(3) The Seal, the Earnest, Etc.
Ephesians 1:7-147In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 11In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 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 1:7‑14).
WE start off with the basic fact, stated in verse seven, that in Christ, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. What a multitude of Christians stop just there. They know that their sins are forgiven, that consequently they have been delivered from judgment, will go to Heaven when they die, and with that they rest content. If, instead of writing just here ne plus ultra, they would read and consider the closing words of the verse, then they would say, “Still there’s more to follow,” and they would seek to discover what that is.
Let us note the words, “According to the riches of His grace.” It would seem as if the inspired writer had difficulty in finding language to adequately express the magnificence of the grace of God. He writes not merely of grace but of the riches of His grace; while in chapter two he goes farther and writes of the exceeding riches of His grace.
Let us look at the early portion of the chapter. (1) We have been “blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.” (verse 3.) (2) We were “chosen in Him before the foundation of the world.” (verse 4.) (3) We were predestinated unto, or marked off for, adoption, or sonship. (verse 5.) (4) We have been made “accepted in the Beloved.” (verse 6). (5) God has made known to us “the mystery of His will.” (verse 9.) (6) He has disclosed to us the secret of His plan, and has given us to know that His objective is to head up all things in Christ. (verse 10.) (7) He has told us that there is an inheritance in view, and that the Holy Spirit is at once the seal and the earnest of it. (verses 13, 14). The inheritance is Christ’s, and He who loves us, as we have already remarked, with
“That love that gives not as the world, but shares
All it possesses with its loved co-heirs.”
will share that inheritance with us.
How do we know? Because we trusted in Him, after we heard the word of truth, the gospel of our salvation: and, having believed in Him, we were “sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.” (verse 13.) When through mercy, we believed, God sealed us as His own, and we came into that marvelous wealth of blessing outlined in the preceding verses, to which we have referred. The Holy Spirit is also “the earnest of our inheritance.” (verse 14.) What an arresting word! “Our inheritance.” In view of it we have been sealed, and the Holy Spirit is the earnest, the pledge of it. What is His word now? To tell us more and more about “our inheritance,” and so to enrapture our hearts that we shall want to know all about it, and in spirit to live there now.
Shall we linger a moment just here, and ask ourselves to what extent do we apprehend this, and how much do we enjoy it? Is it not, alas! the case that we sometimes live more like paupers than princes? Do we not sometimes grovel among the things of this world when we might be reveling in our riches?
This brings us to another point. We have the solemn word, “And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption” (4:30). It is worthy of note that the Holy Spirit is spoken of here in the same way as in chapter 1. We quite understand, that if we realize that the Holy Spirit is a divine Person indwelling us, we will earnestly dire that we may not grieve Him. Here, however, it would seem as if the inspired writer sought to impress upon us that if we grieve Him we hinder Him in His normal and happy work of unfolding to us the wonders and grandeur of “our inheritance”; and thus we miss the joy that He desires us to have. Verse 29 and 31 indicate that is not only by some outrageous sin that we grieve the Holy Spirit of God, though that is true, but across these verses we can write “the flesh.”. We well know the injury we sustain to our own souls, and the harm we do to others by the allowance of these things. Over verse 32 we can write C-H-R-I-S-T, and we do want to be like Him, do we not?
Now we pass on and read, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.” (verse 18.) This is normal Christianity. We are to understand that the will of the Lord is that we are not to be characterized by fleshly excitement, but to be “filled with the Spirit.” We have already observed that every true believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, therefore we need hot pray for that, but obviously every believer may not be filled with the Spirit, hence the exhortation which gives us the warrant to pray for it. We must however be prepared to pay the price. Our will gone, and “the will of the Lord” alone governing us. On the day of Pentecost when the people saw the Spirit-filled disciples they said, “These men are full of new wine” (Acts 2:1313Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. (Acts 2:13)). Here says the writer in effect, “be not drunk with wine, but let your intoxication be that of holy joy—psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, singing, making melody, giving thanks.” It is to be in evidence in our home-life in all its relationships. He who does not shine at home will not shine either in the church or in the world; and the secret of shining in every sphere is to be filled with the Spirit. What a power for God there would be in this world if this were true of us all. Shall we here and now go in for it?
Please turn over now to 1 Thessalonians 5:19,19Quench not the Spirit. (1 Thessalonians 5:19) and there read that short pithy, pointed verse of four words:
“QUENCH NOT THE SPIRIT.”
We are exhorted to “Rejoice evermore,” (verse 16) to “Pray without ceasing,” (verse 17). We are expected to know “the will of God in Christ Jesus” concerning us. We are urged to “despise not prophesyings.” (verse 20.) to “prove all things, and hold fast that which is good,” (verse 21.) and to “abstain from all appearance of evil” (verse 22). Sandwiched between these wholesome sentences is this word, “Quench not the Spirit.” There are those who know the truth but who are not disposed to follow where it would lead. They know that loyalty to Christ calls for separation from the world, but they are not prepared for it. There are those who are assured that they are wrong in remaining in religious associations that the Word of God does not sanction, but they also know that to step out from these would bring upon them “the reproach of Christ,” and they are not willing to face it. It may be that in many ways we all are conscious of the Holy Spirit leading us in a certain direction, and we hesitate; it may be we do not follow. In this way we may quench the Spirit. If on the other hand we accept His direction, bow to the truth, and go forward, we taste true joy; we find an unfailing resource in prayer; we are made intelligent as to the will of the Lord; we value prophesyings; we recognize truth, detect error, and have power to hold fast; and we are preserved from all that would tarnish the glory of Christ.
In conclusion we call attention to Revelation 1:1010I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, (Revelation 1:10). “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day.” Or as it should read “I became in the Spirit on the Lord’s day.” The beloved disciple had been banished to what has been described as a barren, inhospitable place. It seemed a pathetic end to a useful life. But the Lord was behind it. He was removed from all the sights and sounds, and distraction of earth, in order that he might hear only the voice of the Lord, and receive the remarkable revelation which he has communicated to us. For this purpose he tells us “I became in the Spirit.” This was not normal. He was taken possession of absolutely, and dominated completely by the Holy Spirit for this definite purpose. Under divine control, he heard a great voice, he saw a great Person, he received a great commission. In chapters 1, 2, and 3, he wrote the things which he had seen, and “the things which are.” In chapter 4:2, he again tells us, “I became in the Spirit,” and from that point he indicates “the things which shall be hereafter.” Whether or not a believer may become in the Spirit in this sense now we are not prepared to say. We do believe however that He would seek to abstract us from things here; and to control us so completely that from the sacred page we may learn more and more and be enabled to communicate to others in divine power, the precious things of God. May this be a living, bright reality to us while the Lord is pleased to leave us here.
W. Bramwell Dick.
To follow. (D.V). THE HOLY SPIRIT. (4). His Work in the Individual and in the Assembly.