That Jew-Gentile separation business
When the Holy Spirit first came it was predominately a Jewish event. Jesus had directed it to the ends of the earth, however, and God tasked Paul with the transmission of it across the Jewish-Gentile boundary. Much of Acts relates to these events.
When Paul writes in this 13th verse that the Ephesians were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, he is talking of the event when the Holy Spirit entered the Ephesian converts. Luke recorded that event the book of Acts1. See Apollos had taught the Ephesians of Jesus Christ, but they had not received the Holy Spirit. After Paul traveled over land from Antioch to Ephesus at the beginning of his third missionary journey, he prayed and laid his hands on the Ephesian believers, and they received the Holy Spirit.
So, the Ephesians were to look back to that event, their receipt of the Holy Spirit and know it as a guarantee.
What about us?
The spiritually evident moment of the Holy Spirit entering the lives of modern people is muted in comparison with the First Century Church. While there are denominations which put great emphasis on such an event it seems particularly uncommon among those whom I can tell are Christians around me. Even so, the Holy Spirit is in our lives and is our guarantee.
It is essential to consider and hold on to spiritually vital moments in our lives. The shape of such critical moments will manifest differently between us, but the consistency of God’s involvement will not. Paul pointed back to them in his letter to the Ephesians. Find them in your own life and let them be anchors to you of your salvation.
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