Those Who Are Sealed Upon Their Salvation
Believers (1Co 1:2), saints (1 Co 1:2) and apostles (1 Co 1:1) appear in the Bible. They are all saved in Jesus, but their calling is different. If the Apostles were called directly by Jesus, saints are called by Holy Spirit and believers are called broadly within the gospel. Therefore, all those who call God "Father" through faith in Jesus and believers, among whom are saints (2 Co 1:22) who were sealed by Holy Spirit and have the testimony of their regeneration. Moreover, apostles are those among saints who perform signs, wonder and power and perseverance (2 Co 12:12).
Believers and Saints
Believers are all the saved one in Jesus: Israel who is saved as God’s servant, “believers” the saved God’s children who could not receive the Holy Spirit as well as “saints,” the Spirit sealed God’s children.
Those under the Law are saved as servants or slaves. Since the Law itself is the spirit of bondage conveyed by an angel, God’s servant (Jn 1:17, Ac 7:53) , the status of those who have received this word is also servants (Ro 8:15). Therefore, those who obeyed the Law and served God were Gods people. His servants whereas the New Testament Church members who abide in the truth are saved as God’s children (Jn 1:12). Because the truth is the spirit of sonship given through Jesus, the Son of God (Jn 1:17), the status of those who have received this word is also sons (Gal 4:6). Jesus quoted the example of Jhon the Baptist regarding the status of the New Testament Church members (Mt 11:11). He said that among those born of women no one was greater Jhon the Baptist, but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater then he. Likewise, even though both Old Testament members and New Testament members are saved through faith, they are servants and children respectively.
Moreover, the New Testament distinguishes believers from saints. First Corinthians 1:12 separates roughly the two as follows “To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy”, from”…all those everywhere who call on the name of Lord Jesus Christ.” The former are saints and the latter are believers. Both are saved and the Holy Spirit has scaled the former as God’s children, and thus gave his testimony, which is not the case of the latter.
The New Testament standard for the saved one is the saints level. It is not salvation at the level of a servant or more believer. Just as Peter who became Spirit-filled upon the spirit’s descent at Pentecost showed well in his sermon, God expects all to rely on Jesus’ precious blood, repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus and receive the Holy Spirit’s seal and guarantee of salvation (Ac 2:38)
Saints Who Have Became God’s Temple
Because the Holy Spirit is the holy spirit of God who has nothing to do with sin, he abides in holy places only. For this reason, the could not dwell in anyone in the Old Testament times when the problem of the soul’s sin was not yet solved. God met even His Chosen people Israel solely in the tabernacle (temple) set apart holily by placing His name in it. His particularly selected servants, such as David, were under the spirit’s outside influence (Ps 51:11), but their souls were never regarded as His dwelling temple.
The first time the Holy Spirit ever regarded humans’ souls as his temple and entered them was at Pentecost (Ac 2:1-4). The spirit eventually came after Jesus had mentioned him to his disciples (Jh 7:39). In other words, he came inside the souls, which Jesus sanctified by forgiving their sins upon the completion of his death, resurrection and ascension.
The Holy Spirit comes to believers in the name Jesus. In the Old Testament, just as the deposit place of the name of God was the temple, saints who have welcome the Holy Spirit in the name Jesus are the temple. Jesus said that he would send the Holy Spirit in the name Jesus (Jn 14:26) and Paul asked, “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” (1 Co 3;16) and the soul in which the Holy Spirit indwells was God’s temple. Souls whom the Holy Spirit does not inhabit yet, despite their faith in Jesus, are not temples. Saints who have accepted him are God’s true temples (2 Co 6:16)
Saints As Witnesses For Jesus
Moreover, the New Testament distinguishes believers from saints. First Corinthians 1:12 separates roughly the two as follows “To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy”, from”…all those everywhere who call on the name of Lord Jesus Christ.” The former are saints and the latter are believers. Both are saved and the Holy Spirit has scaled the former as God’s children, and thus gave his testimony, which is not the case of the latter.
The New Testament standard for the saved one is the saints level. It is not salvation at the level of a servant or more believer. Just as Peter who became Spirit-filled upon the spirit’s descent at Pentecost showed well in his sermon, God expects all to rely on Jesus’ precious blood, repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus and receive the Holy Spirit’s seal and guarantee of salvation (Ac 2:38)
Saints Who Have Became God’s Temple
Because the Holy Spirit is the holy spirit of God who has nothing to do with sin, he abides in holy places only. For this reason, the could not dwell in anyone in the Old Testament times when the problem of the soul’s sin was not yet solved. God met even His Chosen people Israel solely in the tabernacle (temple) set apart holily by placing His name in it. His particularly selected servants, such as David, were under the spirit’s outside influence (Ps 51:11), but their souls were never regarded as His dwelling temple.
The first time the Holy Spirit ever regarded humans’ souls as his temple and entered them was at Pentecost (Ac 2:1-4). The spirit eventually came after Jesus had mentioned him to his disciples (Jh 7:39). In other words, he came inside the souls, which Jesus sanctified by forgiving their sins upon the completion of his death, resurrection and ascension.
The Holy Spirit comes to believers in the name Jesus. In the Old Testament, just as the deposit place of the name of God was the temple, saints who have welcome the Holy Spirit in the name Jesus are the temple. Jesus said that he would send the Holy Spirit in the name Jesus (Jn 14:26) and Paul asked, “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” (1 Co 3;16) and the soul in which the Holy Spirit indwells was God’s temple. Souls whom the Holy Spirit does not inhabit yet, despite their faith in Jesus, are not temples. Saints who have accepted him are God’s true temples (2 Co 6:16)
Saints As Witnesses For Jesus
Faith in Jesus does not entitle anyone to be witness. Witnesses refer to those eyewitnessed who can testify upon their lives to events without adding or subtracting anything. Thus, only saints who have experienced Jesus’ resurrection by the Holy Spirit can qualify and there are three main reasons for their qualification.
First, Jesus receives only God’s testimony. He died for humankind but no one in the world ever defended him, he does not receive any human testimony, nor does he want it (Jn 2:25 , 5:34). Despite Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God, Jesus commanded him to tell no one that he was the Christ (Mt 16:15-20)and did not allow demons to recognize him and speak of him (Mk 1:34). The reason was that he is the one who receives God testimony alone, not that of humans or demons. When John baptized him in the Jordan and the mount of transfiguration, Jesus received the Father’s testimony that he was His Son, who pleased him (Mt 3:17, 17:5). Throughout his public life . he received the Father’s testimony through the work done in the Father’s name (Jn 5:3, 25-32. 8:18 10;25)
Moreover, Jesus testifies to himself (Jn 8:14, 18). After he resurrection and ascension to heaven, the Holy Spirit testifies to him and so do the saints who has received him (Jn 15:26). The Holy Spirit as the Paraclete who testifies to Jesus, reminds saints of all that Jesus has said and teaches them, and leads them into the truth (Jn 14:26, 16:13). He came to believers in this world where no one can defend Jesus, and testifies in the fact that Jesus in the sinless Son of God who died for humans asa well as the resurrected Christ. Therefore, he who has not received the Holy Spirit is unable to witness to Jesus’ sinlessness, resurrection and ascension.
First, Jesus receives only God’s testimony. He died for humankind but no one in the world ever defended him, he does not receive any human testimony, nor does he want it (Jn 2:25 , 5:34). Despite Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God, Jesus commanded him to tell no one that he was the Christ (Mt 16:15-20)and did not allow demons to recognize him and speak of him (Mk 1:34). The reason was that he is the one who receives God testimony alone, not that of humans or demons. When John baptized him in the Jordan and the mount of transfiguration, Jesus received the Father’s testimony that he was His Son, who pleased him (Mt 3:17, 17:5). Throughout his public life . he received the Father’s testimony through the work done in the Father’s name (Jn 5:3, 25-32. 8:18 10;25)
Moreover, Jesus testifies to himself (Jn 8:14, 18). After he resurrection and ascension to heaven, the Holy Spirit testifies to him and so do the saints who has received him (Jn 15:26). The Holy Spirit as the Paraclete who testifies to Jesus, reminds saints of all that Jesus has said and teaches them, and leads them into the truth (Jn 14:26, 16:13). He came to believers in this world where no one can defend Jesus, and testifies in the fact that Jesus in the sinless Son of God who died for humans asa well as the resurrected Christ. Therefore, he who has not received the Holy Spirit is unable to witness to Jesus’ sinlessness, resurrection and ascension.
Second, only eyewitnesses can qualify as Jesus' witnesses Second, only eyewitnesses can qualify as Jesus' witnesses. A testimony can be given only when one has clear experience of something ; hence, the impossibility of testifying in the opposite case. The Old Testament prophets preached that which they did not see whereas New Testament saints testify to they testimonies. Just as the Bible said, "that which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched- this we proclaim concerning the world of life, " 1 Jn 1:1), saints have received the testimony of Jesus" ressurection by the Holy Spirit.
Since Jesus repeatedly said during his public life that he would send the Holy Spirit (Jn 14:16, 26, 16:7), his descent is the most assured evidence of Jesus’ resurrection and enthronement in heaven upon his victory ever death. His request to the disciples who wanted to leave immediately for evangelism to stay in Jerusalem until they received the spirit (Ac 1:4-8) meant that they should start with a clear experience of this resurrection, because without the spirit they could evangelize with personal zeal, thoughts and determination, but never became witnesses.
Third, only those who have experienced the Holy Spirit can became martyrs, and saints are those who received the spirit’s testimony. In order words, saints whose souls have the Holy Spirit have in their bodies the testimony of Jesus’ resurrection. As a result, saints will never deny Jesus, no matter the persecutions and forsake their lives for their testimony . were it not for the Holy Spirit, one cannot testify upon one’s life.
Even Peter who had confessed that Jesus is the Christ, the son of living God denied hem three times before persecutions and death threats (Mt 26:69-75) Furthermore even after meeting the Lord. They went back fishing (John chapter 21). However, after he received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, he was changed into a bold evangelist and eventually a martyr (Ac 2:37-41, 4:19-20, 5:29-32). In this way, saints alone who have the spirit’s seal can be witnesses who can forsake their lives for the name Jesus and be part of the first resurrection (Rev 20:40)
Even Peter who had confessed that Jesus is the Christ, the son of living God denied hem three times before persecutions and death threats (Mt 26:69-75) Furthermore even after meeting the Lord. They went back fishing (John chapter 21). However, after he received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, he was changed into a bold evangelist and eventually a martyr (Ac 2:37-41, 4:19-20, 5:29-32). In this way, saints alone who have the spirit’s seal can be witnesses who can forsake their lives for the name Jesus and be part of the first resurrection (Rev 20:40)
re-copied from "Today's Berean" Spring 2009 Vol.4 No.2
