quote: Originally Posted by INVICTUS:
quote: Originally Posted by Bill Gray:
My agnostic Friend, Chick, tells us, "Give 10 people the same scripture and you will get 10 different opinions of what that scripture means. How do you determine which one is correct? You can’t."
. . .
So, my Friend, yes, we can truly know what Scripture is telling us -- if we will lay aside what we want to tell Scripture. Then, we can truly KNOW God's message and plan for our lives -- which He has given us in His Written Word, the Bible.
So billie, if you believe what you said above, would you tell me what this scripture is truly saying.
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,"
Hi Vic,
So happy to see you accurately quoting Scripture; even if it is, as usual, without your own personal interpretation and/or explanation of what YOU believe that Scripture verse/passage is telling us.
Yes, my Friend, I can help you understand that Scripture verse. I see that you have chosen to quote the King James which is fine. The New King James and the New American Standard say basically the same thing:
Ephesians 1:13 (kjv), "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,"
Ephesians 1:13 (nkjv), "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,"
Ephesians 1:13 (nasb), "In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the Gospel of your salvation -- having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,"
Let's go one step further and look at the actual Greek:
Ephesians 1:13 (TR), "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,"
And, with English and Greek together:
Ephesians 1:13 (TR), "In (en) whom (hos) ye (hymeis) also (kai) trusted, after that ye heard (akouo) the word (logos) of truth (aletheia), the gospel (euaggelion) of your (hymon) salvation (soteria): in (en) whom (hos) also (kai) after that ye believed (pisteuo), ye were sealed with (sphragizo) that holy (hagios) Spirit (pneuma) of promise (epaggelia)."
Textus Receptus (TR): The Textus Receptus (latin, "Received Text") is the Greek text originally compiled by Erasmus around 1516. Though the earliest work was prepared by Desiderius Erasmus, his work was later revised by Robert Estienne (or, Stephanus) and further revised by Theodore Beza. The text produced by each is substantially the same, aside from some minor variations. The Blue Letter Bible utilizes Stephanus' edition from 1550.
So, now that we are sure of what that Scripture verse tells us -- what does it mean? Glad you asked!
"In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation." That seems pretty clear, we heard the Gospel of salvation -- that Jesus Christ died on the cross so that ALL who, by the grace of God, through FAITH in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross -- will believe and receive His gift HAS eternal life. Eternal meaning NEVER ending!
"having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit" Once again, very clear. When we heard the Gospel and believed that Gospel -- we were INDWELLED and SEALED by the Holy Spirit. Once the Holy Spirit has SEALED a believer -- nothing or NO ONE can break that seal.
It is unbreakable since He, God, is omnipotent, all powerful. For anyone to break God's SEAL, that person would have to be more powerful than God.
My Friend, do YOU know anyone who is more powerful than God?
And, in Ephesians 4:30, we are told, "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."
In other words, the believer who has put his/her FAITH in Jesus Christ -- is SEALED until the day our Redeemer Kinsman, Jesus Christ, comes for us. That will be the moment of our death in this mortal body -- or the time when we are Raptured out of this mortal body.
My Friend, that IS "eternal security" -- KNOWING that we have eternal life in Christ and that NO ONE can take that from us. Praise God!
I am so happy we have had this opportunity to discuss Scripture and God's message of salvation and eternal life found in it. Do you have any questions or thoughts on Ephesians 1:13 that I have missed?
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill