1, Correspondence.

A.B.— Is one sealed with the Holy Spirit the moment he believes, or is there an interval? Sealing is the act of marking off, or distinguishing by sonic sign. Thus Abraham “received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised” (Rom. 4:1111And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: (Romans 4:11)). So 144,000 Israelites are to be sealed in the forehead (Rev. 7), and by that sign they will he separated off from the remainder of the twelve tribes. 11 is also written of the Son of man that He was sealed by God the Father (John 6:2727Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. (John 6:27)). Now the seal bestowed upon the believer in Christ is the Holy Ghost Who is also the unction as well as the earnest of the inheritance to come (2 Cor. 1:21, 2221Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; 22Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. (2 Corinthians 1:21‑22); Eph. 1:13, 1413In 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 that holy Spirit of promise, 14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:13‑14); 1 John 2:20, 2720But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. (1 John 2:20)
27But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. (1 John 2:27)). The indwelling Spirit is the token or mark which God sets upon the saints to indicate they belong to Him. From Ephesians 1:13, 14,13In 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 that holy Spirit of promise, 14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:13‑14) it is clear enough that the act of sealing follows hearing and believing the word of truth, the gospel of salvation. “In whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise” (Eph. 1:11Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: (Ephesians 1:1).3). When Aaron’s sons were consecrated to the office of the priesthood, they were first sprinkled with blood and then anointed with oil, typical of the gift of the Holy Spirit (Lev. 8:24,3024And he brought Aaron's sons, and Moses put of the blood upon the tip of their right ear, and upon the thumbs of their right hands, and upon the great toes of their right feet: and Moses sprinkled the blood upon the altar round about. (Leviticus 8:24)
30And Moses took of the anointing oil, and of the blood which was upon the altar, and sprinkled it upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon his sons' garments with him; and sanctified Aaron, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons' garments with him. (Leviticus 8:30)). It is important not to confuse the work of the Holy Ghost in the new birth (John 3:55Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:5)) with the gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts 10:44-47; 11:4-1744While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? (Acts 10:44‑47)
4But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying, 5I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me: 6Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 7And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat. 8But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth. 9But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. 10And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven. 11And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me. 12And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house: 13And he showed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; 14Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. 15And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. 16Then 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. 17Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? (Acts 11:4‑17)), which is a subsequent act. The apostle writes, “Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father” (Gal. 4:44But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, (Galatians 4:4)). As to an interval, it would depend on the nature of the case. There would appear to have been such with Saul of Tarsus. From the dust to which he was smitten he owned Jesus as Lord (Acts 9:5,65And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. (Acts 9:5‑6)); but there was an interval of three days, in which the penitent man neither ate nor drank. Then through the words of Ananias, the scales fell from his blinded eyes, and he was filled with the Holy Ghost (Acts 9:1717And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. (Acts 9:17)). Is not a believer a Christian the moment he believes on Christ? The name “Christian” occurs only three times in the New Testament (Acts 11:26; 26:2826And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. (Acts 11:26)
28Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. (Acts 26:28); 1 Pet. 4:1616Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. (1 Peter 4:16)), and was first used by the Gentiles at Antioch as a nickname for the disciples. Now it is used of any person professing faith in Christ. Perhaps we do not understand the point of A. B’s question.
D.R.— Who is the true yokefellow (Phil. 4:33And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlaborers, whose names are in the book of life. (Philippians 4:3))? The reference is generally supposed to be to Epaphroditus (Phil. 2:25; 4:1825Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labor, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants. (Philippians 2:25)
18But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. (Philippians 4:18)) who was the bearer of this epistle from Rome to Philippi; but it is not clear who is meant. What is meant by “their worm” (Mark 9:4848Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. (Mark 9:48))? It is a figurative reference to the undying anguish of spirit that the lost must endure eternally. We do not see any difficulty in the use of “their” instead of “thy” or “your.” The Lord was warning those who were alive against the terrors awaiting the unrepentant beyond the grave. “Their worm” seems to point to the particular compunction of each, as “the fire” to the general punishment which is the doom of all. When did Christ enter the holy place by His own blood (Heb. 9:1212Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. (Hebrews 9:12))? At His ascension. It being expressly stated that He entered “once” (Heb. 9:1212Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. (Hebrews 9:12)) into the holy place precludes the vain notion that it was in the disembodied state, or during the forty days.
M.G.— Does “all Israel” mean the Jews (Rom. 11:2626And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: (Romans 11:26))? “Israel” refers to the whole twelve tribes, while the Jews are those of the kingdom of Judah, especially the “generation” that rejected Christ (Matt. 24:3434Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. (Matthew 24:34)).