterwards loses. 2. But in most cases the sealing of the Spirit is a more gradual work. It is a work of time. There are, then, degrees, or progressive stages, of the Spirit's sealing. (1) The first impression is made in regeneration. This is often faint, and in numerous cases scarcely perceptible. The first impression is as much the work of the Spirit as any deeper one in after years. Let not the weak believer undervalue what God has done for him. (2) But a yet deeper impression of the seal is made when the believer is led more fully into the realisation of his sonship, when he attains to the blessed sense of the "adoption of children." Oh, what an impression is then left upon his heart, when all his legal fears are calmed, when all his slavish meanings are hushed ((3) In the process of sanctified affliction the soul often receives a fresh and a deep impress of the seal of the Spirit. The furnace works wonders for a believer. The hour of affliction is the hour of softening. Job bore this testimony: "He maketh my heart soft." Let it not, then, be forgotten that an afflicting time is often a sealing time. We would remark, in this connection of the subject, that the sealing of the Spirit does not always imply a rejoicing frame. It is not necessarily accompanied by great spiritual joy. I. IT IS THE DUTY AND PRIVILEGE OF EVERY BELIEVER DILIGENTLY AND PRAYERFULLY TO SEEK THE SEALING OF THE SPIRIT. He rests short of his great privilege if he slights or undervalues this blessing. Be not satisfied with the faint impression which you receive in conversion. In other words, rest not contented with a past experience. II. Again, I remark, THIS BLESSING IS ONLY FOUND IS THE WAY OR GOD'S APPOINTMENT. He has ordained that prayer should be the great channel through which His covenant blessings should flow into the soul. (O. Winslow, 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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