"In him you also, when you HEARD the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and BELIEVED in him, were SEALED with the Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory."  Ephesians 1:13-14

"For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit."  1 Corinthians 12:13

THE RESULTS OF THE GIVING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND BEING SEALED IN HIM:

1. Certainty

“The enjoyment of God is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here. Fathers and mothers, husbands, wives, or children, or the company of earthly friends, are but shadows; but God is the substance. These are but scattered beams, but God is the sun. These are but streams, but God is the fountain. These are but drops; but God is the ocean.”  Jonathan Edwards, "The Christian Pilgrim." The Works of Jonathan Edwards, Volume 2

"But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!' So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God."  Galatians 4:4-7

"When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you."  John 16:13-14

2. Ownership (Zechariah 3:1-5, John 10:27-30)

"I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand."  John 10:28-29

"On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, "Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."' Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified."  John 7:37-39

“If at any time you fall into doubts about the state of your soul, dark and dull frames of mind, it is proper to review your past experience. But do not consume too much time and strength in this way…one new discovery of the glory of Christ’s face will do more towards scattering clouds of darkness in one minute, than examining old experiences for a whole year.”  Jonathan Edwards, A Sweet Flame: Piety in the Letters of Jonathan Edwards, p. 45

APPLICATIONS:

1. Because the believer is secure in Christ, owned by the triune God, sealed by the Holy Spirit, and can cry out, “Abba Father,” we have the privilege of living with joy, gladness, and passion.

2. The good news is truly, very good news…(Hebrews 12:22) 

“True believers may in various ways have the assurance of their salvation shaken, decreased, or temporarily lost. This may happen because they neglect to preserve it or fall into some specific sin that wounds their conscience and grieves the Spirit. It may happen through some unexpected or forceful temptation or when God withdraws the light of his face and allows even those who fear him to walk in darkness and to have no light. Yet they are never completely lacking the seed of God, the life of faith, love of Christ and the brethren, sincerity of heart, or conscience concerning their duty. Out of these graces, through the work of the Spirit, this assurance may at the proper time be revived. In the meantime, they are kept from utter despair through them.”  The 1698 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 18, Section 4