The present invention is directed in one embodiment to a tissue adhesive or sealant composition comprising an electrophilic group containing cross-linking compound having a linker moiety of a diglycolic acid, a water soluble core moiety and an electrophilic group that is covalently bonded to the diglycolic acid linker moiety and a nucleophilic group containing protein. In other embodiments, the present invention is directed to a delivery device or a medical device on which the composition has been applied or incorporated therein. The present invention is also directed to a method for sealing tissue using the tissue adhesive or sealant composition.