The Seal of God
The Seal of God
In this lesson we look at the 9th of our 14 important points concerning the promise, oath, and seal of God. As in the previous point, we make an important distinction.
We have already learned that every Christian is sealed by God. If miraculous gifts (such as speaking in tongues) were the seal of God, then every Christian would have miraculous gifts. However, of all who have become Christians and been sealed by the Holy Spirit, relatively few have been given miracle-working powers.
Paul is quite clear that miraculous gifts were given "to one", and "to another", yet "not all" received them. (1Co 12:4-11,28-30).
So we conclude that miraculous gifts are not the gift or seal of the Spirit which is promised to all Christians, because not all Christians have miracle-working powers.
I think this point is so simple that many people miss it. So let's expand on this a little, just to ensure that it is clear...
Paul does say that God works his diversity of gifts "in all" and that some manifestation of the Spirit is "given to each one" (1Co 12:4-7). "We have all been made to drink of one Spirit" (1Co 12:12-14). This is in harmony with the promise that every repentant and baptized believer receives the gift or seal of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38-39, Eph 1:13-14).
That is not to say, however, that every Christian is given miraculous powers. The class of gifts we consider “miraculous” is only a small part of the variety of spiritual gifts that enable ministry.
Paul says, "All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All do not work miracles, do they? All do not have gifts of healing, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret the tongues, do they?" (1Co 12:29-30).
As we have seen above, Paul says on one hand that "not all" have miraculous gifts, yet on the other hand he says that God works his diversity of gifts "in all" and that a manifestation of the Spirit is "given to each one" (1Co 12:4-11,28-30).
Paul is not contradicting himself here. He is saying that not all have miracle-working powers, yet all have the Holy Spirit working in them, and imparting various gifts to them. So that's the simple conclusion we come to...
Every one who is a Christian has the Holy Spirit as the seal of God, and this is distinct from the miraculous gifts which were given only to some.
Index to the 14 points