(Brother Williams gives a different interpretation of Ephesians 1:13-14 than I did last month. Our practical application is the same: the Holy Spirit directs us through the inspired word rather than through a mystical inner light. Paul K. Williams is an excellent Bible student and devoted man of God. Please carefully consider his study. - KS)

In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.—Ephesians 1:13-14.

In verse 12, Paul referred to “we who were the first to hope in Christ.” These were Jews. The salvation which came to the Jews later came also to the Gentiles. The Ephesian Christians were mostly Gentiles, and they “also” were sealed in Christ with the Holy Spirit of promise. The seal is called a “pledge of our inheritance.”

The kingdom of God came with power (Mark 9:1; Acts 1:8) when the Holy Spirit came on the apostles accompanied by a sound as of a big wind and tongues that looked like fire. He gave the apostles the power to speak in many languages of the mighty deeds of God (Acts 2:4-11). Peter then appealed to the coming of the Holy Spirit as evidence that Jesus was raised from the dead and ascended to the right hand of God (Acts 2:33). Then when his Jewish hearers asked, “What shall we do?” he answered, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)

From that time the Holy Spirit was given to those who became Christians. He enabled Christians to perform signs and miracles. When Peter and the apostles were on trial, they said, “We are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.” (Acts 5:32) The wicked judges could not contradict the apostles, because “At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people.” (Acts 5:12) This is how the Holy Spirit was witnessing to the truth of the resurrection of Jesus.

The manner in which the Holy Spirit was given to disciples is seen in Acts 8. “Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 8:14-17) In the next verse we read that “Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands.”

All of this occurred before the first Gentiles were saved. When God chose to open the doors of the kingdom to the Gentiles, He again sent the Holy Spirit. This was on the household of Cornelius and his friends. “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God.” (Acts 10:44-46.)

Back at Jerusalem when Peter was called on to explain why he had eaten with Gentiles, he said, “And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as He did upon us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” (Acts 20:15-17)

The Gentiles were sealed by the pouring out of the Holy Spirit. This outpouring was evidence, (a pledge), that God accepted them just as He accepted Jews.

Further, the gift of the Holy Spirit continued to be given to Christians by the laying on of the apostles’ hands. In Acts 19 Paul came to Ephesus. There he found 12 disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” (Acts 19:2) When he discovered that they did not understand about the Holy Spirit, he inquired about their baptism and instructed them so that they were baptized again. Then “when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying.” (Acts 19:6)

These men were most likely Gentiles. They were sealed with the Holy Spirit, which was a pledge of their inheritance.

In the book of Ephesians, Paul is talking to brethren of the same church where He had given the Holy Spirit to those twelve men. He had worked with them for about three years. We can be sure that he must have given the Holy Spirit to the others who were baptized during that time. So it is easy to understand when he writes, “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.” (Eph. 1:13-14)

The seal of their inheritance is also the seal of our inheritance. The fact that God gave the Holy Spirit to Jews and Gentiles is the guarantee that Gentiles as well as Jews are accepted for salvation by faith.

In Acts 15 we read of some brethren who denied that Gentiles could be saved without being circumcised and keeping the Law of Moses. All Paul and Barnabas needed to do to refute that false doctrine is found in Acts 15:12. “All the people kept silent, and they were listening to Barnabas and Paul as they were relating what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.” The signs and wonders performed by the power of the Holy Spirit were the seal that the gospel Paul preached was from God. He preached that Gentiles could be saved through faith without circumcision. They were sealed!

We do not need to have the Holy Spirit given today in order to have this seal. The seal was given. We have the pledge. It does not have to be renewed. We have incontrovertible evidence that the Holy Spirit came to the apostles, was given to obedient Jews, and then given to obedient Gentiles. This is clear testimony that God accepts all men on the same basis.

Thank God for the seal of the Holy Spirit!