“For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about–but not before God! For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” – Romans 4:2-3
2 Corinthians 1:22
“… and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”
– 2 Corinthians 1:22
Main Thought: Many consumer-based companies in our day speak of their guarantees as an inducement for consumers to buy their products. These guarantees, however, always have end dates and loopholes that make it difficult for people to get their money back or their product serviced. Here the apostle Paul tells us of a guarantee by God, one with no loopholes and one with no limits with time. Paul reminds these Corinthian believers first that God has “put his seal on us” as His children. While we may not quite understand what a seal has to do with God’s promise of salvation, the believers of that day did. Kings and queens, when making a proclamation of law or an edict, would seal the document with wax, and then press their ring with their royal crest upon the wax seal, which indicated the ruler’s authority. In the same way, Paul is saying that God has declared our salvation in Jesus Christ and has set His seal of authority upon us.
Rulers in that day would come and go, so their authority might have been overthrown and the ruling reversed, but not so for the child of God for he has been sealed by the One whose rule and authority are omnipotent and everlasting. In 1 Timothy 1:17, it is declared that our God is “The King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God…forever and ever.” His seal and dominion are eternal. Not only has God put His seal of authority on us as the guarantee of our salvation, but He has given us the Holy Spirit within us as a guarantee. We have the written guarantee of His seal upon us in His Word, and we have the living presence of the Holy Spirit to continually assure us that our salvation is guaranteed for eternity. Romans 8:14-17 reminds us that the sons of God are led by the Spirit of God, and causes us to cry out to God, and “bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” If you have a continual yearning in your spirit for God and know God’s presence in your life, then that is God’s living assurance and guarantee to us that we are His eternally. How wonderful and gracious our God is to give us both a written guarantee of His salvation, and give us the living presence of the Holy Spirit to assure us of our salvation. May we rejoice today as His children in the guarantee of our salvation.
David Webber
David Webber is married to Mary with four children and four grandchildren, and serves as the Pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Longview, TX. He obtained a BS in History from the University of Texas at Tyler, TX, and pursued studies at Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary in Jacksonville, TX. Throughout his ministry, he has been an invited preacher and educator in numerous churches and various Bible conferences. Surrendering to the gospel ministry’s calling in 1972 at the age of 16, he received preaching licensure from Little Flock Baptist Church in Longview, Texas, in 1974. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in History from the University of Texas at Tyler in 1978, he was ordained in December of 1980 by Faith Baptist Church. Following this, he contributed his services to Faith Baptist in Longview and subsequently engaged with Grace Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas, where he instructed Sunday School and delivered sermons as needed. In February of 1994, Faith Baptist invited him to lead as their pastor, a role he has faithfully held to the present day. David writes a blog for the church website and is a writer for The Art of Worship.
More from David Webber
Romans 4:2-3
Psalm 92:8
“But You are on high forever, O Yahweh.” – Psalm 92:8
John 11:25-27
“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die–ever. Do you believe this?’ She (Martha) said to Him, ‘Yes Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, the One who comes into the world.” – John 11:25-27
John 8:23-24
“And He was saying to them, ‘You are from below, I am from above. You are of this world, I am not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am His, you will die in your sins.” – John 8:23-24
John 6:39-40
“Now this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” – John 6:39-40
John 2:18-21
“The Jews then said to Him, ‘What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this sanctuary, and in three days I will raise it up.’ The Jews then said, ‘It took forty-six years to build this sanctuary, and will You raise it up in three days?’ But He was speaking about the sanctuary of His body.” – John 2:18-21
John 1:14
“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” – John 1:14
Psalm 85:6
“Will You not Yourself return to revive us, that your people may be glad in You?” – Psalm 85:6
Psalm 86:1 and 86:5
“Incline your ear, O Yahweh, and answer me; For I am afflicted and needy…For You, Lord, are good, and by nature forgiving, and abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You.” – Psalm 86:1 and 86:5
John 14:19
“After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me, because I live, you will live also.” – John 14:19