Ephesians 1:13–14

> “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” (Ephesians 1:13–14)




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The Spirit’s Seal and the Believer’s Responsibility

Every believer who truly belongs to Christ is sealed with the Holy Spirit at conversion. The Spirit’s presence in us is the guarantee that those who have Him possess the promise of eternal life.

Paul’s point in Ephesians is not that the Spirit’s presence is unconditional, but that the Spirit Himself is the pledge—the down payment—of what is coming. The seal confirms ownership and identity, not automatic perseverance.

God has promised that His Church will always have the Spirit in her midst. But Scripture never says that every individual who once received the Spirit will always continue to walk with Him.

➡️ The presence of the Holy Spirit is our guarantee—but the presence of the Spirit is not guaranteed.

Those who have the Spirit have the hope of eternal life—but that hope must be guarded, not presumed.


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Led by the Spirit: The Ongoing Condition of Sonship

Paul clarifies this in Romans 8:14–16:

> “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”



Notice: it says “as many as are led by the Spirit”—not “as many as were led.” Sonship is proven by present obedience, not past experience.

Our assurance cannot rest on what God did for us once; it must rest on whether we are now walking in the Spirit. This is why Paul warns:

> “We appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says, ‘In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:1–2)



Yesterday’s obedience cannot sustain today’s salvation. That is why believers are told to “examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith.” (2 Corinthians 13:5)


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Life or Death: Walking According to the Spirit

Romans 8 also shows that having the Spirit does not unconditionally guarantee perseverance:

> “So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” (Romans 8:12–13)



Paul is not warning unbelievers here—he is warning Christians who already have the Spirit. The Spirit gives life to those who obey Him, but those who return to the flesh invite death.

Later, Paul reinforces this same truth:

> “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” (Galatians 6:7–8)



The seal of the Spirit confirms that we belong to God, but it does not mean we can live contrary to Him without consequence. Hence the warning:

> “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” (Ephesians 4:30)



The Spirit’s seal is meant to secure, not excuse, us.


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Saved Already—but Not Yet Completed

Paul’s teaching in Romans 8 forms a consistent picture:

> “And if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified with Him.” (Romans 8:17)



> “Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.” (Romans 8:23)



We have already received the Spirit as a deposit, but the full inheritance is still future. Our salvation is real, but it is not complete until the end. We have assurance, but it is conditional assurance—secured in Christ, maintained by abiding in Him.

> “But Christ is faithful over God’s house as a Son, and we are His house if indeed we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of our hope firm to the end.” (Hebrews 3:6)



> “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.” (Hebrews 3:12–14)



“Brothers” already—but not yet resurrected to eternal life.
Security—yes. But conditional, not unconditional. Saved already, but not yet glorified.


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The Spirit Empowers—but Does Not Override

Receiving the Spirit means we have the power to overcome sin. But it does not mean we will automatically walk in that power.

> “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Therefore, brothers, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” (Romans 8:11–13)



The Spirit enables obedience, but does not force it. God gives us grace, but warns us not to waste it.

> “Put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires.” (Ephesians 4:22)



> “For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them.” (Ephesians 5:5–7)




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The Spirit’s Presence: Our Hope, Not Our License

The presence of the Holy Spirit is our guarantee—but the presence of the Spirit is not guaranteed.

That statement captures the heart of the matter. The Spirit’s presence gives us hope, assurance, and confidence that we belong to God’s people. But Scripture never teaches that His presence remains unconditionally with those who turn to sin.

The Holy Spirit seals the faithful for redemption, but He can be grieved, resisted, and ultimately withdrawn from those who harden their hearts.

The Spirit is the deposit that gives us reason to hope.
But the Spirit’s continuing presence is not promised apart from faithfulness.

Salvation is both gift and calling—a finished work in Christ, yet a race that must be finished in us.


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Selah

The presence of the Spirit is the guarantee—but the presence of the Spirit is not guaranteed.

He seals us for redemption—but only as we continue to walk in Him.

> “He who endures to the end shall be saved.” (Matthew 24:13)