{Hi. My name is Tim Kincaid. This essay is my sermon of 6/5/2022, Pentecost. My dad added verses & Strongs numbers in the end ‘Translational Notes’ while editing it for his Bible Topic Exposition site.}
Smucker’s good! “With a name like ‘Smucker’s’, it HAS to be good!”
Did you ever see the Smucker’s ‘Happy Birthday’ greetings on TV? Smucker’s recently was wishing a happy 105th birthday to some really old person.
Smucker’s, as many of you know, is a brand of preserves or jam. A TV show is used by Smucker’s preserves to congratulate centenarians, because those folks have been well-preserved through time. Like the Smucker’s jarred fruit.
We children of God are the same way, in a sense. We’ve been sealed, and are being saved and preserved for a future long existence into eternity!
Today I’d like to talk a little bit about birthdays, birthday gifts, and birthday presents/Presence. God made His own Presence available to the church!
After Jesus died and rose again, around 30 AD or so, the upcoming Pentecost marked the birthday of the church. Act 2:1-4 “When the day of Pentecost had come…they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.” At that event, Jesus’ original disciples received gifts of the Holy Spirit (HS). Then Act 2:41 “There were added that day about 3,000 souls.” And many more also would be added to their number.
The birthday gifts we give to others are sealed in wrappings to keep them looking new or from being damaged. The true image is hidden from others who just see its outer package. The gift has been concealed and sealed away inside wrappings. This makes it more special.
Spiritual gifts from God are similar. The new person we’re becoming isn’t immediately apparent to others. We too are sealed. And Rom 11:29 “God’s gifts and calling are irrevocable.”
The HS seals us until the redemption of our body (Ro.8:23), from sin’s consequences. Eph 4:30 “Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Rev 7:3 “Do not harm the earth, the sea or the trees until we have sealed the servants of our God upon their foreheads.”
We’re preserved for a future time. Psa 116:6 “The Lord preserves the simple. I was brought low, and He saved me.” Salvation involves preservation. We’re saved from the power or consequences of sin and God’s wrath. Also He rescues, delivers or saves us from difficulties during this life.
Salvation is past…present…future.
Past: Eph 2:8 you have been saved. 2Ti 1:9 God has saved us. Tit 3:5 God saved us. In the past.
Present: 1Co 1:18 us who are being saved. 2Co 2:15 those who are being saved. 1Pe 4:18 if the righteous person is saved with difficulty. In the present.
Future: Mrk 16:16 whoever believes and is baptized shall be saved. Act 16:31 believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved. Rom 5:9-10 “We shall be saved from wrath through Him [Jesus]. We shall be saved by His life.” In the future.
“Preserve” in Old Testament (OT) verses: Jsh 24:17 “The Lord our God brought us and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, and preserved us in all the way we journeyed.” Psa 37:28 “For the Lord loves justice, and doesn’t forsake His saints. They are preserved forever.” David supplicated to God against his enemies in Psa 86:2. “Preserve my life, for I am a godly man. You are my God.” Psa 97:10 “The Lord preserves the souls of His saints.” Psa 145:20 “The Lord preserves all who love Him.” Pro 4:6 “Do not forsake wisdom, and she shall preserve you.”
“Preserve” in New Testament (NT) verses: 2Pe 2:5 “God did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah.” 1Th 5:23 Youngs Literal Translation “May your whole spirit, soul and body be preserved unblameably in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jude 1 KJV “Jude, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ.”
What is involved in sealing and preserving a jar of Smucker’s Jam? There’s just a few simple steps: #1 Add salt & sugar to the fruit. #2 Combine those ingredients with water; heat & bring to a boil. #3 Transfer the fruit mixture to a new clean jar; as it cools, the lid seals; store it.
Taking a closer look at this process, we see similarities to the work God does in the Christian life.
#1 Add salt & sugar to the fruit. Believers are seasoned with salt, a preservative. Mrk 9:50 “Salt is good; but if the salt should lose its flavor, how can you make it salty? Have salt in yourselves.” The apostle Paul wrote in 2Co 2:15, “We are unto God a sweet savor of Christ, in those who are being saved and among those who are perishing”.
#2 Combine the ingredients with water; heat & bring to a boil. The apostle Peter said in Act 2:38, “Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”. Believers are immersed in water at baptism. Act 8:38 “Both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he [Philip] baptized him.”
After combining with water, the fruit mixture must be heated or tried. Mrk 9:49 “Everyone will be salted with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt.” John the Baptist had said in Mat 3:11, “I baptize you with water for repentance, but He [Jesus] who is coming after me is mightier than I. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
Fire can be symbolic of personal trials. Peter wrote to scattered Christians in 1Pe 4:11-12. “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you. Rather be glad that you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may rejoice with exceeding joy.” Trials can be for our ultimate good!
#3 Transfer the ingredients to a new, clean jar; let it cool & seal; then store it. Jesus stated in Mat 9:17, “Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst, the wine is spilled, and the skins are ruined. Instead, store new wine in new wineskins so that both are preserved.” We’re becoming like new.
Paul wrote in 2Co 1:22, “God, who also has sealed us and given us the down payment of the Spirit in our hearts”. And Eph 1:13 “In Him [Christ], you also, having heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in Whom also having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.”
Eph 2:20 Christ’s church is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Himself being the chief cornerstone. 2Ti 2:19 “The foundation of God stands firm, having this seal, ‘The Lord knows those who are His.” God knows His elect.
Once God sets a seal on something or someone, only God/Jesus can open or break that seal. Rev 5:2 “I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the book, and to break its seals?” v.5 “Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed.” v.9 “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals. For You were slain and with Your blood did purchase for God persons from every tongue, people, and nation.” None but the Lord can break His seal.
Eph 2:7-8 “In order that in the ages to come He [God] might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you are saved through faith, and this not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” The faith to believe in Him is a gift from God (1Co 12:9).
So who has a preference; which jam or jelly is the best? Do you have a favorite fruit preserve? Grape, strawberry, peach, etc. God has created so many varieties…all are good in their own way.
In Joh 15:1-11, Jesus said He is the vine and we are the (figurative) branches. His Father prunes us branches so we can continue to bear fruit. v.2 “He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit.”
All converts receive the same Holy Spirit, and we are to bear the fruit of the Spirit (ref Gal 5:22-23). 1Co 12:13 “By one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, and all were made to drink that one Spirit.”
The God-given gifts of the Spirit perform a variety of different functions, as we bear fruit for the Lord. Again, there are different varieties of fruit in Smucker’s Jam.
In his letters, Paul listed several gifts of the Spirit. 1Co 12:8-11 “To one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit, to another faith, to another gifts of healing, to another works of power [miracles], to another prophecy, to another the discerning of spirits, to another kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. There is only one Spirit who does all these things by giving what God wants to give to each person.” God, not we ourselves, determines which gifts and functions are given to whom.
Continuing in 1Co 12:28-30. “God has appointed in the church: 1st apostles, 2nd prophets, 3rd teachers, then miracles, gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various tongues. All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets…aren’t teachers, aren’t workers of miracles. All don’t have gifts of healings…all don’t speak with tongues, or interpret.” Christians are talented, having received diversified gifts.
Paul listed more spiritual gifts in Rom 12:4-8, 13. “Just as we have many members in one body and all the members don’t have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us.” Here Paul includes serving, exhorting, giving, contributing to others’ needs, hospitality, etc. (see my dad’s topic, “Spiritual Gifts and ‘Tongues”.)
Jesus gifted His apostles/disciples. But earlier they’d argued about who among them was best. Mrk 9:34-35 “On the journey they’d disputed one with another about which of them was the greatest.” Jesus sat down with His disciples and taught them a lesson in humility; that true greatness is through service/ministering to others.
It’s not that one person is any better than another. 1Co 12:12-27 “The eye cannot say to the hand ‘I have no need of you’. Or the head say to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.” What if the body began to argue with itself about which bodyparts are greater? No, not that. Rather, we’re to appreciate one another.
What’s important is that we thankfully receive God’s gift(s) for us.
And we’re sealed with His Spirit. After that Passover when Jesus died and arose, His disciples waited and waited…for 50 days. They waited to receive His promise of the Spirit (Luk 24:49; Act 1:4, 8).
In our life, we too wait on the Lord. With God, gratification isn’t always instant. Also, receiving our desires from God can be a process that takes time. Patience too, is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22).
But what’s a few months or years when He’s sealed you and is preserving you for an eternity that lasts forever?! That’s going to be a wonderful time, though we don’t really know yet what it will be like.
We now see through a glass (‘jar’) dimly, 1Co 13:12. Yet we can be confidant! We who are in Christ, who’ve been baptized, received His Holy Spirit, and sealed…for us it’s going to be really good! Smucker’s good.
Until then, we too can take heart from 2Ti 4:18 KJV. “The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work and save [preserve KJV] me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!”
{{Translational Notes: The OT Greek Septúagint/LXX and NT term for “saved” is sózo Strongs g4982. ref Psa 116:6; Eph 2:8; 2Ti 1:9, 4:18; Tit 3:5; 1Co 1:18; 2Co 2:15; 1Pe 4:18; Mrk 16:16; Act 16:31; Rom 5:9-10. The Greek verb rendered “sealed” is sphragízo g4972. It occurs 27 times in the NT. ref 2Co 1:22; Eph 1:13, 4:30; Rev 7:3. The Greek term rendered “seal” is the noun sphragís g4973. ref 2Ti 2:19; Rev 5:2, 5, 9. The OT Hebrew term rendered “preserve” is shamár h8104. ref Jsh 24:17; Psa 37:28, 86:2, 97:10, 145:20; Pro 4:6. The Greek term rendered “preserved” in 2Pe 2:5 is phulásso g5442. The term rendered “preserved” in 1Th 5:23 & Jude 1 KJV is tereotarého g5083 (or “kept”). The Greek term rendered “gift” is chárisma g5486. ref Rom 11:29, 12:6; 1Co 12:4, 9, 28-31. – BTE}}
Bible Topic Exposition 