Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed to the day of redemption. I. Let us first consider sOME TRUTHS WHICH APPEAR TO BE IMPLIED IN THE STATEMENT HERE MADE. 1. It is plainly implied that the Holy Spirit is a Person. 2. A second truth implied in the text is, that not only is the Holy Ghost a Person, but that He is a Divine and holy Person. 3. But the third thing implied in this text is, that the Spirit of God so dwells within us, as that the indulgence of angry tempers, or a walk of ungodliness and sin, will cause distress to this Divine inhabitant. II. Now, having considered those truths which seem to be implied in the text, let us proceed to consider WHAT IS CONTAINED IN THE EXHORTATION ITSELF: "Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." 1. And, first, wherein are we most prone to "grieve" the Spirit? Grief, in the sense of offence taken by one person against another, arises from the offering of some supposed indignity, whether in the omission of some customary respect, or in the offer of some admitted slight, or in ungrateful requital for certain benefits received, or in some open contrariety to the mind and wish of our benefactor. Thus, look at the Spirit of God in some of those gracious offices and relations which He sustains towards us. Is He the enlightener, the guide, the counsellor of man in all the parts and duties of a godly life? What greater indignity can we offer to Him than taking counsel with flesh and blood — leaving the directions of a friend, to follow the advice of an enemy. 2. But observe, secondly, the special aggravation of this grieving — "Whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." Now, the point of all this, you will perceive, is that sin becomes more than ever sin, when it is committed against received light and knowledge-that grief against the Holy Spirit of God becomes double grief, when we have been made partaker of His gifts already. 3. And now, brethren, look at the text as it is a tender, affectionate, fatherly appeal to your gratitude. It is asked — "If God the Spirit has done this for you, if God the Spirit will continue to do these things unto your lives' end, how have you received Him?" (D. Moore, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.WEB: Don't grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. |
    |