Eph 1:13, 4:30 etc. You were sealed with the Holy Spirit. When?

Dear Friends, in the Epistle of Ephesians, (1:13, 4:30), we read that we were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit for the Day of Redemption. Sealing is generally done to soldiers, slaves, prisoners etc to signify they belong to a King or a Master, or have been consecrated to His Service etc, as the below article says. What do you think this seal represents and when did this sealing happen?

We are indwelt by the Holy Spirit at believing in Jesus . The seal would happen at the same time.

The seal of the Holy Spirit is said to be a guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it.


Ephesians 1:13-14

Dear Friends, in the Epistle of Ephesians, (1:13, 4:30), we read that we were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit for the Day of Redemption. Sealing is generally done to soldiers, slaves, prisoners etc to signify they belong to a King or a Master, or have been consecrated to His Service etc, as the below article says. What do you think this seal represents and when did this sealing happen? "Often throughout history cattle, slaves and prisoners were sealed by being branded with unique marks that identified who owned them ... The word “seal” could refer either to a physical object that made the impression, or to the impression itself."

Thoughts?

Article Excerpt: "The NT tells us that…

All true Christians have been sealed with the Holy Spirit of God.
Ephesians 1:13, “In him [in Christ] you [Gentile Christians] also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit“.

Ephesians 4:30, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

II Corinthians 1:21-22, “And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”

The Seal Imagery

Most of you probably understand the imagery. But let me refresh your memory. In many cultures throughout history people have had personal seals, used to indicate that something belonged to them or was from them. A seal could be a stone or a ring with unique carvings on it. To seal, say, a document, they would put a spot of hot wax on it and impress the seal into it and that would leave their mark. The impression would serve like a signature in our culture.

Various objects, like containers, doors and letters, were sealed in a way where the only way to open them would break the seal, which would then make it evident that someone had tampered with the thing.

Often throughout history cattle, slaves and prisoners were sealed by being branded with unique marks that identified who owned them. Soldiers sometimes were given tattoos by which they could be recognized if they deserted.

The word “seal” could refer either to a physical object that made the impression, or to the impression itself.

What does the NT mean when it speaks of us being sealed with the Holy Spirit?
The most popular opinion among the Christians I’ve been associated with is that it simply refers to the fact that, as disciples of Jesus, we have been given the Holy Spirit to help us live righteously and serve God’s mission in the world, and possession of the Spirit marks us as God’s people.

But that’s not the only possible way to understand the language. Consider some examples in Scripture of similar language.

Esther 3:10-12, “Then the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the enemy of the Jews… Then the king’s scribes were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and it was written just as Haman commanded… being written in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the king’s signet ring.” Notice that phrase “sealed with the king’s signet ring”. It’s much like, “sealed with the Holy Spirit,” only instead of “Holy Spirit” it has “king’s signet ring.” What does “sealed with the king’s signet ring” mean? It doesn’t mean the signet ring was given or attached to the document. It’s means the signet ring was used to make an impression in a spot of wax on the document, which left an identifying mark.

Same language can be seen in I Kings 21:8: “So she [Queen Jezebel] wrote letters in Ahab’s [the king] name and sealed them with his seal, and sent letters to the elders and to the nobles…”

And Daniel 6:16-17: “Then the king gave orders, and Daniel was brought in and cast into the lions’ den… A stone was brought and laid over the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing would be changed in regard to Daniel.”

So the language elsewhere in Scripture of “something being sealed with something” does not mean that one thing was given to the other, but that one thing was used to impress an image on the other. So “sealed with the Holy Spirit” could refer to the Holy Spirit making an impression in us, like a signet ring makes an impression in wax or clay. In other words it can refer to something the Holy Spirit does to our minds and hearts, not just to the Spirit’s presence in us, and that inner impression made by the Spirit identifies us as God’s people.

This was the interpretation of some famous theologians of the past. Jonathan Edwards in the 1700s for instance said,

“The witness or seal of the Spirit consists in the effect of the Spirit of God in the heart, in the implantation and exercises of grace there, and so consists in experience. And it is beyond doubt, that this seal of the Spirit is the highest kind of evidence of the saints’ adoption that ever they obtain.” (from “A Treatise on the Religious Affections,” The Works of Jonathan Edwards, 1:334)
Also, John Owen in the 1600s:

“We are sealed to the day of redemption, when, from the stamp, image, and character of the Spirit upon our souls, we have fresh sense of the love of God given to us, with a comfortable persuasion of our acceptance with him.” (“Of Communion with the Holy Ghost,” The Works of John Owen, 2:243)
Well, I agree with Edwards and Owen. The seal in us is the effect of the Spirit in the heart. It’s something the Spirit does in us. And I find Scripture to teach that in this Christian age, though the Spirit may begin His work in us before baptism, the seal is accomplished initially in the water of Christian baptism ...

https://www.seedandwater.org/topical-studies/baptism/sealed-in-baptism-with-the-holy-spirit

Sadly, you will not convince anyone of what scripture literally says. They have their logical hoops through which they jump so as to work the work of removing baptism. If they cant remove it altogether they remove its efficacy and its meaning.
Its all a work of man to them. From choosing God or making him the Lord of their life (which He is the Lord of all, we have no power to affect that in any way at all) to getting baptized ( they it is a ceremony performed by a man), and even as they say speaking in tongues. They coach you saying just move your mouth and make noise and this is speaking in tongues. they even say marriage is performed by man (which is why even in the "xhurch" we have a near 50% divorce rate) but the scriptures say different
The scriptures say these are the work of God himself, and not of us. This denial of God and crediting of man is a blight and a sad one in the light of scripture.

It is a misconception that everyone is indwelt by the Holy Ghost the moment they believe in Jesus. Paul's question in Acts 19:1 indicates that receiving the Holy Ghost does not automatically occur at that point. "Have you received the Holy Ghost SINCE you believed?" This very same account goes on to prove the point. The Holy Ghost was given AFTER the twelve disciples were told about Jesus and were baptized (water) in the name of the Lord Jesus. (Acts 19:2-6)

Also, noteworthy is the Samaritans did not receive the Holy Ghost until days after believing the gospel message and being obedient to the command to be baptized (water) in the name of the Lord Jesus. (Acts 8:12-18)

Lastly, Jesus informs people what to do if they have not received the Holy Ghost: "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" (Luke 11:13) This scripture speaks to the reality that a person can know whether they have been indwelt by the Holy Ghost or not. Many scriptures provide what this evidence is.

Unfortunately there are those who do not grasp the distinction between water baptism and the baptism of the Holy Spirit of God, nor do they recognize nor acknowledge that Jesus Christ made a clear distinction between earthly water (H2O) and the water of life He gives. Water baptism is a ceremony performed by man. Holy Spirit baptism is a work of God. You seem confused on who is denying what

I think a deeper look in this portion of Scripture wouldn't hurt...

ACTS 19 (ESV) And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland[a] country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. 2 And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John's baptism.” 4 And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in[b] the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. 7 There were about twelve men in all.

See, these folks weren't baptized unto Jesus Christ... ergo, they didn't have understanding of the Gospel message and/or a full (saving) knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Hope that makes sense.
Peace.

I am aware of what occurred after Paul's question. My point is Paul's question in and of itself points to a truth. If people spontaneously receive the Holy Ghost the moment they believe Paul would not have phrased the question as he did. "Have you received the Holy Ghost SINCE you believed?" His question addresses two things specifically:

1. Believing the gospel message is not what provides evidence that the Holy Ghost has been received. The two are distinct experiences.
2. When the Holy Ghost comes to dwell within a person the experience produces undeniable evidence, and as such, would enable one to unequivocally answer the question.

The Ephesus disciples would have no problem answering the question in the affirmative after their interaction with Paul as recorded in Acts 19:1-6.

I did a thread on this that includes additional information: https://christianchat.com/bible-discussion-forum/one-question-two-answers.207804/

Because its not there and you have to interpret the Bible in extraordinary ways to come to that conclusion.
It is written that there is one baptism. Ephesians chapter 4. This is a plain text.