The Spirit of adoption
"In W hom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise." -EPHESIANS 1:13 [KJV] Sealing is subsequent to believing: "In W hom 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. ...