The Promise in Eph 3:6 #10

By Oscar M. Baker

Sealed? Yes, sealed with that holy spirit of promise, Not by, but with. So this promised holy spirit is the seal. A few other names by which it may be known are: everlasting life, the new man, nature, (in Rom. 8, spirit of life, spiritually minded, spirit of God, spirit of Christ, spirit of Him, His spirit, spirit of adoption), and the inward man. The One Who affixes this seal is the Holy Spirit Himself (Eph. 4:30). So then, the Holy Spirit seals us with the holy spirit.

The seal marks one off then until the redemption of the purchased possession (Eph. 1:14).

Now we must not get things confused. Adam had a life promised. Israel had a life promised. But not this particular life which was promised before the ages began. This life did include the others, but is much more. How about the principalities, powers, mights, and dominions in the heavenly places? Did they have a part in this promised life? You might make that a subject for research.

Now back again to our text, Eph. 3:6. There the members of the body of Christ, the church, are joint-heirs. This means that each member has an equal share in the inheritance. Of course an inheritance might be forfeited (Eph. 5:5). Esau did just that. And Israel, for the most part died in the wilderness not receiving the inheritance. But it was theirs the day they left Egypt. Life cannot be taken away.

Members are also joint-members. No preferred memberships in this church. No one having any office or authority more than the others. At the very beginning there were apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors and teachers for the edifying and the perfecting of the saints. But that is all history now. No one can claim any superior position in membership today.

Members are also joint-partakers of the promise of life, and that has been the subject of this paper. The promise was made by God Who cannot lie. It was made before age times, that is, before the overthrow. And that life destroys the works of the devil, the ultimate goal and purpose of Christ.

The goal of the ages, and that has to do with the kosmos, or creation, is that God may be all and in all. That means that those who are not in Christ will be destroyed. But this is not the goal of the heavenlies. That is the holy of holies, the abode of God and He has been all and in all in that realm from the beginning.

In Christ dwells all fulness (Col. 1:19), and we have been filled by that fulness (Eph. 2:1) which should be "And you hath He filled." The ellipsis is filled from the preceding verse. Being filled with the fullnes of Christ and of God is a part of this great promise made before age-times. May these words encourage many to look forward to the appearing, to the meeting in glory, or heavenly places.

Concluded.