The Death that sealed it…
The gift of God to us in Jesus, is an incredible gift that we will continue to unravel. The more we unravel, the more we begin to understand how deep and how priceless the Gift of Jesus is to us. In understanding the Death, Burial and Resurrection of Jesus, I have come to picture it having 3 forms: Pre, Main and Post benefits for the Christian.
In the Pre-Death, Burial and Resurrection, we get the privilege of learning from Jesus while He lived on earth. We learn from His life and we also learn from the lessons He taught about the Kingdom of Heaven that has come. One of the things Jesus emphasized in His life was how separation from God (death), through the nature of sin, has caused the earth to be filled with dead men and it was at the pleasure of the Father to make these dead men live again but at the cost of a life. It was unclear at the time how this was going to happen with the Jewish rulers thinking the messiah will come in a certain way. However, Gods plan was to pay the required price, with the life of His son Jesus.
The Death, Burial and Resurrection of Jesus Christ was the Ultimate price paid for us. Jesus’s life was traded for ours. He died our death, so we can live His life, free from sin, cleansed by His blood, redeemed from death and alive again in God. Yet there is still so much more that we unravel because Jesus died and resurrected. We will focus on one very vital part that comes in the Post-Death, Burial and Resurrection which is The Seal of the Holy Spirit.
So many times we have heard believers question if their salvation is authentic and many have asked if there was some act of wrong done that could revoke their license to enter through the pearly gates when the time comes to go to heaven. I have heard people say they have answered an altar call 6 or more times because they needed more assurance that they will make it to heaven when the Father calls. It was for such a moment of doubt and deep need for assurance that God sent the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is like the confirmation email you get when you have paid for an item. Having the receipt assures you that no matter what happens, be it delays, be it change of staff, whatever, once you get to the delivery door and show that receipt, no one can deny you your package. The Bible assures of this saying “Now it is God who establishes and confirms us [in joint fellowship] with you in Christ, and who has anointed us [empowering us with the gifts of the Spirit]; it is He who has also put His seal on us [that is, He has appropriated us and certified us as His] and has given us the [Holy] Spirit in our hearts as a pledge [like a security deposit to guarantee the fulfillment of His promise of eternal life]” . 2 Corinthians 1:21–22. Jesus knew this and comforted His disciples when He was about to leave, telling them it was for their benefit that He was taken from them so the Holy Spirit would come, the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor — Counselor, Strengthener, Standby). John 16:7 to keep teaching us, strengthening us and reassuring us.
God knew that after the death of His son Jesus we will not immediately disappear and be with Him in full glory, we will still be on the earth for a time before the earth is judged. While we are here, the Holy Spirit in us is a seal, a security deposit that guarantees that our sincere belief in the Death, Burial and Resurrection of Jesus Christ and our declaration of The lordship of God over our life, in faith, is truth and delivers us to God in eternity. We can compare it to the ancient times where the seal of the king on a decree makes it law, there was nothing on earth that could abolish that decree not even the king himself. An example of such a decree was in the book of Esther when Haman made a decree signed with the kings signet ring. Even after the king found out the real intent of the decree and the plan to annihilate the Jews, he could not repeal it, he could only allow for a counter decree to be made so the Jews could protect themselves.
What an assurance this is for the believer, Indeed no one can challenge the decree made by the King of Kings signed in His own blood. No one can condemn who the Lord of Host has a seal and security deposit over. No one can disqualify who the Lord has appropriated and certified. Beloved! there is no one.
Rest today knowing that your insurance policy is the Holy Spirit Himself, The Lord who is all powerful. “No weapon that is formed against you will succeed;
And every tongue that rises against you in judgment you will condemn.
This [peace, righteousness, security, and triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
And this is their vindication from Me,” says the Lord. Isaiah 54:17.
Further scripture reading on the Holy Spirit as our seal:
Ephesians 1: 13–14
Ephesians 4:30
1 Peter 1: 1–5
2 Corinthians 5:5
Revelations 22
