[God] "who has placed his seal on us and has given us the Spirit in our hearts as a down payment." -2 Cor 1:22
Some of the most comforting promises in the Bible are found here in 2 Corinthians 1. There are two things that Paul speaks about in verse 22 to encourage the Corinthians; One being that God "has placed his seal on" them. One translation renders this first part like this.."He put His mark on us to show that we are His" (EXB). The seal speaks of it's owner.
You see the ancient seal indicated ownership and authenticity, and even today the seal on a letter, product, or package indicates ownership; as it renders the unique mark of it's owner or manufacturer. Today when you shop at the grocery store all items are sealed for authenticity and as evidence of no tampering of the product's contents from an outside source other than it's manufacturer. For example some products will indicate "Do Not use or consume if seal is broken", or perhaps "Void if Seal Broken". Some manufacturers are more concerned with sealing their products than they are with the removal of the seal, hence the seal under a medicine cap and products wrapped in plastic. I know I always have trouble removing the aluminum seal on the Allegra bottle LOL.
Revelation speaks about how Satan will be locked up in the bottomless pit and a "seal" (same Greek word) placed over it that cannot be broken. (Rev 20:3) Therefore a seal speaks of preservation and security as well. The same word is used to describe the sealing of Jesus' tomb. (Mt 27:66)
As you can see in the verse above the Holy Spirit is an integral part of this sealing, the very fact the He indwells us is evidence of this sealing and divine guarantee of God's preservation. But there is another illustration Paul uses here to encourage His readers, he compares the indwelling of the Spirit in our hearts as a down payment of God's future promises, literally a pledge or payment paid in advance as a guarantee of bigger things to come. In Bible times when a farmer was to leave his field as an inheritance to someone he would fill up a leather pouch with some dirt from that land and hand it to it's future owner as a "guarantee" of that land in full. Likewise the Holy Spirit is a down payment--a living guarantee, not a bag of dirt but a little piece of heaven living inside of you. So walk in the security of God's promises and know that you are a letter, signed, sealed and delivered!
You see the ancient seal indicated ownership and authenticity, and even today the seal on a letter, product, or package indicates ownership; as it renders the unique mark of it's owner or manufacturer. Today when you shop at the grocery store all items are sealed for authenticity and as evidence of no tampering of the product's contents from an outside source other than it's manufacturer. For example some products will indicate "Do Not use or consume if seal is broken", or perhaps "Void if Seal Broken". Some manufacturers are more concerned with sealing their products than they are with the removal of the seal, hence the seal under a medicine cap and products wrapped in plastic. I know I always have trouble removing the aluminum seal on the Allegra bottle LOL.
Revelation speaks about how Satan will be locked up in the bottomless pit and a "seal" (same Greek word) placed over it that cannot be broken. (Rev 20:3) Therefore a seal speaks of preservation and security as well. The same word is used to describe the sealing of Jesus' tomb. (Mt 27:66)
As you can see in the verse above the Holy Spirit is an integral part of this sealing, the very fact the He indwells us is evidence of this sealing and divine guarantee of God's preservation. But there is another illustration Paul uses here to encourage His readers, he compares the indwelling of the Spirit in our hearts as a down payment of God's future promises, literally a pledge or payment paid in advance as a guarantee of bigger things to come. In Bible times when a farmer was to leave his field as an inheritance to someone he would fill up a leather pouch with some dirt from that land and hand it to it's future owner as a "guarantee" of that land in full. Likewise the Holy Spirit is a down payment--a living guarantee, not a bag of dirt but a little piece of heaven living inside of you. So walk in the security of God's promises and know that you are a letter, signed, sealed and delivered!
- WHAT CHANGES CAN HAPPEN IN YOUR LIFE IF YOU APPLY THE TRUTHS FOUND IN THIS VERSE TO YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW? HOW IS FAITH INTEGRAL TO WALKING IN GOD'S PROMISES?
- "We mustn't only wholly believe in God but also believe God wholly" -Albert G.