about the Holy Spirit, how many of you would say,
I've learned something through this series so far
about the Holy Spirit, or maybe I've been reminded
of some things that I had forgotten, well that's great.
We're gonna continue, we've got a few more weeks left of this,
but how many of you guys, you work for a company
and you have perks with your company,
anybody you've got some perks?
Perks are kind of one of those things
that they come with the territory, if you will,
it's part of your working there,
sometimes they're incentives,
sometimes those perks are known,
maybe they might be part of your salary package
or part of your incentive for coming to work there,
but sometimes perks are not seen,
they're just extra parts of the job that you can enjoy.
As I was looking through and thinking through some
of the perks, I know that Pastor Miles
is really still waiting, he's holding out for a cereal bar,
and he's really hoping that maybe one day
we'll have a cereal bar in the office,
I don't know that that's gonna happen anytime soon,
but he's kind of maybe hoping maybe one day
that might be the perk of the job,
he really likes cereal apparently.
But I was looking through some different perks
and some of these people have kind of an online forum
of some of the most absurd perks
that they had ever been offered in the job,
I wrote a few down, one person said,
one of the most absurd perks they had at the job
was a Christmas party, now that doesn't sound strange,
some of you may have Christmas parties,
but apparently this company offered their Christmas party
on Christmas day, so people were like,
who in the world wants to go spend Christmas morning
at the job with your boss?
Nobody wanted to do that, but apparently
they considered that a perk.
Another one was that they offered discount tickets
to different sporting events and music festivals
and things like that through this third party web service,
but when they actually tried to use the third party web service
there was so many fees tacked on
that it actually ended up costing more
to purchase through this third party web service
than it was to just buy the tickets outright
from the actual website.
So a little bit of an absurd perk,
one person they actually wrote on their incentives
for their work that if you had come,
came to work with them, you would be eligible
for food stamps, they thought that that was a great thing.
Government assistance being offered
as part of a perk of the job.
Apparently somebody thought that was a good one
to put on there.
Another one person said is that when they looked at the job,
it perks in their incentive little package,
it's one of it said windows, and they thought,
well, yeah, windows, that's great, I need an extra copy,
maybe I can put on my laptop or I can maybe update some of it,
but actually what they meant was literal windows,
like panes of glass, like you get to actually look
out a window when you're working there.
That was one that I thought was actually pretty good.
One guy who was working in retail,
apparently he was a little bit heated,
but he wrote that as a reward for working
through the pandemic, toilet paper crisis,
getting paid four weeks late,
they were given as a perk of the job, a box of Capri Sun.
Now, if you don't know what Capri Sun is,
Capri Sun is a fruit juice box that kids like to drink.
Six boxes, six bags of Capri Sun in this box.
He said, dot, dot, dot, there's eight of us.
So apparently they had to share six boxes of Capri Sun.
Now, sometimes when things are given to us on our behalf,
they may not exactly be what we thought they would be,
but when we're thinking about,
and we enter into a relationship with the Holy Spirit,
through faith in Christ alone,
some amazing things happen on our behalf.
So what I want us to look at tonight briefly
are two of the things that happen
when we enter into a relationship by faith alone in Christ
and what God does on our behalf through the Holy Spirit
in the realm of the sealing and baptizing
of the Spirit of God.
And what that actually means for us tonight.
So what I'm hoping to discover tonight
is that every believer really can understand
how the Holy Spirit works in them
by seeing some elements here for the Holy Spirit's
sealing and baptizing.
We're gonna be going through lots of scriptures
like we have done.
They'll be up on the board here.
More of a welcome to turn to them as we go,
but we'll be going very quickly.
So let's look at this first area of the sealing
of the Spirit here among us.
So the first element I want us to look at
in the sealing of the Holy Spirit is the people.
The people that are involved in this.
Now, when it comes to what the Scripture is,
the Scripture teaches and that's what we plan
to endeavor tonight, I want us to look at really
what it means for us as the people.
As the people of God, as those who've been born again
by the Spirit of God, this belongs exclusively
to the believers in the New Testament age,
this idea of the sealing of the Holy Spirit.
Second Corinthians one, verse 22 says,
who have also sealed us and given the earnest
of the Spirit in our hearts.
Now, it's important for us to know that the Spirit of God
is within us and part of the gift of his Spirit
is living with us or in us.
That we, the people of God are part of this exclusive group
that have been now sealed by the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians four, verse 30, gives us a warning
and it's partly the reason for the exhortation
not to grieve the Holy Spirit because it is given
to each believer.
Ephesians chapter four, verse 30 says,
and grieve not the Holy Spirit of God,
whereby you are sealed unto the day of redemption.
You see, the sealing of the Holy Spirit
is not something that has done, just happenstance
or to every person, it is only the people of God
who are sealed by the Holy Spirit of God.
First we see the people, but then we also see the time.
When does this actually happen?
When does the sealing take place?
Well, according to Acts chapter two, verse 38,
it takes place immediately at conversion.
Look on it, Acts chapter two, verse 38.
It says, then Peter said unto them,
repent and be baptized every one of you
in the name of Jesus Christ for the remissions of sins
and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
You see, this would indicate the immediate transaction.
There's no waiting period.
There's no level that must be attained
that all of a sudden you believe
and then somehow you go through this process
and then eventually you become sealed by the Holy Spirit.
No, no, no, it is immediate at the time of conversion.
Ephesians chapter one, verse 13,
here it gives us no indication that anything happens
in between belief and sealing.
Look on it, Ephesians chapter one, verse 13.
The scripture says, 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 the Holy Spirit of promise.
There's no indication here that anything else happens
other than belief and then immediate sealing.
There's no belief and then a trial period
and then if you make it somehow,
then the Holy Spirit will then seal.
There's no kind of level to ascertain
that eventually you go through this discipleship
or sanctification process and then you will be sealed.
No, no, no, you believe and then you are sealed.
So the time is immediate.
It takes place at conversion.
When you believe, you receive the Holy Spirit and His sealing.
Next we'll see the agents of the sealing.
Who actually is involved in this sealing process?
Well, according to 2nd Corinthians chapter one,
verse 21 and 22, God does the sealing
in order to ensure His promise to us.
2nd Corinthians chapter one, verse 21 and 22,
say, now He which establishes us with you in Christ,
that He refers back to verse 20, which is God.
It says appointed unto us is God.
He, oh sorry, who has also sealed us
and given us the earnest of His spirit in our hearts.
You see it is God the Father who does sealing on our behalf.
He says the Holy Spirit as the other agent,
which we'll get to in just a moment,
but God is the one who does the sealing.
Now, sealing often will indicate something.
In the middle age time, New Testament time,
the idea of the seal was very, very common.
Now we still see that today in maybe some official
documentation and in certain different areas.
When we were in Taiwan, my wife and I,
we were actually part of the registration process
with the government was that we were required
to receive what's called a CHOP.
CHOP is the idea of this seal.
It had our Chinese name etched into it.
And then what we do is we went and anytime we did
any kind of official documentation,
whether we were in person or sending it away,
we had to take these CHOPs, we would dip them in a red ink
and then we would stamp our initials, if you would,
our Chinese name onto the document.
And that was part of the sealing process
that would ensure the authenticity of that paperwork.
This kind of ownership is also seen a lot of times
if you're like maybe you have a farm and you have animals,
the idea of branding, the idea of putting some kind of brand
on the cow, this still kind of carries around
this idea of the seal.
Now what's amazing about the seal of God
is that God is the one who does the sealing.
Now in ancient times, there used to be,
if you were to send an official letter,
let's say the king was to send an official letter,
the king would use his signet ring, if you would,
and he would seal the letter.
And the letter was then carried by a courier
to the recipient.
And under penalty of death in most countries,
you were not allowed to open the seal or break the seal.
Only two people were involved in the seal process,
the sender who sealed it,
and then the recipient who unsealed it.
Now catch this, God is both the sender
and the recipient of us.
That when God seals us with the Holy Spirit,
he is the sender, but one day there will be
a unsealing, if you will, a redemption
of the purchased property.
Who is that that does that?
God himself.
God is both the sender and recipient of the seal.
The sealed envelope, if you will, that's you,
who has been sealed by the Holy Spirit.
God is the one who does the sealing.
But also we see that the Holy Spirit,
he is also an agent involved in the sealing process.
He is both the agent and the sphere, if you will.
Ephesians chapter one, verse 13,
tells us in whom he also trusted,
after that he heard the word of truth,
the gospel of your salvation,
in whom also after that he believed
you were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.
It is God who does the sealing,
and also the Holy Spirit who is God,
who is a part of this sealing process.
That is the agents of the sealing.
Next we will see the duration.
How long does this seal last?
Well, according to Ephesians chapter four, verse 30,
we are sealed unto the day of redemption.
This day of redemption would refer to a future day,
which includes the promises that have been given to us
and the promise of heaven.
Ephesians chapter four, verse 30 says,
grieve not the Holy Spirit of God,
whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
This redemption, time of redemption,
also includes the redemption of our bodies.
According to Romans chapter eight, verse 23,
he says, not only then, but ourselves also,
which have the first fruits of the Spirit.
What are those first fruits of the Spirit?
Well, the indwelling, which we've talked about,
sealing, baptizing, and the gifting,
which we'll talk about as well.
Even we ourselves, grown within ourselves,
waiting for the adoption to it,
the redemption of our body.
And Pastor talked about that this morning.
Amen, one day we're gonna get a new body.
And amen to that.
But I want you to take something of note.
When it comes to this idea of the duration
or how long it lasts, according to scripture,
there is no indication that there are any laps in time
or an unsealing condition.
Once the seal is applied, it is then not unsealed
until the recipient takes place.
That is the day of redemption.
Who is the sender?
Who is the recipient?
God is.
You will be sealed.
We are sealed at the time of salvation.
Carry through all the way until the time of redemption.
There is no laps.
There is no unsealing of the believer.
We are sealed until the time of unsealing
when God takes possession of that purchased property.
Well, finally we see the results.
What are some of the results that take place?
What happens actually when we are sealed?
What kind of indication should we think about
when we think about this sealing?
Well, according to Ephesians chapter one,
we should have, there is security.
There is security that takes place when we are sealed.
Security is implied.
Hereby God being both the sender and recipient.
Look at Ephesians chapter one, verses 13 and 14.
It says, in whom ye also trusted?
After that ye heard the word of truth,
the gospel of your salvation,
in whom also after ye have been sealed,
ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.
Verse 14, which is the earnest of our inheritance,
until the redemption of the purchased possession
unto the praise of his glory.
You see when the Holy Spirit comes and seals you,
this is a earnest or a down payment, if you will,
of the inheritance that you will receive in eternal glory.
And we are sealed until the time of redemption
by God unto the praise of his glory.
It gives us security.
Not only does it give us security,
but it also should encourage purity
that when we understand who is living in us
and who will never leave us,
we are encouraged to live a pure and wholesome life,
a righteous life.
Ephesians chapter four, verse 30 is our indication.
Grieve not the Holy Spirit.
He will not leave us.
So it is important that we live life according to God's word
because the Holy Spirit is with us.
The sealing of the Holy Spirit is quite an amazing thing.
It happens when we're saved.
Most of the time we have no indication,
especially if you're a believer maybe,
maybe you didn't grow up in church,
you haven't heard these sorts of doctrines before.
What should be encouraging to you is that once you trust Christ
as your savior, the Holy Spirit seals you.
It's something you don't have to earn.
It's something that is given to you.
There's no trial period.
There's no, as we said this morning, junior Holy Spirit
that once you reach a certain age,
then you get more of the Holy Spirit
that even a child when they place their faith
in the Lord Jesus Christ are sealed with the Holy Spirit.
And they are sealed all the way
until that purchased possession is redeemed.
Let's look on at the baptizing of the Holy Spirit
because these two realms oftentimes kind of coincide,
if you will, the baptizing of the Holy Spirit.
We're gonna look at some characteristics
and then some consequences.
First of all, we see some characteristics.
What is the baptizing of the Holy Spirit all about?
Well, the baptizing of the Holy Spirit
operates during this dispensation, this time, the church age.
According to Acts chapter one, verse five,
the baptizing of the Holy Spirit
was promised before Pentecost
and it was promised by Christ himself.
Right before he returns to heaven,
he gives this promise to his disciples
in Acts chapter one, verse five.
It says, for John truly baptized with water,
but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost,
not many days hence.
Now we know that he is referring to the time of Pentecost,
when the Holy Spirit would come in power.
Acts chapter 11, we also see this realization by Peter.
Now Peter was there on the Mount
when he received this promise from Jesus.
He was also there at Pentecost when Peter stands up
and he preaches, and there are many
that come to faith in Christ.
But this idea finally becomes realized by Peter
when he goes to speak with a man named Cornelius
in Acts chapter 10.
He speaks to a Gentile who will believe in the gospel
and then something amazing will happen.
The Holy Spirit will come and dwell that Gentile,
seal, and he will be baptized.
Acts chapter 11 is Peter's confession
in verses 15 and 16.
It says, and as I, that's Peter after the Cornelius incident,
began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell upon them
as on us at the beginning.
Then remembered I the word of the Lord,
how that he said, John indeed baptized with water,
but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
You see, it operates during this time,
during this time and age, post resurrection
in this church age.
Not only does it operate now in the time that we live,
but it's also experienced by all believers.
This idea of the baptizing of the Holy Spirit.
Anyone who places their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
in this church age has been baptized.
First of all, we're baptized into the body of Christ
according to 1 Corinthians chapter 12.
Verse 13 says, four by one spirit,
are ye all baptized into one body,
whether we be Jews or Gentiles,
whether we be bond or free,
and have been all made to drink into one spirit.
This is an experience that happens by all believers
at the time of faith.
When we place our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,
we are not only sealed, but also baptized
into the body of Christ.
It also should create unity among us believers.
According to Ephesians chapter four, four and five,
it says there is one body and one spirit,
even as we are called in one hope of your calling,
one Lord, one faith, and one baptism.
You see, at the time of salvation, this occurs,
and it is not repeated.
Like the indwelling and the sealing,
a believer is baptized once into the body,
and there is no unbaptizing,
just like there is no unsealing
until the time of redemption
by the one who was also the sender,
there is also only one baptizing.
There is no, we are baptized into the body of Christ,
and there are no out of body Christians,
if we could say it that way.
There is no way to be unbaptized by the Holy Spirit
who comes, seals, and never leaves.
These are some of the characteristics
of the baptizing of the Holy Spirit,
but there are also some consequences
of the Holy Spirit's baptism as well.
Let's look on at some of the consequences.
First of all, he joins us to the body of Christ,
which we have already mentioned,
we're gonna go into a little bit more detail here
in just a moment,
but according to 1 Corinthians chapter 12 verse 13,
which we've read already,
believers are all joined into the body of Christ.
Let's read it again, chapter 12 verse 13,
four by one spirit,
are we all baptized into one body,
whether we be Jews or Gentiles,
whether we be bond or free,
and have all been made to drink into one spirit.
Now I want us to kind of pull apart this idea
of the body of Christ,
because I believe that there is much misunderstanding
on this idea, especially when it comes to the local church
and the body, how are they different?
How are they the same?
Well, I think it's important for us
to really fully understand what does it mean
to be part of the body of Christ?
And what does it mean when we say the body of Christ?
I think it would be important for us to define some terms,
when it comes to this and to draw some distinctions,
I think that will help us a lot
in understanding this a little bit more clearly.
Now in order to do this,
we're gonna have to take a little bit of a brief excursion,
okay, a little bit of a side journey if you will.
We're gonna go down the rabbit hole a little bit,
if you will, into what does it mean
by when we say the body of Christ
being baptized into the body of Christ?
We're gonna take a little excursion into ecclesiology,
which is the doctrinal study of the church.
Now, when we say the body of Christ,
the body of Christ, when we say the church,
we are talking about two distinct things
that merge together at certain intersections, okay?
Two distinct things that merge together
at certain intersections.
There is a present gathering of assemblies,
which we call the church.
Church means a classio, right?
A called out meeting of people, okay?
A gathering, if you will.
There are gatherings, present day gatherings.
There is also a future gathering of all saints,
which we can refer to as the complete or whole body of Christ.
Now, there are three important distinctions
that I wanna point out tonight
when it comes to the difference between the body
and the church, okay?
So, first one is this.
The body can never assemble.
However, the local assembly, the church must assemble.
We can look at a few different verses,
Matthew chapter 18, verse 17,
and Acts chapter 11, verse 26.
Hebrews 10, 25, which is a exhortation,
we'll talk about it in just a moment,
but each three of these verses,
I just pulled out, there are many others,
show us a actual local assembly of believers.
The body of Christ cannot assemble,
but the local assembly must assemble.
The second body of distinctions,
the second use of distinctions here,
is that the body is invisible and hidden.
However, the local assembly is visible and public.
Body of Christ is invisible and hidden.
The local assembly, visible and public.
What do we mean by invisible and hidden?
Well, the body of Christ is the collection of every saint
here in the New Testament age,
or even those who have passed on.
So obviously, those ones are not visible at this moment.
We cannot see them.
They have already passed into glory.
But one day, hopefully very soon,
the bride will be assembled,
who is also known as the body,
and there will be a time of great jubilee,
a time when we will be with Christ in celebration,
and then forever be with the Lord.
There are many assemblies, but only one body.
Let's look on this final distinction.
The body never receives exhortation.
However, the local assembly receives many exhortations.
Hebrews chapter 10, verse 25,
the idea of don't stop assembling.
Ephesians chapter four, where it talks about
doctrinal unity and speaking the truth and love,
making sure that we're supplying the needs of each other
in a local assembly.
Galatians chapter six, another exhortation
to correct faults of those who have fallen,
and also to bear one another's burdens.
These are given directly to local assemblies,
but never to the body as a whole.
So when we talk about being baptized into the body of Christ,
we are talking about being baptized into the invisible, hidden,
never assembling, and never receiving exhortation,
body of Christ.
When we talk about being baptized into a local church
or local assembly, we are talking about being baptized
into an assembly of believers who assemble,
who are in a visible and public way,
and we also do it in obedience to what God's word says.
Hopefully, maybe this next, I'm a big picture guy,
so maybe this next picture will give you some insight
into what we're actually talking about here.
The local assembly is the physical manifestation
of the body of Christ at any given place and time.
The body of Christ, never assembling, invisible and hidden,
never receiving exhortation.
However, the local assembly, the church,
is God's public, visible, assembling group of believers
who are in obedience to the word of God.
So when we are baptized by the spirit,
we are baptized into the body of Christ.
Secondly, we're also, when we are baptized
into the body of Christ, it actually actualizes
our co-crucifixion with Christ.
It actualizes our co-crucifixion with Christ.
Through spirit baptism, we are associated
and actuated into Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.
His death, his burial, his resurrection,
becomes ours.
This actuality stands as the basis
for our separation from sin and the walking in newness of life.
This spiritual actuality is illustrated often
by what we did this morning, water baptism.
Romans chapter six, well, the last scripture
we'll be looking at tonight,
Romans chapter six, verses one through 10,
Paul lays out a very clear understanding
that when we are baptized into the Holy Spirit,
or the baptism by the Holy Spirit,
we are actually co-crucified with Christ
and co-risen with Christ.
Chapter six, verses one through 10, say this,
what shall we say then?
Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?
He's arguing for purity.
He says, God forbid, how shall we that are dead to sin
live any longer therein?
Know ye not, that so many of us that were baptized
into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Therefore, we are buried with him by baptism into death,
that like as Christ was raised up from the dead
by the glory of the Father,
even so we should also walk in newness of life.
For if we have been planted together
in the likeness of his death,
we shall also in the likeness of his resurrection.
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him,
that the body of sin might be destroyed,
that henceforth we should not serve sin,
for he that is dead is freed from sin.
Now if we be dead with Christ,
we believe that we shall also live with him.
Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead,
doth no more, death hath no more dominion over him.
For in that he died, he died unto sin once,
but in that he liveth unto God.
Galatians 2-12 says it this way,
buried with him in baptism,
wherein also you are raised with him
through the faith of the operation of God,
who have raised him from the dead.
This happens spiritually when we call upon Christ
and we are saved, we are baptized into the body of Christ
and it actualizes our co-crucifixion with Christ.
But this is also beautifully illustrated
and pictured in our water baptism as well.
That's a lot, isn't it?
Talking about the spirit sealing and baptizing,
there's a lot that goes on and probably most of us
haven't taken the time to appreciate
what God has done for us.
But know this, that once you have been sealed,
once you have been baptized by the Holy Spirit,
you cannot be unsealed and you cannot be unbaptized.
You have now been sealed by God,
baptized into the body of Christ,
and you should remain sure.
It should have an effect on you,
so much so that once you understand it here,
may that understanding be moved to here
and may you not be moved at all
when it comes to your salvation.
The reality of our spirit baptism
and the security that we have through the spirit sealing
should help us as believers today live free of anxiety
that our salvation is unsure or in jeopardy of being lost.
And I don't know about you,
but I have met many Christians
who have struggled with the anxiety and the fear
that somehow that they have lost their salvation
or somehow because of sin
or somehow because of their lack of piety
or lack of fervor have somehow fallen out of favor with God,
that they have been somehow unsealed or unbaptized
and that they must receive Christ again.
They must be saved again
because they have lost what has been given to them.
Let me assure you that what the Holy Spirit
has done in your life at the time of salvation,
when He has sealed you and baptized you
into the body of Christ, cannot and will not be undone.
You are secure in your salvation.
Our secure position in Christ
and waiting on the sure promise of our redemption
and eternal freedom from sin
should help us to live more boldly.
If we have been sealed, if we have been baptized
and we cannot be unsealed and unbaptized,
then we should all the more boldly declare
what Jesus has told us,
that there is one Lord, one faith and one baptism.
And because God has already demonstrated His love towards us,
even though we were sinners, Christ died for us,
we ought to tell others
that they too can know for sure
that they can have an eternal, secure relationship with Jesus,
that they can have the Holy Spirit of God in them forever.
Peace with God and eternal life
if they would but place their faith in the Son of God
and what He has done on Calvary alone.
And we ought to live separate from sin, devoted to God,
knowing that we have the Holy Spirit of promise,
living in us who will never leave.
He is with us in the valleys and on the mountaintops.
Would you bow your heads with me?