Ephesians 1:13
And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth--the gospel of your salvation--you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
And in Him
This phrase emphasizes the centrality of Christ in the believer's life. The Greek preposition "en" (ἐν) signifies a fixed position in place, time, or state, indicating that our spiritual blessings and identity are firmly rooted in Jesus Christ. Historically, this reflects the early Christian understanding that salvation and spiritual life are found exclusively in Christ, a theme that Paul consistently emphasizes throughout his epistles.

you also
Paul is addressing the Gentile believers in Ephesus, affirming their inclusion in the promises of God. The phrase underscores the universality of the gospel, breaking down the barriers between Jew and Gentile. This reflects the early church's mission to spread the gospel beyond the Jewish community, fulfilling the Great Commission.

after hearing the word of truth
The "word of truth" refers to the gospel message. The Greek term "logos" (λόγος) for "word" conveys the idea of a divine message or revelation. Historically, the proclamation of the gospel was central to the apostolic mission, and hearing it was the first step in the process of salvation. This highlights the importance of preaching and teaching in the early church.

the gospel of your salvation
The "gospel" (Greek: εὐαγγέλιον, euangelion) is the good news of Jesus Christ's death and resurrection, which brings salvation. The phrase "of your salvation" personalizes the message, indicating that salvation is an individual experience. This reflects the transformative power of the gospel, which was a radical message in the context of the first-century Greco-Roman world.

Having believed
Faith is the response to hearing the gospel. The Greek word "pisteuō" (πιστεύω) means to trust or have confidence in. This belief is not merely intellectual assent but involves a deep, personal trust in Christ. Historically, this faith was the distinguishing mark of the early Christians, setting them apart from both Jews and pagans.

you were sealed
The concept of being "sealed" (Greek: σφραγίζω, sphragizō) implies ownership, security, and authenticity. In ancient times, a seal was used to signify authority and protection. This metaphor indicates that believers are marked as God's own, assured of their salvation and protected by the Holy Spirit.

with the promised Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the fulfillment of God's promise, as foretold in the Old Testament and reiterated by Jesus. The Spirit's indwelling presence is a guarantee of the believer's inheritance. This reflects the early church's experience of the Spirit's power and guidance, which was a source of strength and unity for the fledgling Christian communities.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Paul the Apostle
The author of the letter to the Ephesians, Paul was a key figure in the early Christian church, known for his missionary journeys and theological teachings.

2. Ephesians
The recipients of the letter, the Ephesians were members of the early Christian church in Ephesus, a major city in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey).

3. Holy Spirit
The third person of the Trinity, promised by Jesus to His followers as a helper and guide, and the one who seals believers in their faith.

4. Gospel of Salvation
The message of Jesus Christ's death and resurrection, which offers salvation to all who believe.

5. Sealing
A metaphorical term used to describe the Holy Spirit's role in marking believers as belonging to God, ensuring their security and authenticity in faith.
Teaching Points
Hearing and Believing
Emphasize the importance of both hearing the gospel and responding in faith. Salvation begins with the proclamation of the word of truth and is completed by personal belief.

The Role of the Holy Spirit
Highlight the Holy Spirit's function as a seal, which signifies ownership, protection, and authenticity. This sealing assures believers of their eternal security in Christ.

The Gospel of Truth
Encourage believers to hold fast to the gospel as the ultimate truth in a world filled with conflicting messages. The gospel is the foundation of our faith and salvation.

Assurance of Salvation
Teach that the sealing of the Holy Spirit provides believers with assurance of their salvation, offering peace and confidence in their relationship with God.

Living as Sealed Believers
Challenge believers to live in a manner worthy of their calling, reflecting the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in their daily lives.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding the role of the Holy Spirit as a seal impact your view of your security in Christ?

2. In what ways can you actively listen to and believe the "word of truth" in your daily life?

3. How does the assurance of being sealed by the Holy Spirit influence your confidence in sharing the gospel with others?

4. What are some practical ways you can demonstrate that you are living as someone who is sealed by the Holy Spirit?

5. How do the connections between Ephesians 1:13 and other scriptures like John 14:16-17 and Romans 8:16 deepen your understanding of the Holy Spirit's work in your life?
Connections to Other Scriptures
John 14:16-17
Jesus promises the Holy Spirit as a Helper who will be with believers forever, emphasizing the Spirit's role in the life of a Christian.

2 Corinthians 1:21-22
Paul speaks of God establishing believers in Christ and anointing them, also mentioning the seal of the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of what is to come.

Romans 8:16
The Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are God's children, reinforcing the idea of the Holy Spirit's role in affirming our identity in Christ.
Assurance; Or, the Spirit's SealingJ. Flavel.Ephesians 1:13
Believers are SealedJohn Pulsford.Ephesians 1:13
Difference Between Belief and TrustLuke Tyerman.Ephesians 1:13
Faith in ChristT. Croskery Ephesians 1:13
How Divine Grace is ManifestedR. J. McGhee, M. A.Ephesians 1:13
Relation to God ExperiencedEphesians 1:13
SealedM. Rainsford, B. A.Ephesians 1:13
Testimony of ExperienceDr. Haven.Ephesians 1:13
The Biography of TrustM. Rainsford, B. A.Ephesians 1:13
The Double SealJ. Flavel.Ephesians 1:13
The Effect of Hearing the GospelD. Rees.Ephesians 1:13
The Ephesians' FaithJ. Lathrop, D. D.Ephesians 1:13
The Functions of the Word and the SpiritPaul Bayne.Ephesians 1:13
The Gospel of SalvationAndrew Thomson, D. D.Ephesians 1:13
The Great Christian GiftBishop Moberly.Ephesians 1:13
The Inheritance and the SealW. Alves, M. A.Ephesians 1:13
The Means of SalvationT. Croskery Ephesians 1:13
The Prayers of an ApostleT. Croskery Ephesians 1:13
The Seal of GodH. M. Villiers, M. A.Ephesians 1:13
The Sealing of the SpiritC. H. Spurgeon.Ephesians 1:13
The Sealing of the SpiritJ. Vaughan, M. A.Ephesians 1:13
The Sealing of the SpiritT. Watson.Ephesians 1:13
The Spirit's Application of the Promises to the Believer's HeartThe PulpitEphesians 1:13
The Spirit's SealW. Graham, D. D.Ephesians 1:13
The True Position of AssuranceC. H. Spurgeon.Ephesians 1:13
The Way of SalvationTrapp.Ephesians 1:13
Trusting Brings SalvationC. H. Spurgeon.Ephesians 1:13
Truth and TrustLuke Tyerman.Ephesians 1:13
Union of Faith and TrustLuke Tyerman.Ephesians 1:13
The Forgiveness and Inspiration of the Adopted ChildrenR.M. Edgar Ephesians 1:7-14
The Redemptive Predestination of God in its Subjective and Objective AspectsD. Thomas Ephesians 1:7-14
Priority in the Purpose of RedemptionR. Finlayson Ephesians 1:11-14
SealedW.F. Adeney Ephesians 1:13, 14
The Sealing of the Holy SpiritT. Croskery Ephesians 1:13, 14
People
Ephesians, Paul
Places
Ephesus
Topics
Believed, Christ, Faith, Gentiles, Glad, Gospel, Holy, Hope, Listening, Marked, Message, News, Promise, Promised, Salvation, Salvation-having, Seal, Sealed, Sign, Spirit, Tidings, Trusted, Truth
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Ephesians 1:13

     1462   truth, in NT
     2206   Jesus, the Christ
     2428   gospel, descriptions
     3015   Holy Spirit, divinity
     3110   Holy Spirit, titles of
     5159   hearing
     5932   response
     6214   participation, in Christ
     7028   church, life of
     7336   circumcision, spiritual
     8022   faith, basis of salvation
     8425   evangelism, nature of

Ephesians 1:3-14

     1513   Trinity, mission of
     5110   Paul, teaching of
     6639   election, to salvation
     6708   predestination
     6756   union with Christ, significance
     8412   decisions

Ephesians 1:4-13

     7125   elect, the

Ephesians 1:11-14

     5909   motives, importance

Ephesians 1:13-14

     1315   God, as redeemer
     1512   Trinity, equality of
     2018   Christ, divinity
     3040   Holy Spirit, promise of
     3120   Holy Spirit, descriptions
     3203   Holy Spirit, and assurance
     3278   Holy Spirit, indwelling
     3287   Holy Spirit, sealing of
     4966   present, the
     5023   image of God
     5110   Paul, teaching of
     5329   guarantee
     5467   promises, divine
     5518   seal
     5705   inheritance, spiritual
     6609   adoption
     6647   eternal life, experience
     6679   justification, results
     6746   sanctification, means and results
     7142   people of God, NT
     8105   assurance, basis of
     8214   confidence, basis of
     8349   spiritual growth, means of
     8441   goals
     8813   riches, spiritual
     9110   after-life

Library
The True Christian Life
TEXT: "My beloved is mine, and I am his."--Sol. Song 2:16. "I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine."--Sol. Song 6:3. "I am my beloved's and his desire is toward me."--Sol. Song 7:10. These three texts should be read together, and the significant change found in each text as the thought unfolds should be studied carefully. They remind one of three mountain peaks one rising higher than the other until the third is lifted into the very heavens. Indeed, if one should live in the spirit of this
J. Wilbur Chapman—And Judas Iscariot

Saints and Faithful
'The saints which are at Ephesus and the faithful in Christ Jesus.'--Eph. i. 1. That is Paul's way of describing a church. There were plenty of very imperfect Christians in the community at Ephesus and in the other Asiatic churches to which this letter went. As we know, there were heretics amongst them, and many others to whom the designation of 'holy' seemed inapplicable. But Paul classes them all under one category, and describes the whole body of believing people by these two words, which must
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

The Earnest and the Inheritance
'The earnest of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession.'--Eph. i. 14. I have dealt with a portion of this verse in conjunction with the fragment of another in this chapter. I tried to show you how much the idea of the mutual possession of God by the believing soul, and of the believing soul by God, was present to the Apostle's thoughts in this context. These two ideas are brought into close juxtaposition in the verse before us, for, as you will see if you use the Revised
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

The Hope of the Calling
'That ye may know what is the hope of His calling.'--Eph. i. 18. A man's prayers for others are a very fair thermometer of his own religious condition. What he asks for them will largely indicate what he thinks best for himself; and how he asks it will show the firmness of his own faith and the fervour of his own feeling. There is nothing colder than the intercession of a cold Christian; and, on the other hand, in no part of the fervid Apostle Paul's writings do his words come more winged and fast,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

God's Inheritance in the Saints
'That ye may know what is the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.'--Eph. i. 18. The misery of Hope is that it so often owes its materials to the strength of our desires or to the activity of our imagination. But when mere wishes or fancies spin the thread, Hope cannot weave a lasting fabric. And so one of the old prophets, in speaking of the delusive hopes of man, says that they are like 'spiders' webs,' and 'shall not become garments.' Paul, then, having been asking for these
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

'All Spiritual Blessings'
'Blessed be God ... who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.'--Eph. i. 3. It is very characteristic of Paul's impetuous fervour and exuberant faith that he begins this letter with a doxology, and plunges at once into the very heart of his theme. Colder natures reach such heights by slow degrees. He gains them at a bound, or rather, he dwells there always. Put a pen into his hand, and it is like tapping a blast furnace; and out rushes a fiery stream at white
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

'According To' --II.
'According to the riches of His grace.'--Eph. i. 7. We have seen, in a previous sermon, that a characteristic note of this letter is the frequent occurrence of that phrase 'according to.' I also then pointed out that it was employed in two different directions. One class of passages, with which I then tried to deal, used it to compare the divine purpose in our salvation with the historical process of the salvation. The type of that class of reference is found in a verse just before my text, 'according
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

God's Inheritance and Ours
'In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, ... the earnest of our inheritance.'--Eph. i. 11, 14. A dewdrop twinkles into green and gold as the sunlight falls on it. A diamond flashes many colours as its facets catch the light. So, in this context, the Apostle seems to be haunted with that thought of 'inheriting' and 'inheritance,' and he recurs to it several times, but sets it at different angles, and it flashes back different beauties of radiance. For the words, which I have wrenched from their
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

The Measure of Immeasurable Power
That ye may know ... what is the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ.'--Eph. i. 19, 20. 'The riches of the glory of the inheritance' will sometimes quench rather than stimulate hope. He can have little depth of religion who has not often felt that the transcendent glory of that promised future sharpens the doubt--'and can I ever hope to reach it?' Our paths are strewn with battlefields where we were defeated;
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

'According To' --I.
'According to the good pleasure of His will, ... According to the riches of His grace.'--Eph. i. 5, 7. That phrase, 'according to,' is one of the key-words of this profound epistle, which occurs over and over again, like a refrain. I reckon twelve instances of it in three chapters of the letter, and they all introduce one or other of the two thoughts which appear in the two fragments that I have taken for my text. They either point out how the great blessings of Christ's mission have underlying
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

Twenty-Fifth Day. Holy and Blameless.
Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe.--The Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, to the end He may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His holy ones.'--1 Thess. ii. 10, iii. 12, 13. 'He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before Him
Andrew Murray—Holy in Christ

A Sight of the Crowned Christ
(Revelation, Chapter i.) "Since mine eyes were fixed on Jesus, I've lost sight of all beside, So enchained my spirit's vision, Looking at the Crucified." "The Lord Christ passed my humble cot: I knew him, yet I knew him not; But as I oft had done before, I hurried through my narrow door To touch His garment's hem. "He drew me to a place apart From curious crowd and noisy mart; And as I sat there at His feet I caught the thrill of His heart-beat Beyond His garment's hem. "Rare was the bread He broke
by S. D. Gordon—Quiet Talks on the Crowned Christ of Revelation

Redemption through Blood, the Gracious Forgiveness of Sins
READ THE CHAPTER, and carefully note how the apostle goes to the back of everything, and commences with those primeval blessings which were ours before time began. He dwells on the divine love of old, and the predestination which came out of it; and all that blessed purpose of making us holy and without blame before him in love, which was comprehended in the covenant of grace. It does us good to get back to these antiquities--to these eternal things. You shake off something of the dust of time, as
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 37: 1891

Blessing for Blessing
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ: according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love."--Ephesians 1:3, 4. God blesses us; let us bless him. I pray that every heart here may take its own part in this service of praise. "O thou, my soul, bless God the Lord, And all that in me is, Be stirred up his holy name To magnify
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 38: 1892

The Treasure of Grace
There are no ministers who contend so fully and so unflinchingly for free, sovereign, unconditional grace, as those who before their conversion have revelled in gross and outrageous sin. Your gentleman preachers who have been piously brought up, and sent from their cradle to school, from school to college, and from college to the pulpit, without encountering much temptation, or being rescued from the haunts of profanity--they know comparatively little, and speak with little emphasis of free grace.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 6: 1860

Wisdom and Revelation.
"Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness
W. H. Griffith Thomas—The Prayers of St. Paul

Of Predestination
Rom. ix. 22.--"What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction." Eph. i. 11.--"In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will." We are now upon a high subject; high indeed for an eminent apostle, much more above our reach. The very consideration of God's infinite wisdom might alone suffice to restrain
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

The Instruction Given Us, However, is not that Every Individual in Particular is to Call...
The instruction given us, however, is not that every individual in particular is to call him Father, but rather that we are all in common to call him Our Father. By this we are reminded how strong the feeling of brotherly love between us ought to be, since we are all alike, by the same mercy and free kindness, the children of such a Father. For if He from whom we all obtain whatever is good is our common Father (Matth. 23:9), everything which has been distributed to us we should be prepared to communicate
John Calvin—Of Prayer--A Perpetual Exercise of Faith

The Work of God in Our Work.
"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ."--1 Thess. v. 23. The difference between sanctification and good works should be well understood. Many confound the two, and believe that sanctification means to lead an honorable and virtuous life; and, since this is equal to good works, sanctification, without which no man shall see God, is made to consist in the earnest and diligent
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

Concerning God's Purpose
1. God's purpose is the cause of salvation. THE third and last thing in the text, which I shall but briefly glance at, is the ground and origin of our effectual calling, in these words, "according to his purpose" (Eph. i. 11). Anselm renders it, According to his good will. Peter Martyr reads it, According to His decree. This purpose, or decree of God, is the fountainhead of our spiritual blessings. It is the impulsive cause of our vocation, justification, glorification. It is the highest link in
Thomas Watson—A Divine Cordial

Brought Nigh
"Riches of His grace."--Eph. i. 7. "Riches of His glory."--Eph. iii. 16. W. R. tr., Emma Frances Bevan, 1899 Rich, our God, art Thou in mercy, Dead in sins were we, When Thy great love rested on us, Sinners, dear to Thee. Blessed path of grace that led us From the depths of death To the fair eternal mansions Quickened by Thy breath. Riches of Thy grace have brought us There, in Christ, to Thee; Riches of Thy glory make us Thy delight to be. Not alone the stream that cleansed us Flowed from Jesus
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen and Others (Second Series)

Prolegomena. Section i. --The Life.
S. Gregory Nazianzen, called by the Ecumenical Council of Ephesus "The Great," and universally known as "The Theologian" or "The Divine," a title which he shares with S. John the Evangelist alone among the Fathers of the Church, was, like the great Basil of Cæsarea and his brother Gregory, Bishop of Nyssa, by birth a Cappadocian. He was born at Arianzus, a country estate belonging to his father, in the neighbourhood of Nazianzus. This latter, sometimes called Nazianzum, is a place quite unknown
St. Cyril of Jerusalem—Lectures of S. Cyril of Jerusalem

Introductory Notice.
[From Vol. VII., p. 515 of the Ante-Nicene Fathers.] The first certain reference which is made by any early writer to this so-called Epistle of Clement is found in these words of Eusebius (Hist. Eccl., iii. 38): "We must know that there is also a second Epistle of Clement. But we do not regard it as being equally notable with the former, since we know of none of the ancients that have made use of it." Several critics in modern times have endeavoured to vindicate the authenticity of this epistle.
Rev. John Keith, D.D.—The Epistles of Clement

Conclusion.
"From Heaven He came and sought her To be His Holy Bride, With His own Blood He bought her, And for her life He died." "The Kingdom of Heaven," what is it? It is the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church of Christ. It is that Kingdom which was prophetically set forth by our Lord in His parables; that Kingdom, the subjects of which were described in His teaching, and redeemed by His Blood to be His own "purchased possession" (Eph. i. 14); that Kingdom which was founded through the coming of the Holy
Edward Burbidge—The Kingdom of Heaven; What is it?

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