The Spirit of adoption

"In Whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise." -EPHESIANS 1:13 [KJV]

Sealing is subsequent to believing: "In Whom after ye believed, ye were sealed." In legal documents the writing always precedes the sealing. That is the last act, and follows even the signing, putting an attesting stamp on the whole document, from the first word to the last signature. So in grace. The Spirit begins the work. He writes the first lines of divine truth on the soul; He makes the first impression on the heart of stone, which under His operation becomes a heart of flesh; He writes every truth that He thus makes known on the fleshy tables of the heart. He thus gives faith and hope, and then He comes with his special inward witness, and seals the truth and reality of His own work, so as not only to make it plain and clear, but to ratify and confirm it beyond all doubt and fear, questioning or dispute, either by ourself or others.

The work of God on the soul sometimes seems to lie as if dead and dormant; little prayer goes up, little answer comes down. Then doubts and fears arise whether the work be genuine, and much bondage and darkness sensibly gather over the mind like a dark and gloomy cloud, which much obscures the handwriting of the divine finger. Now the blessed Spirit revives His work by some application of the word with power, some softening and melting of the hard heart by His divine influence, some communication of a spirit of prayer, some discovery of the gracious Lord, some strengthening of faith, reviving of hope, and drawing forth of love.

He thus puts the seal on His own work, and stamps it as genuine. Under the sweetness and blessedness of this attesting seal many a poor child of God can look back to this and that testimony, this and that Ebenezer, this and that hill Mizar, this and that deliverance, blessing, manifestation, answer to prayer, special season under the word or on his knees, which were almost lost and buried in unbelief and confusion. But especially when He bears witness with their spirit that they are the children of God, and shedding abroad the love of God in their heart becomes in them the Spirit of adoption, whereby they cry, "Abba, Father," is His sealing manifest and complete.

-Gospel report by preacher J.C. Philpot (1802–1869 A.D.)