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Bible Dictionaries
Sealing
Morrish Bible Dictionary
or A legal process by which the validity of a deed of conveyance is confirmed: see Jeremiah 32:7-11 . A seal is often employed as a witness and proof of genuineness. This may help us to understand the force of the term as applied to Christ and to Christians.
1. The Lord Jesus spoke of Himself as sealed by God the Father, John 6:27 , doubtless referring to the Holy Ghost having come upon Him at His baptism. He was thus witnessed of as the Son of God.
2. Believers are sealed by the Spirit for the day of redemption, and the Spirit is also the earnest of their inheritance. 2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 4:30 . The gift of the Spirit is the seal. This could not be until redemption had been wrought and righteousness secured thus for man. But the seal is now the distinctive mark of those who are of God. The idea of sealing is distinct from that of being born of the Spirit, as well as from that of being led of the Spirit after He has been received. Believers only are sealed, in virtue of their faith in a Saviour who died for them and rose again. The sealing, based on forgiveness of sins, gives the consciousness of the benefit gained by faith.
Various incidents in the Acts of the Apostles throw light upon this. On the day of Pentecost, after Peter had proclaimed the death, resurrection, and exaltation of Christ, the hearers being "pricked in their heart," said, "What shall we do?" Peter replied, "Repent, and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Acts 2:38 . So also when Peter preached to Cornelius and those gathered with him, while he was saying "Whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins . . . . the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word." Acts 10:43,44 . In Ephesians 1:13 , it is said of the Gentiles that having believed the gospel of their salvation they were sealed. See HOLY SPIRIT.
3. The hundred and forty-four thousand of the twelve tribes of Israel referred to in Revelation 7:3-8 will be sealed in their foreheads. The number typifies the completeness of the remnant which is preserved through the great tribulation for blessing, and they are conspicuous as bearing the witness and mark of the living God.
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Morrish, George. Entry for 'Sealing'. Morrish Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/mbd/s/sealing.html. 1897.
