Posts that reference the book of Ephesians

STT: The S.P.E.C.K. Method

When Jesus taught His disciples, He often addressed multiple dimensions of their lives—not just their theological understanding but their actions, emotions, and relationships. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30).

The S.P.E.C.K. Method helps you apply Scripture holistically by examining five key areas where God’s Word should impact your life. This approach ensures you don’t just understand the Bible intellectually but allow it to transform every aspect of who you are.

1. Sins to Avoid

Begin by identifying any sins or pitfalls mentioned:

What specific sinful attitudes or actions does this passage warn against?
Are there subtle sins of omission (things left undone) that it highlights?
What temptations might this passage help you recognize and resist?

For example, Ephesians 4:29-32 warns against unwholesome talk, bitterness, and unforgiveness—sins that damage relationships and grieve the Holy Spirit.

2. Promises to Claim

Look for God’s assurances:

What promises does God make in this passage?
What conditions, if any, are attached to these promises?
How might these promises sustain you in difficult times?

Isaiah 41:10 contains multiple promises: God’s presence (“I am with you”), strength (“I will strengthen you”), help (“I will help you”), and upholding (“I will uphold you”).

3. Examples to Follow

Identify positive models:

What godly characteristics or actions are demonstrated?
Who exemplifies faith or obedience in this passage?
What specific steps could you take to follow these examples?

In Philippians 2:5-11, Christ’s humility and servant heart provide a powerful example of the mindset believers should cultivate.

4. Commands to Obey

The S.P.E.C.K. method calls you to note direct commands and instructions:

What specific actions does God instruct you to take?
Are there attitudes He commands you to develop?
What immediate steps of obedience might this require?

The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) contains clear commands to go, make disciples, baptize, and teach—directives that shape our mission as believers.

5. Knowledge to Gain

Consider what you learn about God and His ways:

What does this passage reveal about God’s character?
What theological truths does it teach?
How does this knowledge deepen your relationship with God?

Romans 8:28-39 reveals profound truths about God’s sovereignty, His good purposes, and the security of His love—knowledge that transforms our perspective on suffering.

For your next study session: Apply the S.P.E.C.K. method to 1 Peter 5:6-11. For each category, identify at least one insight and write down a specific application. For example, under “Commands to Obey,” you might note the instruction to “humble yourselves” and commit to a specific act of humility in your relationships this week.

How might this comprehensive approach help you apply Scripture more fully to your daily life?

The Power of the Resurrection

By Paula Wiseman

And as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead?” Luke 24:5

The journey that began in the garden of Gethsemane with surrender and continued through the cross with sacrifice now culminates at an empty tomb with victory. The resurrection of Jesus Christ stands as the central claim of Christianity—the definitive declaration that the power of death is broken. What appeared to be defeat on Friday becomes triumph on Sunday. The path that seemed to end at a sealed tomb opens into endless possibilities as the stone is rolled away.

Luke’s account of that first Easter morning captures the bewilderment and wonder of Jesus’ followers. The women came prepared for death, bringing spices to anoint a corpse. Instead, they encountered life beyond their imagination. Their question—”Where is the body?”—is met with a greater question from the angels: “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” This gentle rebuke reminds us that we too often search for Jesus in places of death and endings when He has moved into resurrection and new beginnings.

The resurrection isn’t merely a happy ending to a tragic story or a spiritual metaphor—it’s a world-altering event with profound implications for how we understand everything. The empty tomb declares that the power of sin has been broken, the sting of death has been removed, and the reign of fear has been overthrown. What happened to Jesus physically will happen to all who are united with Him spiritually. As Paul would later write, “Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20).

What makes the resurrection account compelling is not just its theological significance but its historical credibility. Luke notes that women were the first witnesses—significant in a culture where female testimony wasn’t valued in court. If the disciples were fabricating the story, they wouldn’t have chosen women as the primary witnesses. Furthermore, the initial skepticism of the disciples themselves (“they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense”) suggests this wasn’t a story they were eager to believe but a reality they couldn’t deny.

The power of resurrection extends far beyond that first Easter morning.

It’s not just a past event we commemorate but a present reality we experience and a future hope we anticipate. Paul prayed that believers would know “his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead” (Ephesians 1:19-20). The same divine energy that lifted Jesus from the grave is available to us now for transformed living.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ transforms everything—how we view suffering, how we face death, how we approach life, and how we envision the future. It assures us that the path of surrender and sacrifice doesn’t end in defeat but in victory. The cross was not God’s plan gone wrong but gone exactly right. What appeared to be the triumph of evil was actually its decisive defeat.

As we celebrate Easter, we don’t just commemorate a historical event but proclaim a living reality: Christ is risen! And because He lives, we too shall live—not just in some distant future but here and now, as we walk in the newness of life that His resurrection makes possible. The tomb is empty. The stone is rolled away. Death has been swallowed up in victory. This is the power of resurrection, and it changes everything.

STT: Sacrifices: Connection

By Paula Wiseman

In our previous study tips, we’ve explored how to analyze individual sacrifices, compare different types of sacrifices, and trace sacrificial themes through Scripture. Today, we’ll examine how to connect Old Testament sacrificial concepts specifically to Christ’s redemptive work, seeing how He fulfills and transforms these ancient practices.

“For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins… we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” – Hebrews 10:4, 10

The New Testament’s Interpretive Key

The New Testament provides the authoritative interpretation of Old Testament sacrifices, revealing that they were always pointing toward Christ. As Jesus himself said, “Everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled” (Luke 24:44).

Five Connections Between Old Testament Sacrifices and Christ

When studying Old Testament sacrifices, look for these five specific connections to Christ’s work:

1. Substitution: The One for the Many

Old Testament Pattern:

The offerer laid hands on the animal’s head, symbolically transferring guilt (Leviticus 1:4)
The animal died in place of the sinner
The innocent bore the punishment deserved by the guilty

Fulfillment in Christ:

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24)
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
“Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6)

Study Question: How does Isaiah 53:4-6 connect this substitutionary concept to the coming Messiah?

2. Blood Atonement: Life Given for Life

Old Testament Pattern:

“The life of the flesh is in the blood… it is the blood that makes atonement by the life” (Leviticus 17:11)
Blood was applied to the altar, sprinkled before the veil, or placed on the mercy seat
Blood represented life given to cover sin

Fulfillment in Christ:

“In him we have redemption through his blood” (Ephesians 1:7)
“The blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7)
“Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” (Hebrews 9:22)

Study Question: How does Hebrews 9:11-14 contrast the effectiveness of animal blood with Christ’s blood?

3. Perfect Offering: Without Blemish

Old Testament Pattern:

Sacrificial animals had to be “without blemish” (Leviticus 1:3, 3:1, 4:3)
Any physical defect disqualified an animal for sacrifice
This requirement emphasized the need for perfection in approaching God

Fulfillment in Christ:

Christ was “a lamb without blemish or spot” (1 Peter 1:19)
He was “holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners” (Hebrews 7:26)
He “offered himself without blemish to God” (Hebrews 9:14)

Study Question: How does the requirement for unblemished sacrifices illuminate the necessity of Christ’s sinless life?

4. Comprehensive Coverage: The Complete Sacrifice

Old Testament Pattern:

Different sacrifices addressed different aspects of sin and relationship with God
The Day of Atonement provided annual comprehensive cleansing
Sacrifices needed constant repetition, showing their incompleteness

Fulfillment in Christ:

“By a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14)
His sacrifice was “once for all” (Hebrews 7:27, 9:12, 10:10)
His work addresses all aspects of our alienation from God

Study Question: According to Hebrews 10:1-14, why were repeated sacrifices necessary under the old covenant, and how does Christ’s sacrifice differ?

5. Covenant Establishment: Blood of the New Covenant

Old Testament Pattern:

Covenants were ratified with sacrificial blood (Genesis 15:9-18)
Moses sprinkled “the blood of the covenant” on the people (Exodus 24:8)
Blood sealed the agreement between God and His people

Fulfillment in Christ:

“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many” (Mark 14:24)
Christ is “the mediator of a new covenant” (Hebrews 9:15)
His blood establishes a “better covenant” (Hebrews 8:6)

Study Question: How does Hebrews 9:15-22 explain the necessity of blood for covenant establishment?

Study Method: Typological Interpretation

To connect Old Testament sacrifices to Christ, practice typological interpretation:

Identify the original meaning of the sacrifice in its Old Testament context
Look for New Testament connections where this sacrifice is explicitly linked to Christ
Note both similarities and differences between the type (OT sacrifice) and antitype (Christ)
Recognize escalation – Christ always fulfills and exceeds the Old Testament type
Avoid forced connections – focus on connections the New Testament itself makes

Example: The Day of Atonement and Christ

Let’s apply this method to the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16):

Original Context:

Annual ceremony for comprehensive cleansing of priest, people, and sanctuary
Involved two goats: one sacrificed, one sent away bearing sins (the scapegoat)
Only time the high priest entered the Most Holy Place
Provided temporary atonement for all types of sin

New Testament Connections:

Hebrews 9-10 explicitly connects this ceremony to Christ’s work
Christ is both the sacrifice and the high priest who offers it
He enters not an earthly sanctuary but heaven itself
His blood provides eternal rather than annual redemption

Similarities and Differences:

Similar: Blood is required for atonement in both
Similar: Both address comprehensive cleansing from sin
Different: Christ’s sacrifice happens once, not annually
Different: Christ’s priesthood is permanent, not hereditary

Escalation:

From temporary to eternal atonement
From repeated to once-for-all sacrifice
From symbolic to actual removal of sin
From restricted access to God to bold approach to the throne of grace

Moving from Connection to Application

After identifying these connections, ask these application questions:

How does seeing Christ as the fulfillment of this sacrifice deepen my appreciation of His work?
What aspects of Christ’s sacrifice might I have overlooked without this Old Testament background?
How does this connection help me understand both the continuity and discontinuity between the covenants?
What response should this understanding produce in my worship and daily life?

Study Application

To apply this method in your own study:

Choose one Old Testament sacrifice or ceremony
Study it carefully in its original context
Search for New Testament passages that connect it to Christ
Identify similarities, differences, and escalation
Consider how this enriches your understanding of Christ’s work

This approach transforms ancient sacrificial rituals from obscure historical practices into vibrant pictures that illuminate the person and work of Christ.

For reflection: How does understanding Christ as the fulfillment of the Old Testament sacrificial system affect your appreciation of communion/the Lord’s Supper? How might this understanding deepen your next experience of this memorial?

STT: Sacrifices: Themes

By Paula Wiseman

In our previous study tips, we explored how to analyze individual sacrifices and compare different types of sacrifices. Today, we’ll learn how to trace sacrificial themes through the entire biblical narrative, seeing how they develop and find their ultimate fulfillment in Christ.

“And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” – Ephesians 5:2

The Power of Progressive Revelation

Sacrifice in Scripture isn’t static—it develops and deepens through progressive revelation. By tracing sacrificial themes from Genesis to Revelation, we discover:

How early sacrificial concepts laid foundations for later understanding
How the prophets reinterpreted and critiqued sacrificial practices
How Christ fulfilled and transformed sacrificial imagery
How the New Testament church applied sacrificial language to Christian living

Four Key Stages in Sacrificial Development

When tracing sacrificial themes, look for these four major developmental stages:

1. Patriarchal Sacrifices (Genesis)

The earliest sacrifices appear before the Mosaic Law was given:

Abel’s acceptable offering (Genesis 4:4)
Noah’s post-flood sacrifice (Genesis 8:20-21)
Abraham’s various altars and offerings (Genesis 12:7, 13:18, 22:1-19)
Jacob’s sacrifices at Bethel (Genesis 35:1-7)

Key observations at this stage:

Sacrifices mark significant encounters with God
They often establish or renew covenant relationships
They’re relatively simple, without elaborate regulations
They frequently connect to promises of blessing

2. Levitical Sacrificial System (Exodus through Deuteronomy)

The Mosaic Law established a comprehensive sacrificial system:

Five main offerings (burnt, grain, peace, sin, guilt)
Annual festivals with prescribed sacrifices
Detailed regulations for priests and offerings
The tabernacle/temple as the central location for sacrifice

Key observations at this stage:

Sacrifice becomes systematized and regulated
Different offerings address different spiritual needs
Blood becomes explicitly connected to atonement (Leviticus 17:11)
Sacrifice is integrated into Israel’s covenant identity

3. Prophetic Critique and Reinterpretation (Prophets)

The prophets addressed misunderstandings and abuses of sacrifice:

Samuel: “To obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22)
Isaiah: “I have had enough of burnt offerings” (Isaiah 1:11-17)
Hosea: “I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice” (Hosea 6:6)
Micah: “What does the LORD require of you?” (Micah 6:6-8)
Psalm 51: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit” (Psalm 51:16-17)

Key observations at this stage:

Prophets challenge ritualism without moral obedience
Internal heart attitudes are emphasized over external ritual
Sacrifice is placed within broader covenant faithfulness
Spiritual sacrifice begins to complement physical sacrifice

4. Fulfillment and Transformation in Christ (New Testament)

Christ and the apostles reframe sacrifice around Jesus’ work:

John the Baptist: “Behold, the Lamb of God” (John 1:29)
Jesus: “This is my blood of the covenant” (Matthew 26:28)
Hebrews: Christ as both priest and sacrifice (Hebrews 9-10)
Paul: “Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7)
Peter: “You yourselves… are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices” (1 Peter 2:5)

Key observations at this stage:

Christ fulfills and supersedes the entire sacrificial system
His once-for-all sacrifice ends the need for repeated offerings
Believers now offer “spiritual sacrifices” rather than animal sacrifices
Sacrificial language is applied to Christian living (Romans 12:1)

Example: Tracing the Passover Theme

Let’s briefly trace one sacrificial theme—the Passover—through Scripture:

Patriarchal Period:

No direct Passover, but the concept of substitutionary protection appears in Abraham’s ram (Genesis 22)

Mosaic Period:

Established in Exodus 12 as a memorial of deliverance from Egypt
Codified in Leviticus 23:5-8 as an annual festival
Centralized at the temple in Deuteronomy 16:1-8

Prophetic Period:

Ezekiel envisions a restored Passover in the future temple (Ezekiel 45:21-24)
Passover observance marks spiritual renewal under Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 30) and Josiah (2 Kings 23:21-23)

New Testament Fulfillment:

Jesus celebrates Passover with disciples and reinterprets its elements (Luke 22:14-20)
Paul identifies Christ as “our Passover lamb” (1 Corinthians 5:7)
Revelation depicts the “Lamb who was slain” (Revelation 5:12)

This progression reveals how a single sacrificial theme develops from historical event to prophetic hope to ultimate fulfillment in Christ.

Study Method: Creating a Sacrificial Timeline

A helpful way to trace sacrificial themes is to create a timeline:

Choose a specific sacrifice or sacrificial theme (e.g., lamb imagery, blood, altar)
Identify key passages where this theme appears throughout Scripture
Arrange these chronologically on a timeline
Note how the theme develops, expands, or transforms at each stage
Look for the culmination of this theme in Christ and the New Testament

Moving from Timeline to Theology

After creating your sacrificial timeline, ask these interpretive questions:

What remains consistent about this sacrificial theme throughout Scripture?
How does understanding the early stages help illuminate later developments?
What new dimensions are added at each stage of revelation?
How does Christ fulfill and transform this sacrificial concept?
How might this theme apply to Christian living today?

Study Application

To apply this method in your own study:

Choose one sacrificial theme that interests you (lamb, blood, altar, etc.)
Use a concordance or Bible software to find key passages
Create a simple timeline showing how the theme develops
Note significant transformations or reinterpretations
Consider how Christ represents the culmination of this theme

This approach transforms scattered sacrificial references into a coherent story of God’s unfolding redemptive plan.

For practice: Trace the theme of “lamb” from Abel’s offering through Abraham’s ram, the Passover lamb, Isaiah’s suffering servant, to John’s declaration of Jesus as “the Lamb of God” and Revelation’s “Lamb who was slain.” How does this progression deepen your understanding of Christ’s sacrifice?

STT: Metaphors

By Paula Wiseman

Study tip tuesday water water everywhere Metaphors title graphic

“Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” – John 4:13-14

Beyond its physical presence in biblical narratives, water serves as one of Scripture’s most powerful and versatile metaphors. From tears to spiritual cleansing, from overwhelming troubles to life-giving grace, water imagery flows through biblical language, helping us grasp abstract spiritual concepts through tangible, familiar experiences. And there are a bunch of these metaphors.

Water as Life and Salvation

Throughout Scripture, water consistently represents life itself and the salvation God offers:

Living Water

Jeremiah contrasted “the fountain of living waters” (God Himself) with “broken cisterns that can hold no water” (false gods) (Jeremiah 2:13)
Jesus offered the Samaritan woman “living water” that becomes “a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:10, 14)
In Revelation, the river of life flows “from the throne of God and of the Lamb” (Revelation 22:1)

Wells of Salvation

Isaiah proclaimed, “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation” (Isaiah 12:3)
This metaphor connects physical refreshment with spiritual deliverance
The act of drawing water becomes a picture of actively receiving God’s saving grace

Streams in the Desert

Isaiah prophesied, “Waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert” (Isaiah 35:6)
This powerful image represents God bringing life to spiritually barren places
The contrast between desert and flowing water emphasizes the transformative nature of divine intervention

Water as Overwhelming Trouble

Water also serves as a metaphor for life’s overwhelming challenges:

Flood Waters of Affliction

David lamented, “Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me” (Psalm 69:1-2)
This vivid imagery captures the sensation of being overwhelmed by circumstances
The metaphor conveys both the depth and rising nature of troubles

Passing Through Waters

Isaiah recorded God’s promise: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you” (Isaiah 43:2)
This metaphor acknowledges life’s inevitable difficulties while promising divine presence
The image suggests movement through troubles rather than permanent submersion

Drowning in Tears

The psalmist described extreme grief: “My tears have been my food day and night” (Psalm 42:3)
Jeremiah wished his “head were waters” to weep for his people (Jeremiah 9:1)
These water metaphors capture the overwhelming, uncontrollable nature of profound sorrow

Water as Spiritual Cleansing

Water naturally represents purification throughout Scripture:

Washing Away Sin

David prayed, “Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin” (Psalm 51:2)
Isaiah heard God’s invitation: “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18)
This metaphor connects physical cleansing with moral purification

Sprinkled Clean

Ezekiel prophesied God’s promise: “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses” (Ezekiel 36:25)
This image anticipates the New Covenant’s internal cleansing
The metaphor suggests effortless divine action rather than human striving

Word as Water

Paul describes Christ’s sanctification of the church “by the washing of water with the word” (Ephesians 5:26)
This metaphor combines water imagery with the cleansing power of divine truth
It suggests that Scripture itself functions as purifying water in believers’ lives

Water as Divine Abundance

Water represents God’s overflowing provision and blessing:

Cups Running Over

David celebrated, “My cup overflows” (Psalm 23:5), using water imagery to depict abundant blessing
Jesus promised “rivers of living water” flowing from believers (John 7:38)
These metaphors emphasize not mere sufficiency but extravagant provision

Rain of Righteousness

Hosea urged, “Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you” (Hosea 10:12)
This agricultural metaphor connects divine blessing with life-giving precipitation
The image suggests both God’s initiative and human receptivity

Watered Gardens

Isaiah promised, “You shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail” (Isaiah 58:11)
This metaphor contrasts with drought imagery to represent consistent divine nurture
The garden image suggests both beauty and fruitfulness resulting from God’s provision

Water as Spiritual Influence

Water metaphors describe how spiritual forces spread and influence:

Knowledge Like Waters

Isaiah prophesied, “The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:9)
This metaphor suggests both the depth and comprehensive nature of future spiritual understanding
The ocean imagery implies no place will remain untouched by divine knowledge

Teaching as Rain

Moses said, “May my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distill as the dew” (Deuteronomy 32:2)
This metaphor connects divine instruction with life-giving precipitation
The image suggests gentle penetration rather than forceful imposition

Wisdom as Deep Waters

Proverbs states, “The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook” (Proverbs 18:4)
This metaphor suggests wisdom has both depth and refreshing qualities
The contrast between deep waters and flowing brook captures wisdom’s mysterious yet accessible nature

When you encounter water metaphors in your Bible reading, consider:

Metaphorical mapping: What qualities of water (cleansing, life-giving, overwhelming, etc.) are being applied to spiritual realities?
Cultural context: How would the original audience, often living in arid regions, have understood this water imagery?
Extended implications: What additional insights might the metaphor suggest beyond its immediate application?
Personal resonance: How does this water metaphor speak to your own spiritual experience?

Water metaphors in Scripture provide help in expressing spiritual truths that might otherwise remain abstract or difficult to grasp. By connecting invisible realities to this familiar, essential element, God communicates His truth in ways that penetrate both mind and heart.

You’ve Been Sealed

By Paula Wiseman

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

You were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. It’s not “sealed” like the marine mammal you see in circuses honking bicycle horns. And it’s not “sealed” like being trapped inside the mummy’s tomb forever … but that one is getting closer. So what is Paul getting at when he says we have been sealed? I think there are at least four things included in it.

Authenticity – Back in the days when software came on disks or CDs it often came with a certificate with a seal of authenticity to let you know you had the genuine item, that it wasn’t a pirated copy. You could be confident that it as going to function as expected and that it had all the features you wanted.

The Holy Spirit ensures and attests that our salvation is the real deal and it rests in no one but the One True God accomplished by His Anointed. No fakes, no substitutes, no sub-contractors.

Security – If you have ever been drug-tested for work or had bloodwork, you may have noticed the technician or nurse putting a bunch of stickers on the sample containers or bags. Those are there to prove the samples have not been tampered with. They affirm the integrity of the sample so the results of the tests can be trusted.

The Holy Spirit seals us so that our salvation cannot be tampered with. Because of that we know the results, like joy and peace and growth and answered prayers and so on can be trusted. Not only that, we can be confident that the end result of our salvation, our ultimate glorification in Christ’s presence is a sure thing.

Ownership – Cattlemen used to brand their herds so that even in a big group, it was easy for anyone to see which cows belonged to whom. Even now we mark our lunches, and our coffee cups and kids’ jackets so that ownership is clear.

The Holy Spirit seals us so we never have to question who we belong to. Not only that, but it should be easy for anyone else to tell it as well.

Authority – Your high school or college diploma. Your driver’s license. Your building permit. All of them have some sort of seal affixed to them indicating that some governing entity with the requisite authority has conferred on you some right or privilege or standing.

The Holy Spirit gives us the standing as children of God, joint heirs with Christ and further grants us the status as ambassadors for His kingdom.

You probably already knew it, but just for the record that’s an unbreakable seal.