SET TO YOUR SEAL:

RECEIVE THE APPROVAL OF GOD

By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

   "He who has received His Testimony has set to his SEAL this that God is True.” (John 3:33). In the writings of men of God like John Wesley, we find the usage of the term ‘set to his seal’. Exactly what is meant by this? Is this a plateau unreachable? How can we arrive at this spiritual pinnacle?

     The Prophet, John the Baptist, is not known as a great theologian but nevertheless he gave us some of the greatest truths delivered to man by God. He knew his place and what his mission was. He also knew Who Jesus of Nazareth was and WHY He had come into this sinful world!

     He stated: “A man can receive nothing except it being given him from Heaven. Ye yourselves bear me record that I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before Him. He must increase, but I must decrease.

    “He that cometh from Above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: He that cometh from Heaven is above all. And what He hath seen and heard, that He testifieth; and no man receiveth His testimony.” (John 3:27-32)

     JOHN announced that Jesus of Nazareth was the LAMB of GOD sent down from Heaven “to take away the sins of the world” (John 1:29) and that He would “baptize with the Holy Ghost and fire” (Luke 3: 16). And He gave us this great Nugget of Truth:

    JESUS was God’s Son, but very few would believe His Testimony, however, “He that hath received His testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. For He Whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hand.” (John 3: 33-35)

     John the Baptist concludes: “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 3; 36)

BELIEVING JESUS’ TESTIMONY!

      Here the Prophet lays out clearly what one must do to become God’s child and receive Eternal Life: You must believe His Testimony; that He is God’s Son, the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth; that He was True God from Eternity and True Man through His Virgin Birth; that He was incarnated, God in human flesh: co-equal with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit!

     

    By believing Jesus Christ’s Testimony you believe that God is true: If you reject the Virgin Birth of Christ you call “God a Liar”, because you reject His Word. If you say that Jesus of Nazareth was only a good man, a prophet, a lesser god, you also call God a liar, because you reject His Holy Word!

      ST. JOHN stated: “If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which He hath testified of His Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in Himself: He that believeth not God hath made him a Liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son.

      “And this is the RECORD; that God hath given to us eternal life, and this LIFE is in His Son. He that hath the SON hath life, and he that hath not the SON of God hath not LIFE.” (1 John 5: 9-12)

       This Scripture proves that it is God’s will to bless us. Everything we receive, comes from God through His grace and goodness and by faith in Jesus Christ’s finished work on Golgotha alone!

                     RECEIVING THE APPROVAL OF GOD!

       Receiving the approval of God is the highest award that mortal man can receive from God. When we accepted His invitation to receive Him as our Lord and Saviour, He placed His SEAL of ownership on us and we are secure in Him.

     “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

     “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

     “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” (Rom.5: 5-10)

     “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph. 2: 8, 9). “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this SEAL; The Lord knoweth them that are His. And let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” (2 Tim.2: 19)

WE ARE SEALED BY GOD!

     When we seal our faith in Christ by believing the Word of God regarding His Son, he SEALS us for His Kingdom. JESUS said: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: And I give unto them Eternal Life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my father’s hand. I and My Father are one.” (John 10: 27-30). And when we surrender fully to Him, He baptizes us with the Holy Ghost and Fire and seals us:

    “That we should be to the praise of His glory who first trusted in Christ. In Whom also ye trusted after ye had heard the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your salvation:

     “In Whom also after that ye believed, YE WERE SEALED with that Holy Spirit of Promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory.” (Eph.1:13, 14)

     The Bible warns us: “And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are SEALED unto the Day of Redemption.” (Eph.4: 30); “For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

     “Now He which stablisheth us with you in Christ and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also SEALED us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” (2 Cor.2: 20-22). Amen.