The Seal Of God: The Lord Knows Those Who Are His

The seal of God is a sign of His authority and a mark of His approval.

For the Lord is a great, true and living God, and a great King above all gods, an everlasting King. Psalm 95:3. Jeremiah 10:10.

God’s seal is found in the fourth commandment and metaphorically in the foreheads of His people.

The fourth precept of the Decalogue declares God as the Creator of heavens and the earth. Thus it clearly distinguishes the true God from all false gods.

Even so, the true Christ-like characters will bear the seal of God's approval.

The Seventh-day Sabbath enjoined by the fourth commandment was instituted to commemorate the work of creation, ever directing the minds of humans to the true and living God.

It is a sign of His rightful authority over the beings He has made.

Know ye that the Lord He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of his pasture. Psalm 100:3.

Thus those who obey His Law will bear the seal of God, for He has set apart the Seventh-day Sabbath as a sign of loyalty between Himself and His people.

Verily My Sabbaths ye shall keep; for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations; 

that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you. Exodus 31:13.

Now is the time for the Law of God to be in our minds (foreheads) and written in our hearts. 

The instruction of today is: Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. Isaiah 8:16.

Acceptance through Christ 

Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: 

for Him hath God the Father sealed. John 6:27.

The voice of God had been heard at:

• Jesus’ baptism at the beginning of His ministry

• His transfiguration on the mount

• The close of His ministry under peculiar circumstances.

Thus God set His seal to the mission of His Son. It was the crowning evidence of His Messiahship.

Moreover, it was the Father’s sign that Jesus had spoken the truth and was the Son of God.

Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of Me, but for your sake. John 12:28, 30.

This voice of approval assures us that God accepts humanity through the merits of His Son.

He is the representative of humanity.

Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all unto me. John 12:31, 32.

Those who will listen to the voice of Christ, will recognize the voice of superior love, goodness, righteousness, benevolence and grace -  the voice of the True Shepherd.

Conditions of receiving the approval of God

The true light shines to us as we contemplate the cross of Calvary. 

Thus we understand that the death of Christ is an unanswerable argument for the immutable character of the Law.

The law of God is as unchangeable as its Author. Not one precept could be changed or altered to meet humans in their fallen condition.

Therefore, the Son of God became the Substitute of humanity - the just for the unjust. He bore the consequences of humans’ disobedience.

Furthermore, through His grace they might live in humble obedience and develop worthy characters for the Kingdom of God.

Obedience of the Divine requirements is the demonstration of our faith and the test of our love and discipleship.

The Lord knoweth them that are His. 2 Timothy 2:19.

Then God will be glorified in His people. They are sanctified by the truth. It has a purifying influence upon the character when acted as well as preached.

Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. Revelation 14:12.

These are those whom the prophet speaks of as:

• repairing the breach which had been made in the law of God

• building the old waste places, raising up the foundation of many generations. Isaiah 58:12.

Sealing the Law

The Law of God is the only true standard of character - a perfect holiness.

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. Psalm 19:7.

Love to God and people is its principle. The law of love is a transcript of God’s character of love.

Love is the fulfillment of the law. Romans 13:10.

For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Galatians 5:14.

Love is expressed in obedience, and perfect love casteth out all fear (selfishness).

This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord; 

I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them. Hebrews 10:16.

Through Christ they possess the spirit of love and obedience to the commands of God.

Thus those who love God have the seal of God in their foreheads and work the works of God. 

Their keeping of the true Seventh-day Sabbath is an evidence of loyalty to the Creator.

At the time of the end two parties will be developed, those who:

• worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark,

• receive the seal of the living God and have the Father's name written in their foreheads.

Sealed by the true Spirit

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15.

Moreover, In Christ  ye also trusted, after that ye 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. Ephesians 1:13.

Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; 

but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come.

He shall glorify Me: for he shall receive of Mine, and shall shew it unto you.

All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that He shall take of Mine, and shall shew it unto you. John 16:13-15.

God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth; 2 Thessalonians 2:13.

The Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: 

but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. John 14:17.

Therefore, Be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Ephesians 4:23, 24.

And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30.

In conclusion 

As the wax takes the impression of the seal, so the soul is to take the impression of the Spirit of God and retain the image of Christ.

True Christlike characters will bear the sign of God's approval.

The children of God are to seal their destiny by a life of holy endeavour and firm adherence to the truth.

Keeping the true Seventh-day Sabbath in obedience to God's Law is an evidence of loyalty to the only true and living God - our Creator.

Thus those who here acknowledge God as their ruler, by obeying the laws of His government, will be accounted worthy of a place in His family in Heaven.

Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. Revelation 22:14.

They are sealed for eternity. The immortal crown and a life with God and the Lamb is their reward.

References

1. ST Jul, 1888; ST Jul, 1893; ST Nov, 1899; RH Apr, 1911; ST Nov, 1899; DA 625; RH Oct, 1911; ST Aug, 1901; ST Jan, 1907; ST Mar, 1910 - The Ellen G. White Estate

2. The Bible, King James Version (KJV

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