A Journey Through Ephesians… 1:12-14

If you are just now tuning in… we are scribing our way through the book of Ephesians. Grab a pen and write out the scriptures. Reflect on every word, letter, meaning, phrase. What jumps off the page to you?

God’s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust Christ would bring praise and glory to God. And now you Gentiles* (that’s us!*) have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, who he promised long ago. The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him. 1:12-14 NLT. * that’s me! LOL

v. 13 Giving you the Holy Spirit: were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit (ESV)

v. 14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee: who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance (NIV)

I put these two other translations above to show how familiar passage of a this is to a lot of us. I have used the New Living Translation for the past 9 years as my study Bible, but I can’t help but miss these two words from other translations…. SEALED. DEPOSIT.

Oh, the Holy Spirit. Aren’t we thankful for Him?

He is our Advocate, Helper, Comforter, Strength, Voice, He empowers, illuminates, reminds us, teaches us. He prays for us, guides us, protects us….

But this makes me want to cry: He is our GUARANTEE that all this is legit. For real. Done.

God first identified you…. yes she/he is mine.

THEN he said… to make this OFFICIAL I am giving her/him MY SPIRIT to confirm it. I am making a DEPOSIT on this one. I’ll be coming back.

DEPOSIT: ἀρραβών(arrabōn) – money which in purchases is given as a pledge or downpayment that the full amount will subsequently be paid

Last weekend, a magnetic force pulled me into a garage sale. Like my car just pulled itself to the curb and opened the door :). Has this ever happened to you? No? Hmmmmm.

Anyway. I had been searching for a used cast iron skillet for a while and lo and behold – there she sat. 12″ and seasoned to country perfection. A sweet older lady was selling her canning jars, homemade blackberry jelly, old 45s and cast irons. I about died and met Jesus right there in her driveway and of course had to buy all listed above.

The problem was, I did not come prepared for a garage sale. I had a single 5 bill in my wallet. So, I took her all my southern treasures and my five dollars and told that sweet neighbor, “I’m giving you this as my deposit…. I live up the street. I will be back for all of this.”

That five dollars was my pledge, my downpayment that the full amount would subsequently be paid. My arrabōn on what I had identified as my very own treasure.

Beloved, do you see?

He identified you… a jar of clay in which He wanted to seal with His Holy Spirit. This deposit being His downpayment, THAT HE WILL COME BACK FOR YOU.

The Holy Spirit inside of you is more than just a tool to help you get through the day. He is a PLEDGE. God is coming for you. He “went up the street, but will be back for all of this.” All of us.

Why? Why would He do this??

Mmmmm. Look.

He did this so we would praise and glorify him. v. 14

So let’s stop here and spend time doing that right now.

Father. I have few words for this. Thank you. I praise you, our REDEEMER – you come back for us. Our Rescuer. Thank you for seeing me, broken and battered, surrounded by the junk of my sin. You pulled me out of the rubble and laid down a deposit on me. Sealed me with YOURSELF saying – I’m coming back for you, Becky. Gah, I love you. I can’t wait. I just can’t wait. I praise and glorify you today, God. Amen.