Ephesians 1:13-14 God Assures Our Restive Souls

   I.  God has revealed to us his gracious plan of salvation.
 

       A.  God prepared his plan in eternity.
      

       B.  God fulfilled his plan through Jesus Christ.
      

       C.  God unites us to Christ forever
      

  II.  God sealed his plan to us through the Holy Spirit.
 

       A.  God applies the benefits of Christ to believers, v. 13
      

       B.  Hearing and believing serve to apply the benefits of Christ to the soul
          
           Rev 7:3; 2Cor 1:22; The seal of the Spirit, John 1:33.
          

       C.  The Holy Spirit is God’s deposit to secure your soul.
           1.  first installment, deposit, down payment, pledge. 2Cor 1:22; 2Cor 5:5.
           2.  He was promised long before, Isa 44:3; Ezek 36:26; Joel 2:28.
           3.  He is the promise, Acts 1:4-5.
           4.  He persuades us,  WCF 1.5 “...our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth, and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit, bearing witness by and with the word in our hearts.”
          

  III.  How wonderful is God’s gracious assurance to the restive souls of his children!
 

       A.  God gives us this assurance because we are his children.
      

       B.  God gives us this assurance because our spiritual sight is weak.
          
           John 3:12-13; Psalm 16:6; Deut 32:9; Song 8:7.
          

       C.  God gives us this assurance because our sins daily afflict and torment us.
      

       D.  God gives us this assurance because the world daily fills us with its intoxicating promises.
      

       E.  God gives us this assurance to foil the devil.
      

       F.  God gives us this assurance to direct us to lift our souls in praise and adoration.