ROMANS 4:11

“and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them,”

Seals, not the slippery kind that swim (lol), are used all over the world to make documents official. Some are raised seals like the old notary stamps. Others are just an ink stamp from the officiating party. I have official seals in my passport from all over the world. It’s kind of fun to go back and look at the seals I have received. Last year I had to get a new passport because my “seals runneth over.” I was out of pages. I got a bigger one this time.

Paul isn’t talking about a notary or a passport. He is referring to the seal we all receive when we place our faith in the Lord. Abraham’s seal of circumcision upon his flesh was a visible sign of a spiritual seal of faith. Paul has already told us that Abraham received the righteousness of God BEFORE he was physically circumcised. This made him “the father of all who believe without being circumcised.” This, of course, would infuriate the Jews since they put such pride in their physical circumcision.

APPLICATION

In John 3:33 we read the words of John the Baptist during his last testimony. “‘He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this, that God is true.’” John knew that Jesus was the reason for this seal upon our lives. He stamped us with His seal of righteousness upon our act of faith in His saving grace. I can’t wait to have long conversation with John in heaven one day.

That seal, of course, is the Holy Spirit given to us by Jesus upon our salvation. Paul wrote to the Ephesians and told them this in Ephesians 1:13. “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise,” I don’t know about you but those are shouting words. God did the sealing, not me, not a preacher. And what God seals, we cannot unseal. Hallelujah!

The next time you open a jar and hear it pop or remove a paraffin wax seal from a jar of homemade jelly, remember God’s seal upon your soul. He has sealed you with a promise. He has sealed you and imputed to you His righteousness. Walk like that. Don’t doubt what you have. You are preserved forever.

O Father, I praise You for the seal upon my heart today.

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