The Nature of Sealing
A Sermon on Ephesians 1:13
Originally preached March 27, 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
The timing of the sealing of the Holy Spirit is a contested topic. It is a topic that raises many other questions. One could be tempted to ignore the subject or teach it in such a way as to minimize the difficulties with the doctrine. In this sermon on Ephesians 1:13 titled “The Nature of Sealing,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones thoughtfully engages this topic and the difficult questions head on. One cannot ignore the teaching of Holy Scripture but instead must carefully examine the Bible and conform their lives according to it. By looking at the teaching of the New Testament on the work of the Holy Spirit and invoking great theologians and pastors of the church, Dr. Lloyd-Jones says one must emphasize the experimental aspect of the sealing of Holy Spirit that occurs after belief in the gospel. He challenges the people of God to consider whether they have experienced the sealing of the Spirit. Is there an unmistakable experience that has occurred, resulting in a great assurance, joy in Christ, or love for God deep within their hearts? Dr. Lloyd-Jones cautions distinguishing between the sealing of the Spirit and particular gifts of the Holy Spirit that may or may not come as He dispenses gifts as He sees fit.
Sermon Breakdown
- The sealing of the Spirit is vital and important to understand. We must have no misunderstandings about it.
- The sealing of the Spirit happens after belief, though it may happen almost immediately or later. The two are separate and distinct.
- The sealing of the Spirit fulfills the promise of God throughout the Old Testament and the preaching of John the Baptist and Jesus.
- The sealing of the Spirit is an experimental, inward assurance given by the Holy Spirit that we are children of God. It is the Spirit bearing witness with our spirit.
- The first result of the sealing of the Spirit is the assurance we are children of God and heirs of God.
- Another result is the love of God being shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. We are filled with God's love.
- Another result is loving Christ and rejoicing in Him with unspeakable joy and glory.
- Spiritual gifts may accompany the sealing of the Spirit, as in Acts 2, but they are not necessary or guaranteed. The Spirit gives different gifts to different people as He wills.
- The sealing of the Spirit is not the same as conversion, though it may happen at the same time. Conversion gives rest through belief in the Word, but sealing gives direct assurance. Sealing goes beyond conversion.
- The sealing of the Spirit is not the same as sanctification. Sealing promotes sanctification but does not guarantee it. One can be sealed but become a backslider. Sealing is a point-in-time experience, sanctification is continuous.
- The intensity of the sealing experience may vary, but the thing itself is unmistakable, plain and clear. God tells us we are His children.
- Emotion accompanies the sealing of the Spirit, though emotionalism does not. Strange phenomena may temporarily accompany it due to the power and weakness of human frames. But humility, reverence, and love show it is from God.
- Paul shows the balance of deep emotion yet humility, reverence, wisdom, and understanding that should accompany the sealing of the Spirit.
Sermon Q&A
Key Questions About Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Teaching on the Sealing of the Holy Spirit
What is the sealing of the Holy Spirit according to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, the sealing of the Holy Spirit is "that peculiar, special, distinct assurance of salvation which is given by the Holy Spirit himself." He quotes Romans 8:16: "The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirits that we are the children of God." It is not something that happens automatically at conversion but is a separate, distinct experience. Lloyd-Jones describes it as "immediate and direct" - not an audible voice, but God making the promises beyond any doubt or uncertainty, giving the believer certainty of their adoption as God's child.
Is the sealing of the Holy Spirit experimental or non-experimental?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones strongly emphasizes that the sealing of the Holy Spirit is experimental - meaning it is an experience we are consciously aware of. He rejects interpretations that reduce it to "something nonexperimental" or "something of which we are not aware at all." He points to the second chapter of Acts and says, "You can't read that and still say that it's not experimental. It's the most profound and the most moving, the most exalting thing that has ever happened in christian experience or ever can happen." He quotes Thomas Goodwin who said there is "only one experience above and beyond the ceiling with the spirit... to be in heaven itself."
What is the relationship between conversion and the sealing of the Holy Spirit?
Lloyd-Jones explains that these are two distinct experiences. Conversion gives a person "rest of soul" through justification by faith and peace with God. However, the sealing of the Spirit "goes well beyond that." A person who is justified by faith believes the Word and receives rest, but "that may often be tested and it may often be shaken, and he will have to fly back to the word." The sealing of the Spirit provides such direct assurance that "there's no longer argument." Lloyd-Jones uses Richard Sibbs' illustration of a father who first merely receives his disobedient child, but later takes the child up in his arms and "showers his love upon him" - that's the difference between conversion and sealing.
What is the relationship between the sealing of the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that while the sealing of the Spirit was often accompanied by spiritual gifts (like speaking in tongues) in the early church, these gifts are not essential to the sealing itself. He notes that the Holy Spirit is sovereign in distributing gifts, citing 1 Corinthians 12 where Paul teaches that the Spirit gives different gifts to different people. Lloyd-Jones points out that great men of God throughout church history who clearly experienced the sealing of the Spirit (like Whitefield, Wesley, Edwards, Flavel, and Moody) never spoke in tongues but had other gifts. The essential aspect of the sealing is the assurance of sonship, not any particular gift.
What is the relationship between the sealing of the Holy Spirit and sanctification?
Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that "there is no direct connection between the ceiling with the spirit and sanctification." He notes that in Ephesians 1:1-14, Paul is not addressing sanctification but rather "what God has done to us in Christ." However, the sealing does impact sanctification, similar to how "showers of rain and sunshine" affect seed planted in the earth. The life is already in the seed (just as spiritual life is present from the moment of rebirth), but the rain and sunshine greatly promote and stimulate its growth. "Sealing with the spirit promotes sanctification. It doesn't guarantee it of necessity. It isn't the same thing."
Does the sealing of the Holy Spirit always involve intense emotional experiences?
Lloyd-Jones clarifies that while the sealing of the Spirit is always unmistakable, "the intensity of the experience may vary considerably." He distinguishes between emotion and emotionalism, saying it's impossible to "be told by God directly that he is God's child and feel nothing." However, believers shouldn't seek merely emotional experiences. He acknowledges that sometimes "when the Spirit of God enters into a man's soul in power, unusual things" may happen temporarily, but the permanent evidence of genuine sealing is humility, reverence, and "a holy love of God." He mentions how even the stoic John Wesley experienced emotional warmth after his Aldersgate experience.
Is the sealing of the Holy Spirit an experience for all Christians?
Lloyd-Jones indicates he would address this in his next sermon, but throughout this message, he suggests this experience is available to and intended for all believers. He describes it as "this wonderful blessing that God has for all his people" and warns against "quenching the Spirit" by fearing emotional expressions. His final question to the congregation reveals his belief that this should be the normal Christian experience: "Is there a spirit in you that cries out, Abba, Father? Is the love of God shed abroad in your heart? Do you know beyond argument, beyond having to convince yourself that you are a child of God and a joint heir with Jesus Christ? That is the sealing of the spirit."
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.