Means of Grace
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. Ephesians 1:13-14
When a king or other important personage would place his seal on a document, it served two purposes. First, it made it known that it was the official word of the issuer. Second, the seal made the document tamper-proof. When the recipient received the document with the seal intact, he knew that no one had attempted to change the message.
In addition to His Word, our Lord has also instituted two sacraments, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, to seal us with the Holy Spirit of promise. These sacred acts first and foremost actually give us faith, forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation. God’s Word gives the sacraments the power to do these great things. They also involve earthly elements to give us tangible seals, or guarantees, of our salvation until our redemption is fully realized when we receive our reward in heaven.
Sealed by the sacraments, we are officially made and declared children of God. Sealed by the sacraments, no one else can tamper with God’s promises by naysaying our right to our inheritance in heaven. Satan cannot accuse us of unrighteousness. Our righteousness is sealed in the perfect life of Christ. Our sins cannot rewrite God’s promises. Our forgiveness is sealed in the washing of Baptism and the body and blood of Jesus given for us. Even death cannot seal us in. The Holy Spirit gives us faith through the sacraments that death is only a passageway to receiving our inheritance in full.
Baptized in water,
Sealed by the Spirit,
Cleansed by the blood of Christ our King:
Heirs of salvation,
Trusting His promise,
Faithfully now God’s praise we sing.
Worship Supplement 752:1