John Calvin Commentary Ephesians 1:13

"in whom ye also, having heard the word of the truth, the gospel of your salvation,-- in whom, having also believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise," — Ephesians 1:13 (ASV)

In whom you also. He associates the Ephesians with himself and with the rest of those who were the first fruits, for he says that they, in like manner, trusted in Christ. His object is to show that both had the same faith, and therefore we must supply the word trusted from the twelfth verse. He afterwards states that they were brought to that hope by the preaching of the gospel.

Two epithets are here applied to the gospel—the word of truth, and the gospel of your salvation. Both deserve our careful attention. Nothing is more earnestly attempted by Satan than to lead us either to doubt or to despise the gospel. Paul therefore furnishes us with two shields by which we may repel both temptations. In opposition to every doubt, let us learn to bring forward this testimony: that the gospel is not only certain truth, which cannot deceive, but is, by way of eminence (κατ’ ἐξοχήν), the word of truth, as if, strictly speaking, there were no truth but itself. If the temptation is to contempt or dislike of the gospel, let us remember that its power and efficacy have been manifested in bringing us salvation. The apostle had formerly declared that

it is the power of God to salvation to every one that believeth, (Romans 1:16).

But here he expresses more, for he reminds the Ephesians that, having been made partakers of salvation, they had learned this by their own experience. Unhappy are those who weary themselves, as the world generally does, in wandering through many winding paths, neglecting the gospel, and pleasing themselves with wild romances—

ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth, (2 Timothy 3:7).

or to find life! But happy are those who have embraced the gospel, and whose attachment to it is steadfast; for this, beyond all doubt, is truth and life.

In whom also, after that you believed. Having maintained that the gospel is certain, he now comes to the proof. And what higher surety can be found than the Holy Spirit? “Having named the gospel the word of truth, I will not prove it by the authority of men, for you have the testimony of the Spirit of God Himself, who seals the truth of it in your hearts.” This elegant comparison is taken from Seals, which among men have the effect of removing doubt.

Seals give validity both to charters and to testaments. Anciently, they were the principal means by which the writer of a letter could be known. In short, a seal distinguishes what is true and certain from what is false and spurious. This office the apostle ascribes to the Holy Spirit, not only here but in another part of this Epistle (Ephesians 4:30) and in the Second Epistle to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 1:22).

Our minds never become so firmly established in the truth of God as to resist all the temptations of Satan until we have been confirmed in it by the Holy Spirit. The true conviction which believers have of the word of God, of their own salvation, and of religion in general, does not spring from the judgment of the flesh, or from human and philosophical arguments, but from the sealing of the Spirit, who imparts to their consciences such certainty as to remove all doubt.

The foundation of faith would be frail and unsteady if it rested on human wisdom. Therefore, as preaching is the instrument of faith, so the Holy Spirit makes preaching efficacious.

But is it not faith itself which is here said to be sealed by the Holy Spirit? If so, faith goes before the sealing. I answer, there are two operations of the Spirit in faith, corresponding to the two parts of which faith consists, as it enlightens and as it establishes the mind. The commencement of faith is knowledge; the completion of it is a firm and steady conviction, which admits of no opposing doubt. Both, I have said, are the work of the Spirit. No wonder, then, if Paul should declare that the Ephesians, who received by faith the truth of the gospel, were confirmed in that faith by the seal of the Holy Spirit.

With that Holy Spirit of promise. This title is derived from the effect produced, for to Him we owe it that the promise of salvation is not made to us in vain. As God promises in His word, that He will be to us a Father, (2 Corinthians 6:18), so He gives us the evidence of having adopted us by the Holy Spirit.