You were sealed with the Holy Spirit "with a view to
the
redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His
glory" (Eph. 1:14).
Yesterday we saw that God seals us with the Holy Spirit
as a pledge of our eternal inheritance. Here Paul says He
does so "with a view to the redemption of [His] own
possession." That refers to when God takes full possession
of all that is rightfully His.
Everything is God's by creation, but Satan has usurped
God's rulership to become the "god of this world" (2 Cor.
4:4) in whose power the whole world currently lies (1 John
5:19). Consequently, all creation is in bondage to decay
and "groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the
present time" (Rom. 8:22, NIV). It eagerly awaits the time
when the curse of Genesis 3 is reversed, all Christians are
fully glorified, and sin is eternally vanquished. What a
glorious time that will be!
You are God's special possession because you are His by
redemption as well as creation. In Revelation 5:9 the four
living creatures and the twenty-four elders sing to the
Lord, "Worthy art Thou . . . for Thou wast slain, and didst
purchase for God with Thy blood men from every tribe and
tongue and people and nation." In Acts 20:28 Paul charges
the Ephesian elders to guard carefully "the church of God
which He purchased with His own blood."
That makes you a priceless commodity to God--part of "a
chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for
God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies
of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous
light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the
people of God" (1 Pet. 2:9-10).
As God's special possession, you should reflect His
ownership and sovereign rule in everything you do. Remember,
"you are not your own . . . for you have been bought with a
price: therefore glorify God in your body" (1 Cor. 6:19-20).
Suggestions for Prayer:
- Thank God that you are His treasured possession.
- Seek His Spirit's leading in proclaiming His
excellencies to others through your words and deeds.
- Ask Him to teach you to esteem other believers as
highly as He does.
For Further Study:
Read Ephesians 2:1-13, noting the spiritual privileges and
responsibilities that are yours in Christ.
From Drawing Near by John MacArthur Copyright © 1993. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com.