SIGNED SEALED AND AWAITING DELIVERY

Proclamation:

"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins ... and you also …When you believed you were marked in Him with a seal, the promise of The Holy Spirit, … until the redemption of those who are God’s possession ..." Ephesians 1:7 and 13-14 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the Apostle Paul to the believers in Ephesus.  Paul wanted them to know that they were only acceptable to God because they had been redeemed and purchased by the blood of Christ who paid the price for their sins to be forgiven by His death on the cross.  Paul also wanted them to know that the moment they first believed in Christ, The Holy Spirit of God marked and sealed them as belonging to Christ.  They would be kept and protected until they were redeemed and repossessed by The Lord Jesus.

Application:

As believers we were purchased by the blood of Christ.  We were sealed by The Holy Spirit the moment we believed.  We belong to Jesus, The Christ, and we are just waiting to be delivered to Him.  That is some very good news which is worth shouting about.  So, as Christians, to paraphrase the song by Stevie Wonder, we are "signed, sealed, (and waiting to be) delivered, (because) we're His".  We are just waiting for the rapture. (1 Thessalonians 4:17)