The seal also attests to ownership. I didn't just pull that definition out of my hat. I have provided you with Scriptural reference materials which state this truth.
At the time we are born again, God creates within the born again one the new man. The old man (who we were in Adam) is to be put off and the new man is to be put on ... see Ephesians 4:22-24 and Colossians 3:5-10.
As we mortify the deeds of the body (put off the old man) and put on the new man, we grow up and mature in that new creation. This doesn't happen overnight ... it takes time to mature from newborn babe in Christ where we feed on the milk of the Word (1 Peter 2:2) ... to the point where we are no longer tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive (Ephesians 4:14) and where we feed on strong meat, and by reason of use have the senses exercised to discern both good and evil (Hebrews 5:14).
This maturation process takes time and God works it from the inside out (Philippians 1:6).
It's not that we're born again ... left unsealed until we finally start seeing spiritual fruit exhibited in our lives. We're sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise the instant we're born again ... then as we grow and mature in the Lord Jesus Christ, we start seeing some of that spiritual fruit and we start desiring to have that in our lives rather than the works of the flesh.
That it takes time to mature in the Lord to the point where we start seeing some of the spiritual fruit does not mean we were not sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise the moment we were born again.
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At the time we are born again, God creates within the born again one the new man. The old man (who we were in Adam) is to be put off and the new man is to be put on ... see Ephesians 4:22-24 and Colossians 3:5-10.
As we mortify the deeds of the body (put off the old man) and put on the new man, we grow up and mature in that new creation. This doesn't happen overnight ... it takes time to mature from newborn babe in Christ where we feed on the milk of the Word (1 Peter 2:2) ... to the point where we are no longer tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive (Ephesians 4:14) and where we feed on strong meat, and by reason of use have the senses exercised to discern both good and evil (Hebrews 5:14).
This maturation process takes time and God works it from the inside out (Philippians 1:6).
It's not that we're born again ... left unsealed until we finally start seeing spiritual fruit exhibited in our lives. We're sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise the instant we're born again ... then as we grow and mature in the Lord Jesus Christ, we start seeing some of that spiritual fruit and we start desiring to have that in our lives rather than the works of the flesh.
That it takes time to mature in the Lord to the point where we start seeing some of the spiritual fruit does not mean we were not sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise the moment we were born again.
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Today, little is taught concerning it or it is taught incorrectly. The fruit of the Spirit is evidence of the indwelling of the Spirit, but as you stated, it takes time and is discerned by others who are spiritual themselves. The baptism of the Spirit is obvious to all.