March 5, 2011 at 12:53 am | Posted in Bible Commentary | Leave a comment
Tags: Bible Commentary
“In Him you also trusted, 
after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:13-14 NKJV).
Paul tells us that we trust in Jesus, so what does it mean to trust? The Dictionary tells us that to trust means a, “Firm reliance on the integrity, ability, or character of a person or thing. So when we say we trust Jesus to heal or deliver us what we are saying is we are firmly relying on the integrity of His word and His ability to do what He said. For instance God sent a message to Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian through the prophet, Jeremiah, saying, “But I will deliver you in that day,” says the LORD, “and you shall not be given into the hand of the men of whom you are afraid. For I will surely deliver you, and you shall not fall by the sword; but your life shall be as a prize to you, because you have put your trust in Me,” says the LORD”‘ (Jeremiah 39:17-18 NKJV). Ebed-Melech’s whole city was going to be destroyed but God was going to deliver him because he trusted in God. Ebed-Melech firmly relied on the ability of God to deliver him though his city and everyone in it perish and in the integrity of God’s word that He would do as He said. Now that’s trust! How many of us could do that? The Psalmist said, “I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust” (Psalm 91:2 NKJV). Because of his trust God gives a large number of promises including, “A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you” (Psalm 91:7 NKJV). We have all read the stories of soldiers in battle situations where they trusted in this word and even though their squad was wiped out they lived to give their testimony.
Why do we trust in Jesus? Because one day someone told us the word of truth and we heard the gospel of our salvation. Paul asks, “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?” (Romans 10:14 NKJV)
Someone told us the Good News and when we heard it we received it gladly and believed. Paul wrote, “For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the
word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:13 NKJV).
Child of God – Because we trusted in Jesus when we heard of His salvation we believed that He would save us and received His new life within us. And now that we have trusted, heard and believed then God seals us as His own, “Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee” (2 Corinthians 1:21-22 NKJV). Just like an envelope, once it is sealed, takes force to open it, we are sealed us in Jesus and The Spirit only no force can open the seal.
Our prayer:
Lord, thank you for sealing me in Jesus and in your Holy Spirit. The seal of your Spirit shows me that I’m yours and is the guarantee that you are coming back for me. And not only that, but that seal also shows me that I’m protected, separated, dedicated for you. Amen.
If you want to have a personal relationship with Jesus as your Lord and Savior pray: “Dear Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and that out of love you willingly sacrificed your life so that I may live. I repent of all my sins and open my heart to you as my Lord and Savior. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer for the first time or if you have any questions please contact us. We would love to hear from you.
Bible Commentary: “Heard, Believed, Sealed”
March 5, 2011 at 12:53 am | Posted in Bible Commentary | Leave a commentTags: Bible Commentary
“In Him you also trusted,
after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:13-14 NKJV).
Paul tells us that we trust in Jesus, so what does it mean to trust? The Dictionary tells us that to trust means a, “Firm reliance on the integrity, ability, or character of a person or thing. So when we say we trust Jesus to heal or deliver us what we are saying is we are firmly relying on the integrity of His word and His ability to do what He said. For instance God sent a message to Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian through the prophet, Jeremiah, saying, “But I will deliver you in that day,” says the LORD, “and you shall not be given into the hand of the men of whom you are afraid. For I will surely deliver you, and you shall not fall by the sword; but your life shall be as a prize to you, because you have put your trust in Me,” says the LORD”‘ (Jeremiah 39:17-18 NKJV). Ebed-Melech’s whole city was going to be destroyed but God was going to deliver him because he trusted in God. Ebed-Melech firmly relied on the ability of God to deliver him though his city and everyone in it perish and in the integrity of God’s word that He would do as He said. Now that’s trust! How many of us could do that? The Psalmist said, “I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust” (Psalm 91:2 NKJV). Because of his trust God gives a large number of promises including, “A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you” (Psalm 91:7 NKJV). We have all read the stories of soldiers in battle situations where they trusted in this word and even though their squad was wiped out they lived to give their testimony.
Why do we trust in Jesus? Because one day someone told us the word of truth and we heard the gospel of our salvation. Paul asks, “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?” (Romans 10:14 NKJV)
Someone told us the Good News and when we heard it we received it gladly and believed. Paul wrote, “For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the
word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:13 NKJV).
Child of God – Because we trusted in Jesus when we heard of His salvation we believed that He would save us and received His new life within us. And now that we have trusted, heard and believed then God seals us as His own, “Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee” (2 Corinthians 1:21-22 NKJV). Just like an envelope, once it is sealed, takes force to open it, we are sealed us in Jesus and The Spirit only no force can open the seal.
Our prayer:
Lord, thank you for sealing me in Jesus and in your Holy Spirit. The seal of your Spirit shows me that I’m yours and is the guarantee that you are coming back for me. And not only that, but that seal also shows me that I’m protected, separated, dedicated for you. Amen.
If you want to have a personal relationship with Jesus as your Lord and Savior pray: “Dear Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and that out of love you willingly sacrificed your life so that I may live. I repent of all my sins and open my heart to you as my Lord and Savior. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer for the first time or if you have any questions please contact us. We would love to hear from you.