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“Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!” Romans 5:9-10

In 1970, Stevie Wonder released a song that would become a classic: Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours. This idiom (“signed, sealed, and delivered”) is thought to have originated in the 1800s as a phrase to mean “satisfactorily completed” and was used to describe a valid deed. The expression was used more widely in the 20^th century to refer to any legal action or business deal…or, in Stevie’s case, a relationship.

This song popped into my head randomly as I was listening to a pastor’s podcast on a few verses of Romans. He was teaching about how Abraham was saved not by the act of circumcision, but rather 14 years before that. Abraham, like us, was saved (delivered, made right with God) through faith, not works. Circumcision, then, was a sign to set the Jews apart from the rest of the world. Anyway, that tune got me thinking of how our Christian life can actually be described in the opposite order of those lyrics: delivered, sealed, signed. Let me explain…

First, we’re delivered. When we acknowledge that we are broken and sinful (i.e., not perfect!), and believe that Jesus made a way for us to be reconciled with God, we are delivered from paying the penalty—made righteous by the gift of grace through faith alone (Ephesians 2:8). That’s all it takes! A leap of faith…no do’s, don’ts, or wondering if we’re good enough.

Second, we’re sealed. When we surrender to Jesus as Lord and Savior, He doesn’t leave us all alone to fend for ourselves in this dark and evil world (John 14:26, 16:13). We are given the Holy Spirit to live in us—a Person of the Triune God—to guide us in Truth, give us understanding of the Word, and help us live out the fruit of belief (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—Galatians 5:22-23). I don’t know about you, but I certainly can’t demonstrate those traits on my own volition. Equally as thrilling is the fact that the Holy Spirit seals us for our eternal destination in heaven (Ephesians 1:13-14, 4:30). Once saved, always saved! We’ll certainly slip up and fall down, but if we’ve truly put our faith in Jesus Christ, we do not lose the security of salvation (John 10:28-29, 2 Corinthians 5:5).

Finally, we are “signed”—actually, we’re to be a sign. Before Jesus went to the Cross, He told His friends, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35). Sisters, we are Jesus’ representatives to the world. We are to demonstrate the grace, mercy, and love of Christ to others. To be a light in our dark world to point the world to the Light (Matthew 5:16).

Christian, are you a “sign” in your world—and if so, what kind? And, friend, if you have not yet been “delivered” and “sealed,” won’t you take that step of faith right now? It’ll definitely put a song in your heart.

“Lord, You are so gracious to deliver and seal us for an eternal life with You. Let us be a sign of that Truth to others.”

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life