Adoption is a free act of God's grace, in which we are received into the family, and have a right to all the privileges of the children of God.
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. (Eph. 1:13,14)
21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. (2 Corinthians 1:21,22)
Thoughts: The Spirit of God is the Spirit of adoption that seals us for our inheritance (Eph. 4:30; 2 Cor. 5:5). The Spirit is called a deposit of God's full treasure. The Spirit is like earnest money put down on real estate. The Spirit is a little taste of what is yet to come, and at the same time a guarantee that more good things are to come. When we are adopted by God as Father, we are sealed (past/aorist tense of arrobon) by the Spirit until the day or Redemption. In Revelation the seal of God (the Spirit- Rev. 7:3) is contrasted to the seal of the number of the Antichrist on the foreheads of those who submit to him.
A seal is a guarantee. So when we seal an envelope it is shut tight- almost licked. When Jesus was in the tomb, Pilate had the tomb "sealed" to insure it's closure, and that no one else would break into it (Mt. 27:66). A signet seal in ancient times- is like a signature- guaranteeing authenticity. The Spirit locks us in as God's guarantee, but also guarantees the authenticity of our faith and that we are God's children (when we believe).
Prayer: Seal us for service today, O Lord.
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