6. READ: EPHESIANS 4:17-32
b. What must we "put on?"
Answer: The children of God are taught in Christ (in accordance with the Truth that is Jesus) to be made new in the attitude of our minds (verse 23), and to put on (be clothed with) the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness, (verse 24).
The putting on of the new self--clothing ourselves with Christ--includes: speaking truthfully to our neighbor, because we are all members of one body (verse 25); purifying our emotions so that things like anger, the kind of anger which is not sinful, does not outlast the day--solve any problem with a brother or sister in the Lord immediately or the devil may turn this anger into a great evil, such as causing divisions among Christians (verses 26 and 27); working--doing something useful with our own hands, so that we may have something to share with those in need (verse 28); speaking only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, so that our speech may benefit those who listen (verse 29); doing and saying nothing that will grieve the Holy Spirit Who is in us, and with Whom we have been sealed for the day of redemption (verse 30); being kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave us (verse 32).
The verb "grieve" also shows that the Holy Spirit is a person, not just a hazy influence in our lives. Only a person can be grieved. The Holy Spirit of God, this spiritual Being indwelling the Christian, can feel great pain, distress, and grief. We can cause Him to feel sorrow by willfully letting sin into the temple--our body--in which He dwells. Our sin causes Him great grief--sin and the Holy Spirit of God are NOT compatible. The Holy Spirit will not stay where He is not received willingly by a heart and mind eager to always be in the process of being transformed into the likeness of Christ.
Of the Israelites, Isaiah 63:10 says, "Yet they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit. So He turned and became their enemy and He Himself fought against them."
And 1 Thessalonians 5:19 says, "Do not put out the Spirit's fire."
When these words were written, a seal showed ownership. Many times the seal was a signet ring that was pressed into wax on a letter or other document to show who the document belonged to (ownership), that the document was authentic (really from the sender and not a forgery), that the document had not been contaminated or interfered with (had not been corrupted with false information), and that the document was secure while it was carried from the one who sealed it to the one who received it, having a definite destination, and arriving with the seal unbroken.
We are sealed with the Holy Spirit of God. We are His possession, and we are authentic children of God by faith, having become a letter from Christ by our faith and continued obedience to His commands--a letter written not with ink, but written with the Holy Spirit on the tablets of our hearts, 2 Corinthians 3:3. And the Holy Spirit is God's seal on our letter. We are separated from the world for holy use by God, striving by God's grace to be uncontaminated by the world, our seal remaining unbroken. We can remain secure and safe while "being carried" from our initial salvation in Christ, through the continuing salvation we now have, and being "delivered" to our final destination--God--when our salvation is made complete. He will know and welcome us because we carry His seal.
Ephesians 1:13-14: "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, Who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of His glory."
2 Corinthians 1:21-22: "Now it is God Who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come."
2 Corinthians 5:5: "Now it is God Who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come."