The Finished Transaction – The Presidential Prayer Team

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. – Ephesians 1:13

For some people, the thought of talking to another person about their faith is a scary idea. What do you say? Today’s verse gives you the entire process of salvation. And Christmas is a great time to tell your story and how you came to hear the Word. You can tie the birth of Christ to the cross, explaining the reason that baby Jesus came into the world.

The apostle Paul had preached the Word of God to the Gentile Ephesians and explained that Christ had come to die for their sins; He was buried but rose again, providing the way for those who believe to partake in the joy of salvation (1 Corinthians 15:1-11). Once they believed, they were “sealed with the promised Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 1:13). Commentator Warren Wiersbe says this is significant because it emphasizes that their belief was a “finished transaction.” Nothing more needed to be done because God, through Jesus, had paid the price for the believer. The Holy Spirit is God’s seal to show that He has purchased you to be His own. You are safe and secure in this faith. Your actions after believing will reveal the presence of the Spirit in your life.

God’s purpose then for sending Jesus to save sinners is that He might be glorified. At the announcement of Jesus’ birth to the shepherds, the angels praised God and said, “Glory to God in the highest” (Luke 2:13-14). They had seen God’s wisdom and power at Creation. Now they would see God’s love and grace flow through His Church, the believers. May you give God glory as you tell your story of faith in Jesus.

Today’s Verse: Ephesians 1:13

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,

All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Recommended for further reading: Luke 2:8-11, 16-20

⁸And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. ¹⁰And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

¹⁶And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. ¹⁷And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. ¹⁸And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. ¹⁹But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. ²⁰And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.