The Spirit within us is God’s unbreakable seal — marking us as his, securing us in Christ, and promising the glory to come.

A further blessing that the apostle Paul highlights about The Good Things We Have in Christ (Ephesians 1:1–14) is that we are sealed by the Holy Spirit.

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.”
(Ephesians 1:13–14)

Here, Paul gives us a picture of security, belonging, and promise, all through the Spirit whom we receive when we first become Christians and by whom we live our lives.

A Seal of Belonging

In the ancient world, a seal was a mark of ownership and authenticity. A king would press his signet ring into wax to confirm that a letter was his. A merchant might stamp a seal onto goods to show they belonged to him.

In the same way, the Holy Spirit is God’s seal on us. When we believed the gospel, God placed his Spirit within us as the sign that we belong to him. “The Lord knows those who are his” (2 Timothy 2:19). We are not our own. We are his treasured possession (Deuteronomy 7:6; 1 Peter 2:9), marked out as authentically his.

A Seal of Security

A seal also carried the idea of protection. What was sealed was secured. Paul’s point is that our salvation is not fragile or easily lost. The Spirit within us is God’s guarantee that what he has begun, he will bring to completion.

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 1:6)

Jesus said of his sheep: “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:28–29). The Spirit is the seal of that promise.

This truth frees us from fear. We don’t need to wonder whether God will keep us. His Spirit is the living pledge that he will.

A Seal of Promise

Paul goes further: the Spirit is not only a seal but also a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance. Think of it as a down payment or first instalment. The Spirit lets us taste now what we will one day experience in full: joy, peace, love, fellowship with God, the power of new creation. (Romans 14:17; Galatians 5:22–23).

Our present experience of the Spirit is both a gift for today and a promise for tomorrow. What God has begun, he will finish, until the day of redemption when his people are renewed and his creation made whole.

In Summary:

To be sealed by the Spirit means this: you belong to God, you are secure in Christ, and you have a foretaste of glory already at work in you.

And this is just one of the good things we have in Christ.

More from the Bible

Read 2 Corinthians 1:21–22: “He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”

Ask yourself:

• Do I rest in the security of being sealed as God’s own?
• Am I attentive to the Spirit’s presence in my daily life?
• How can I live with greater confidence, knowing the Spirit is both God’s mark on me and his promise for my future?

Reflection and Discussion Questions

1. When you think about being “sealed by the Spirit,” what picture comes most alive for you—belonging, security, or promise? Why?
2. In what ways have you experienced the Spirit as a foretaste of your inheritance — joy, peace, love, or power for daily living? What can you do to enjoy more of this?
3. How might knowing you are sealed and secure in Christ change the way you face fear, temptation, or uncertainty?

Putting It Into Practice

1. Rest in your security. Each day remind yourself: “I am sealed by the Spirit; I belong to God.” Let this truth steady you when doubts or fears arise.
2. Pay attention to the Spirit’s presence. Take time to notice how the Spirit is at work in your thoughts, prayers, and desires. Position yourself daily in prayer to be aware of his presence. Be attentive and responsive to his promptings.
3. Live with confident hope. When life feels uncertain, look ahead to the inheritance guaranteed to you. Let the Spirit’s seal give you courage to persevere with joy.

Remember This:

“The sealing of the Spirit is that mark which tells us that we belong to God, and assures us that we are safe in His keeping.” (D L Moody)

Further Resources

A.W. Tozer, The Divine Conquest (also called God’s Pursuit of Man) – devotional reflections on the Spirit’s indwelling and sealing. Its style is a little dated now but the content is still excellent.

Gordon Fee, Paul the Spirit and the People of God – much more theological but excellent biblical overview on the person and work of the Holy Spirit