106 (052) Purpose – The Seal of the Holy Spirit. - a podcast by Dr. Vic Torres

I can think of no better way to find, understand, and fulfill our purpose than to look at Jesus’ life as the pattern. I see three essential areas as important “faith” issues that Jesus experienced, and as disciples of Jesus Christ, we should experience also. 



Free download of audio and texts of this Podcast, click here!



The three encounters Jesus faced before He entered into His ministry.



These three encounters parallel what a disciple of Jesus Christ must experience. Show More




The Seal of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ case, it occurred while He was baptized by John the Baptist.The Baptism of the Holy Spirit in the Wilderness Temptations– Equipping- receiving of the authority and power of the Holy Spirit (The empowerment for service!)Receiving the mission or call to fulfill the Lord’s purpose. In Luke 4:18 Jesus said, “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me…” For us, it is the Great “Com-mission.” The call to partner with Jesus and His mission, ministry, or assignment. In other words, your purpose.



STEP ONE: THE SEAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.



The first significant event in Jesus’ life is His baptism by John the Baptist. (Matthew 3:13–17; Mark 1:9–11; Luke 3:21-22, John 1:29–34). It is here that Father seals Jesus with the Holy Spirit.



THE SEAL OF THE FATHER IS THE HOLY SPIRIT.



The evidence of our salvation is the Holy Spirit of God living in us. Christianity is not a religion of rites, traditions, and formalities, but a living relationship with our Lord. The Holy Spirit is the evidence of our “sealing” by the Lord. 



2 Corinthians 1:21 “Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, 22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”



Ephesians 1: 13” In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”



Ephesians 4:30 “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”



Now of course, Jesus did not need salvation for Himself for He is the ” the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Jesus.” (John 14:6). However, the Lord allowed this so that all would see that Jesus was the Christ (Messiah, Savior) and the Spirit of the Lord was upon Him. This is instructive for us as believers. We need to recognize and trust in the Holy Spirit in us as believers of Christ.



Before I get to Jesus baptism by John the Baptist, I need to discuss two other areas for context. (1) How is a person saved, and (2) what is the significance of John the Baptist’s baptism of repentance?



How is a person saved?



I think Jesus made it very clear in Mark 1:14, “Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.’” 



Repentance



The first point is that a person must repent! In this sense, the word repent means to “turn around” or have a “change of mind,” a change in direction. A person repents when they turn back to God.



Turning back to God means the following:



One has to acknowledge that they did not believe in who and what Jesus accomplished on the Cross, the forgiveness of sin. 



One has to acknowledge that Jesus is God incarnate. 



They must also acknowledge that, up to this point, they were not following the teachings of Jesus Christ, the teachings on love, forgiveness, and acceptance.  



It is easy for us to repent of specific acts that are unrighteous; it is another thing to repent of being totally wrong about the Lord

Further episodes of Pastor Vic

Further podcasts by Dr. Vic Torres

Website of Dr. Vic Torres