Sealing: Problems and Difficulties
A Sermon on Ephesians 1:13
Originally preached April 3, 1955
Scripture
13In 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,
Sermon Description
Effective witnessing makes God’s people radiant with joy and there is no experience like it on this side of heaven. In this sermon on Ephesians 1:13 titled “Sealing: Problems and Difficulties,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones gives a passionate plea for Christians to seek the sealing of the Spirit. The Christian life is not mechanical and emotionless because the love of God, and the love for God in return is not mechanical or emotionless. The fear of emotions should not discourage Christians to seek this experience of the Holy Spirit. Dr. Lloyd-Jones works through objections to this doctrine and answers them by bringing other passages of the Bible to bear on the topic, while also looking at subsequent church history for other Christian men and women who have experienced this work of the Holy Spirit. Finally, Dr. Lloyd-Jones cautions his listeners on the best way to seek the sealing of the Spirit. One must be hesitant to seek the experience for its own sake but instead should seek the Lord Jesus Christ. The Christian cannot be fooled into thinking the Spirit is not sovereign in this matter but instead must recognize the Lordship of the Spirit. With these cautions, Dr. Lloyd-Jones calls the people of God to seek this remarkable assurance that God graciously gives His people.
Sermon Breakdown
- The sealing of the Spirit is the greatest experience a Christian can have in this world. It provides absolute certainty of salvation and heaven.
- The sealing of the Spirit is not the same as regeneration, faith, belief, conversion, assurance from Scripture, or sanctification. It is an additional experience given by the Holy Spirit.
- The sealing of the Spirit is difficult to describe in words. It is a secret and intimate experience between God and the believer.
- Not all early Christians necessarily had the sealing of the Spirit. The statements in Scripture about all Christians having it could refer to the norm or ideal, not every single individual. During times of revival, the sealing of the Spirit may have been more widespread.
- The sealing of the Spirit is meant for all Christians, not just outstanding believers. The promise of the Spirit is for all who repent and believe.
- The sealing of the Spirit does not have to be dramatic or emotional for every Christian. It can vary in intensity but should still provide certainty.
- The sealing of the Spirit should be sought through reading Scripture, purifying one's life, and persistent prayer. One should seek God and His love, not just experiences. Waiting in "tarrying meetings" for a set time is unscriptural.
- God often grants the sealing of the Spirit at special times, such as before trials, after desertion, or near death. For some, it comes unexpectedly while seeking God. For others, ignorance of this experience prevents them from seeking it until late in life.
- The sealing of the Spirit provides a foretaste of heaven and fellowship with God that surpasses understanding. It is a source of joy and spiritual power.
Sermon Q&A
Common Questions about Sealing with the Holy Spirit According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
What is the "sealing with the Holy Spirit" according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the sealing with the Holy Spirit is "that immediate and direct assurance which is given to us by the Holy Spirit, that we are the children of God." It is not regeneration, faith, belief, conversion, or sanctification. Rather, it is an extraordinary experience where "the soul becomes certain, absolutely certain, that it belongs to God and to Christ." It's comparable to when God sealed Jesus at His baptism, saying "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased."
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones differentiate the sealing of the Spirit from other Christian experiences?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones clearly distinguishes this sealing from other Christian experiences: - It is not regeneration - you can be regenerate without knowing this sealing - It is not faith or belief - it's something additional to belief - It is not what happens at conversion - It is not the assurance derived from studying scriptures - It is not sanctification, though it promotes and encourages sanctification - It is an experience rather than a condition or state
Is the sealing of the Holy Spirit meant for all Christians or just exceptional saints?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphatically states this is for all Christians, not just exceptional people. He quotes Peter's sermon at Pentecost: "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. And ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you and unto your children, and to as many as are far off, indeed, unto as many as the Lord our God shall call." He notes that while it may vary in intensity from person to person, it is "the birthright of every Christian to be absolutely certain and sure."
How should Christians seek this sealing according to Lloyd-Jones?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones outlines a specific approach to seeking this sealing: 1. Search the Scriptures for the promises 2. Make sure you're seeking the right thing - seek Him, not just experiences 3. Prepare the way by mortifying sin and purifying yourself 4. Add to your faith virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love 5. Pray earnestly and persistently for it 6. Take time - be willing to wait and continue seeking
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones warn against when seeking the sealing of the Spirit?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones warns against two main approaches: 1. The "take it by faith" approach that ignores feelings - "When God seals you with the Spirit, you will know it. You won't have to take it by faith, irrespective of your feelings." 2. "Tarrying meetings" where people wait together for extended periods - this can create psychological conditions for counterfeit experiences and forgets the sovereignty of God who decides when to give this blessing.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the experience of being sealed with the Spirit?
He describes it as something that's difficult to put into words but unmistakable when experienced. It has these qualities: - Things you've known before suddenly become "luminous" with heavenly clarity - It's an experience of God's love and your love going out to Him in return - It involves your emotions deeply - "You cannot have this sealing with the spirit without your emotions being moved" - It's "the most real thing that can ever happen to us" - It comes with "this illumination, with this melting quality" - It produces "an absolute certainty"
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones believe this sealing is so important for the church today?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones states that "there is no more important statement from the standpoint of the experience of christian people." He believes that misinterpreting this teaching and failing to realize its richness "accounts for so much of the barrenness and the poverty of the life of the church in these present times." He sees it as "the key to all witnessing and testifying" that isn't mechanical but comes from the heart, making Christians "alive" and "radiant."
The Book of Ephesians
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.