I. Paul’s Final Defense and appeal to the Spirit

A. V.17 Paul now has appealed to his decisions (still refuting v.17) as a man in the Spirit.

1. His decisions were not of a worldly manner or not of the “flesh” v.17

2. But, the trustworthiness and faithfulness of God whose sure word he preached v. 18.

3. The unambiguous and positive nature of the message they proclaimed –Jesus the Son of God v.19.

4. And this message was validated by the Corinthians when they said “Amen” v. 20

II. These are the same Spiritual blessing we find in Ephesians 1:13-14.

A. The Empowering of the Holy Spirit was apostle specific. They were promised a helper in John 14:26 and Jesus fulfilled that Promise in Acts chapter 2.

B. The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit is what all Christians received at baptism (Acts 2:39, Eph.4:30)

The Etymology of the Ideas

A. A Seal

1. In a literal sense, a device bearing a sign or signature proclaiming ownership. Usually made from a soft substance as clay.

2. Archaeologist have found seals as early as 4000 B.C.

(a) Some carried on strings around the neck while others were carried in a box.

(b) Over time the Seal took the shape of a scarab(beetle shaped)

3. It was used for authentication

4. Used as a sign of a covenant

5. As a means against protecting against tampering

6. As a display of authority

7. As an official mark of ownership

B. In the Bible, it is the ETCH OF THE IMAGE OF GOD ON OUR BEING.

1. “The Spirit himself bears witness with out spirit, that we are children of God...”Rom. 8:16 or after the nature of God

2. Does not say that the HS bears witness to our spirit but with out spirit.

3. If my spirit says I am a child of God, and the testimony of the Spirit shows that I am not a child of God, guess who wins. My spirit must agree with God’s Spirit.

4. Therefore, the Spirit is a co-witness

5. How does the Spirit bear witness? A feeling, a little voice?

6. Since there are no Inspired men living today, the only thing we have that gives us the will of the Spirit is the Word of God. No one knows the Spirits will on any subject unless they learned it from the Word. If fact, no one even knows there is a Spirit outside the Word.

7. What a blessing it is to have this seal on us!

8. “ These things have I written you, that you may know that you have eternal life, even to you that believe on the Son of God.”1st John 5:13. YOU MUST KNOW by writings and of course that is the only way we know.

B. The Holy Spirit Transfers some of the Glory of God to our nature

1. “But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, even as from the Lord the Spirit.” (II Cor.3:18)

This is the correct translation

2. Alexander Campbell said it this way in his Christian System.

The work of redemption is a system of works and deeds on the part of God. These works of God put this seal on the human soul.

3. What is the image of God....this glory that is impressed on our souls? No man knows what God looks like so we can only speculate.

C. It Secures and protects us against being defrauded by the thief of our souls (the Devil)

1. When we are sealed with the Spirit we may have confidence.

2. The Devil cannot snatch those souls away (See John 10:27-28)

III. HE GIVES US AN EARNEST OF OUR INHERITANCE

A. Holiness

1. This is the legacy of Jesus

2. Holiness was what we were short of and access to holiness is what Jesus gave us.

3. “I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good that I want but the evil do not want to do....Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?...There is therefore now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.” Rom. 7: 18:8-1

4. When we are sealed with the HS, when His Spirit bears witness without spirit, we have an EARNEST or down payment on that which is yet to come.

B. Rest:

1. "Blessed are those who die in the Lord henceforth, says the Spirit, they they may rest from their Labors (Rev. 14:3)

2. "Therefore my beloved brethren, be steadfast,immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain, (1st Cor. 15:58).

C. Dominion: Man was made to have dominion over the earth. Gen. 1:26

1. Heb. Chapter two reports that man was made to have dominion but does not have it now because of sin. (Christ gives it back)

2. Paul said, ..."in all these things you are more than conquerors thorough Him who loved us." Rom. 8:37

IV. Empowers us (by the indwelling) as Emissaries of God

1. "You are an open letter about Christ which we ourselves have written, not with pen and ink but with the Spirit of the living God."

V. In short,

1. Etches the Image of God on our Being

2. Gives us the Earnest-down payment of our Inheritance

3. Empowers us as Emissaries