Over the next few weeks, we’re going to be looking at the book of Ephesians. This morning, I want to launch us into that with a brief overview of one of the central themes of the book—a theme that should excite you and relax you at the same time. The theme of:

7.18.10 – The Unbreakable Seal

There was a little boy sitting with his animal crackers, carefully pulling out each animal, inspecting it, then setting it aside. His mother watched him for a while, wondering what he was doing. She noticed that he paid special attention to certain crackers, which made her even more curious. Finally, she had to ask, “What are you doing, Honey?”

The little boy said, “I’m checking all the seals because the box said, ‘Do not eat if the seal is broken.’”

English can be a confusing language. I want to read to you about another seal—and another kind of seal, at that.

Ephesians 1:13-14
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. (NKJV)

One of those English words we throw around—especially in church—is “gospel”. When I hear the word “gospel” I think either of “The Four Gospels” at the beginning of the NT, or I think of the phrase “gospel truth”. But I sometimes forget that what gospel means is, “Good news.”

This, here, is some good news. Too bad I don’t know a Greek word for “Great news” because that’s what this is!

Paul is reminding his audience that they have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ, because they heard his good news, and because they believed, they have now been sealed with the Holy Spirit!

That’s incredible news for every one of us! In the Bible in general and the NT in particular, “seal” has a few different meanings. It can indicate a finished transaction—rather like when you make a payment at the bank and they give you a receipt that’s been stamped with the date. It can be a symbol of ownership—like in the OT when slaves were marked with a pierced ear or like today when you put one of those book plates in a favorite volume, saying, “This book belongs to … “

The third usage, and the one that most applies here (though there are echoes of those other two here) is to use a seal to mark security. Think of the little kid with the box of animal crackers, or think of yourself when you open a bottle of aspirin. The seal may seem like an inconvenience for a moment, but it’s a relief to your mind to know that the contents of that bottle have not been tampered with.

Paul is saying that we have been marked—with the Holy Spirit, by God—with a seal. This seal indicates that we belong to God, that he has done the work to redeem us, and that we are securely his. Nobody or no thing has the power to pull you away from God.

Something to notice, though:

Ephesians 2:8-10
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (ESV)

Some people want to picture security as the freedom to do nothing. “OK, my doors and windows are locked and I’m stocked with food, so I’m just going to sit here and watch TV.” Or, “My salvation is secure … so I’m just going to sit here and watch TV.”

Paul says that it is the grace of God, through Jesus, which has saved us. It’s not anything we did or can boast about. But God didn’t save us so that we can be lazy. He saved us so that we can do good works, which he has already laid out for us.

Remember when Adam and Eve were created? What were they supposed to do? Tend the garden. The old saying that “Idle hands are the devil’s playground” is more than just a trite saying. God created you and I for great things (remember “transcendence” and “significance”?)!

There might be someone in this room who is going to one day invent a cure for cancer, or be a senator, and those are great things. But everyone in this room has been called and set aside for doing great things—they just may be things the world doesn’t recognize. Sitting up with a hospice patient, teaching an adult how to read his Bible, listening to a lonely woman talk, sharing the gospel with an unwed mother. These are great things! And the good news is that you are capable of the task God has put before you! He wouldn’t have given it to you if you weren’t.

Sometimes, people will say to me, “I want to do God’s will, but I don’t know what his will for my life is!” What’s the most frustrating for me in those situations is when I talk to the person and find out they haven’t utilized Scripture or prayer in their search for God’s will. I don’t know how they were hoping to find his will—maybe written in the clouds. If you’re wondering where to start in finding God’s will for your life, here’s a great place to start:

Ephesians 4:1-3
In light of all this, here's what I want you to do. While I'm locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don't want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don't want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences. (MSG)

“Steadily”. You weren’t sealed with a temporary seal and your service won’t just take place for an instant. This is a day in and day out effort. But I like what it said there in The Message: run.

Isaiah 40:31
But those who trust in the LORD for help will find their strength renewed. They will rise on wings like eagles; they will run and not get weary; they will walk and not grow weak. (GNB)

This is not a picture of weary work, but of triumph! This is running for joy!

It’s going to be a fight. Paul tells us in 6:12:

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (ESV)

He also promises us that we can do it. We can win the day. How? Why? Because we have been sealed!! We are God’s possession, the work has already been done for our salvation, and we are secure. Isn’t that good news?!?!

What do I DO with this?

Relax. Stop worrying about whether you’re saved. You are sealed. (If you aren’t, there’s no time like the present. Stop kicking against this glorious purpose for your life and submit.)

Run. God has a purpose for you. An eternal purpose. And carrying it out won’t weary you, it’ll build you up, give you strength, and lots of joy!