The work of the Holy Spirit is like a diamond with many sparkling facets. When we read the New Testament carefully we notice how many different words are used to shed light on the work of the Spirit in God’s children. This work is so rich and varied that it is difficult to sum it up in one word. In Ephesians 4:30 we find the word “sealed” in connection with the Holy Spirit. This word draws our attention to yet another facet of the work that the Holy Spirit does in the believers. Also in 2 Corinthians 1:22 and Ephesians 1:14 Paul speaks in one breath about the Holy Spirit and God’s children being sealed.

In past centuries there has been a lot of misunderstanding in the exegesis of these texts. Calvin for example is of the opinion that this sealing is a working of the Holy Spirit by which the believers become sure of what the Lord says in his Word. If faith is to be a sure and steadfast confidence, then the Spirit has to seal God’s promises in our hearts.

Others also understood it to be a working of the Holy Spirit, but went further than Calvin by making a distinction between external and internal sealing. With the external they pointed to the sacraments: by baptism and holy supper the Spirit assures us of God’s promises. With the internal they pointed to the internal testimony of the Spirit in our soul, an “immediate,” a direct working of the Spirit in our hearts by which the Spirit convinces us that God’s Word is the truth.

However, accurate reading of the above-mentioned texts brings us to the conclusion that the word “seal” does not refer to the Holy Spirit’s working of assurance in the hearts of God’s children. What the apostle has in mind becomes clear when we turn to 2 Corinthians 1:22. There Paul says that God has set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee of what is to come. The seal that God puts on his children - as is evident from the text - is none other than the Holy Spirit him self.

The background of what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 1:22 is clearly the idea of stamping something with a seal in order to authenticate it as someone’s personal possession.

By giving his own Spirit, the Lord imprints upon his children his mark of ownership, whereby he confirms and certifies them as his children.  After all, the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Sonship (cf. Rom 8:15). That we are God’s children, we may also know from the gift of the Holy Spirit!

Commentators have correctly pointed out that the word “seal” as Paul uses it with regard to the Holy Spirit, also has the idea of preserving, safekeeping.  We find this also elsewhere in the New Testament. Jesus’ tomb was sealed (cf. Mt 27:66) to safeguard it from desecration. When Paul writes in Ephesians 4:30 that the believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit for the day of redemption, he certainly also means to say that the Holy Spirit preserves them and keeps them safe with a view to the great day of redemption.

Here and now, God’s children are still surrounded by evil forces. The world has not yet been freed from sin, death and sorrow. But the great day of redemption is on the way.

With a view to that day the Spirit preserves and safeguards the believers. He is the Spirit of glory (cf. 1 Pet 4:14), the Spirit who brings that glory to all who belong to Christ. God’s children can take heart: in a world full of hostile powers, they go their way under heavenly protection. The Holy Spirit keeps them safe for the great day of redemption.

A severe warning is voiced in Ephesians 4:30. Paul exhorts us not to grieve the Holy Spirit who marks us as God’s children and keeps us safe for the last day. It should strike us that the apostle uses the word “grieve.” We do not grieve an enemy or someone who has a formal interest only. We can only grieve someone who truly loves us. The word “grieve” in Ephesians 4:30 speaks of the Spirit’s love for God’s children. The Spirit is constantly busy to enrich their life and make it pleasing to God. When Christians do not live in holiness, and tolerate all kinds of sin, then they grieve the Holy Spirit of God! Also in the Old Testament we read about grieving the Spirit that way. Israel did not listen to the voice of God. They forgot his works of grace. Thereby they grieved the Holy Spirit who guided them and cared for Israel in love (cf. Is 63:10).

In what way we can grieve the Holy Spirit is made very clear in Ephesians 4. The apostle speaks about an un-Christian walk of life (v. 17), speaking falsehood (v. 25), erupting in anger (v. 26), stealing (v. 28), unwholesome talk (v. 29), bitterness, wrath, clamor, slander and malice (v. 31).

The Holy Spirit is the Holy Spirit. He wants to make us holy. His work in us is aimed at renewing us more and more after the image of Christ.

When we tolerate unholiness and uncleanness in our life, we grieve the Holy Spirit. Indeed, the Spirit is very patient. But when we persist in an unholy way of life, then he withdraws him self. Scripture also tells us that the Spirit will remove him self. Then the Spirit will, instead of love, shows us his wrath. In Isaiah 63 we read that they rebelled and grieved the Holy Spirit. Therefore he turned and became their enemy.

The Holy Spirit has a holy longing to make our lives pleasing to the Lord God. Anyone who clings to sin and goes along with the world grieves the Holy Spirit and resists him in his glorious work. Such a person will be confronted with the Spirit’s judgment!

When our life of faith does not flourish, when our prayers stagnate, when we have no joy in our heart, we must seriously examine ourselves. Quite often it is because we are grieving the Holy Spirit of God.

We are privileged to be sealed with the Holy Spirit. God marks us as his children and preserves us by his Spirit until the great day of redemption. But we have also a great responsibility! It is a Holy Spirit who wants to live in us.  He is the exalted, Holy God in Person.