Ephesians 1:13
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of
your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that
holy Spirit of promise,
KJV
Eph 1:13-14
You also, having heard the message of the truth, the gospel of your salvation,
believed in Christ, and were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.
(from "The Everlasting Gospel", Copyright © 2000 by
Freed-Hardeman University. All rights reserved.)
Comments
"In whom ye also trusted"
This is Christ, mentioned in the previous verse.
"after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation"
The word of truth is defined as being the Gospel of salvation. Note that the text says "after that ye heard."
"in whom also after that ye believed"
Notice it says "whom" and not "what" Whom is a person, therefore it must be Christ. After you heard the Gospel, and after you also believed in Christ. In other words you believed both the Gospel and Christ.
"ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise"
The sealing by the Holy Spirit of promise occurred after they both believed in the gospel and in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit of promise is the same gift of the Holy Spirit spoken of by Peter in Acts 2:38-39.
Acts 2:38-39
(38) Then Peter said unto
them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for
the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
(39) For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar
off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
KJV
This promise of the Holy Spirit was received after the converts were baptized, in water, for the remission of sin. Many today say that belief only and not baptism is implied in Eph 1:13. Many people overlook the fact that the apostles regularly used the word believed with the act of baptism as being understood to have happened.
Acts 19:2-3
(2)
He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they
said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
(3)
And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto
John's baptism.
KJV
The Ephesian converts mentioned in Acts 19:2-3 were just such an example. Paul
asked them "unto what were ye baptized?" This question was posed after he
asked them if they received the Holy Ghost since they believed. Couple
this with the fact that in Acts 2:38, Peter instructed the converts to repent
and be baptized, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost which is the
promise unto them and their children.
The Holy Spirit of promise is received after repentance and baptism for the remission of sin.
Other scriptures that refer to the Holy Spirit of promise are:
Eph 4:30
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of
redemption.
KJV
2 Cor 1:22
Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
KJV
Gal 4:6
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your
hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
KJV
It is significant that in the case of the Holy Saviour himself, the Spirit did not descend and remain upon him until after he was baptized. Why, then, should it be thought strange that the blessed Holy Spirit of promise in view here is exactly that mentioned by Peter on Pentecost, the promise that belongs to all of those in all times whom God shall call unto himself?
Why should it be thought strange that the
Holy Spirit was promised only to believers who would repent and be baptized?
The word "sealed" carries the meaning of being "stamped with a signet or a private mark, either literally or figuratively, for security or preservation. See Strong's definition of NT4972.
John 6:27
Labour not for the meat which
perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son
of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
KJV
Jesus Christ Himself tells us that belief
alone is not enough to receive His gift of everlasting life.