Assassins Among Us #28: Sealed—The Word the Assassins Murdered
New here? Start at the beginning
Yesterday we asked what it means to be “sealed” if we can grieve and quench the Spirit. Today we dig into that word—and discover the assassins got to it first.
THE THREE-FRONT BATTLE
We’ve been preparing for battle. We’ve examined the elements of preparation, received God’s provision, and been sealed by the Holy Spirit.
But remember the three-front battle we established at the beginning of this series?
- Enemies WITHOUT—External spiritual forces
- Enemies WITHIN—Our flesh warring against the Spirit
- Enemies AMONGST US—Those in our own household
We’ve been building. We’ve been strengthening. We’ve been receiving provision.
But the enemies amongst us haven’t been idle. They’ve been working too. And before they can kill your joy, your faith, your character, or the movement of the Holy Spirit in your life, they have a first weapon.
They murder words.
THE ASSASSINS’ FIRST WEAPON
The serpent’s question in Eden wasn’t a denial. It was a redefinition.
“Did God really say…?”
He didn’t tell Eve that God hadn’t spoken. He made her question what God meant by what He said.
This is the assassins’ first weapon. Before they can kill your joy, your faith, your character, or the movement of the Holy Spirit in your life, they must first murder the meaning of the words that describe those things.
Murder the word. Murder its meaning. And you murder everything that flows from it.
They’ve been doing this for thousands of years.
THE BODY COUNT
They murdered “faith.” Made it mean mental assent instead of trust and obedience. Now people think they have faith because they believe the right facts.
They murdered “grace.” Made it mean license instead of empowerment. Now people use grace as a cover for continuing in sin.
They murdered “salvation.” Made it mean a transaction instead of a transformation. Now people think they’re saved because they prayed a prayer, not because the Holy Spirit regenerated them into new creatures.
And they murdered “sealed.”
THE WORD THEY KILLED
“In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” — Ephesians 1:13-14 (ESV)
“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” — Ephesians 4:30 (ESV)
The Greek word is sphragizō (σφραγίζω). And the assassins have buried its meaning under centuries of misunderstanding.
WHAT “SEALED” ACTUALLY MEANT
In the ancient world, a seal meant something specific. It wasn’t abstract theology. It was concrete, practical reality.
Commercial Use: Merchants sealed sacks of grain until full payment was made. The seal was a guarantee of coming payment. It marked objects to show possession, authority, identity, and security.
Royal Use: Kings sealed official documents by pressing their signet ring into hot wax. Roman wills required six witnesses, each placing their seal to ensure no tampering. The seal carried the authority of the one who made it.
Livestock Use: Animals were branded or marked to show ownership. The mark denoting ownership carried with it the protection of the owner. You didn’t mess with a branded animal because you’d answer to its owner.
Religious Use: Sacrificial lambs were examined and sealed if found perfect. The seal marked them as suitable, approved, accepted.
In every case, the seal meant the same thing: this is authentic, this is protected, this belongs to someone with authority, and this is guaranteed.
THE MURDER
Here’s what the assassins did.
They took “sealed” and made it mean “closed.” Finished. Done. Nothing more to expect.
“You were sealed at salvation. The transaction is complete. The Holy Spirit did His work. Now you wait for heaven.”
This is the murder.
THE TRUTH THEY KILLED
They told you “sealed” means the story is over. That the Spirit’s work is done. That you’re locked in a vault until heaven.
But that’s the corpse they left behind. Here’s what “sealed” meant before they killed it.
Sealed doesn’t mean closed. Sealed means guaranteed.
Think about it.
When a Roman sealed his will, was the inheritance finished? No. The inheritance was guaranteed. The seal protected the promise until the day of fulfillment. The will wasn’t activated until the person died. The seal bridged the gap between the promise and the possession.
When a merchant sealed grain for delivery, was the transaction over? No. The seal guaranteed the contents would arrive intact. The seal protected what was coming, not what was finished.
When a king sealed a letter, was the message dormant? No. The seal gave the message authority. The letter was actively delivered, actively read, actively obeyed. People responded because of the seal’s authority.
The seal doesn’t make something inactive. It makes it authoritative, protected, and guaranteed.
WHAT THE ASSASSINS DON’T WANT YOU TO KNOW
Look at Ephesians 1:14 again.
The Holy Spirit “is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it.”
Until. That word matters.
The seal now. The possession later. The seal bridges the gap. The seal guarantees the delivery.
The Greek word for “guarantee” is arrabon. It means a down payment. A deposit. A first installment with more to come.
The Holy Spirit is the down payment, not the final payment.
You haven’t received everything yet. The seal guarantees that you will.
THE CRITICAL DISTINCTION
What the assassins say: Sealed means closed, finished, done, nothing more to happen, the work is complete and now dormant.
What Scripture says: Sealed means guaranteed delivery, protected contents, promised opening at the right time, marked for what’s coming.
The assassins want you to think the seal closed you off from the Spirit’s active work.
The truth is the seal guarantees it.
FOUR RESULTS OF BEING SEALED
1. A Finished Transaction
The payment is complete. The deal is finalized. “It is finished” (John 19:30). The Greek word tetelestai means “paid in full.” Your salvation is not pending. It is accomplished.
2. Ownership Confirmed
You belong to the One whose seal you bear. His name is on you. You are marked as His possession, protected by His authority.
3. Security Guaranteed
You cannot be tampered with. You are protected from theft or damage. You are preserved until opened by the rightful owner on the day of redemption.
4. Authenticity Verified
You are certified genuine. Approved and accepted. Validated as legitimate. The Holy Spirit’s presence is God’s stamp of authenticity on your life.
THE SEAL PROTECTS WHAT’S COMING
The Roman will example makes this clear.
The will was sealed. The inheritance was guaranteed. But the will wasn’t activated until the person died. The seal protected the promise until the day of fulfillment.
You are sealed now. Your inheritance comes later. The seal doesn’t mean nothing more will happen. The seal guarantees that everything God promised will happen.
You are not closed off. You are protected for delivery.
WHAT THEY MURDERED
But the assassins didn’t stop at murdering the word.
Every murdered truth has murdered children. The truths that should have flowed from it. The realities it was meant to produce. The life it was designed to bring.
When they murdered “sealed,” they murdered its children too.
TOMORROW: THE CHILDREN OF THE SEAL
What are the children of “sealed” that the assassins murdered? And why does Jesus Christ promise to strike the children of lies dead?
Most ministries stay in the safe middle. We bring marginalized truth back to the center.
THE PROPHET’S MARGIN Truth From the Narrow Place
ONE TRUE LIGHT MINISTRIES Damascus Road Journey: STOP. LOOK. LISTEN. LIVE. www.onetrulight.org