“Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory.” (Ephesians 1:14)
This Scripture is about the Holy Spirit Who is the third person of the Holy Trinity. He is the promise of the Father Who has been given to indwell in all who have made Jesus Lord and Savior. (Ephesians 1:13) “And, behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49) He is the power of God Who came upon Mary and she conceived (Luke 1:35) and the power that raised Jesus from the dead. (Romans 8:11) And the Holy Spirit is the Presence of God here on earth and in our lives. “And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you and shall be in you.” (John 14:16-17)
In Ephesians 1:14 Paul states that He is the earnest of our inheritance. An earnest is something of value given to bind an agreement. It is a kind of pledge to show one’s sincerity and promise. When one intends to purchase a house, earnest money is required. It’s an upfront deposit or good faith payment of the full amount that is to be paid. The Holy Spirit is the earnest of our inheritance. He is God in us, a portion of the fullness of God that we will inherit when we get to heaven. In Christ is the fullness of the Godhead. (Colossians 2:9) We are to inherit what Jesus has as children of God. “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him that we may be also glorified together.” (Romans 8:16-17) The Holy Spirit living in us, moving in us and empowering us is a promise of what is to come.
The second part of that Scripture states “...until the redemption of the purchased possession...” Our redemption has already been purchased by the sacrifice of Jesus and shedding of His blood on the cross, so what does it mean until the redemption which has occurred already. These are the statements we read over without understanding. We have already been purchased as the Scripture says, “...of the purchased possession...” The word redemption in this verse means “full ransom,” which makes sense in this sentence. We were given only a portion, a deposit of the promise of what is to come, the full ransom. We can’t even imagine what that is if the Holy Spirit empowerment and indwelling now is only a portion.
Our human spirit has been redeemed, but not our bodies. The body has to die, although if alive when Jesus comes, it will just be changed. “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” (Romans 8:22-23) That will be something, a perfect body without pain or anything that isn’t perfect. A body how God intended it to be from the beginning which has been afflicted here on earth because of sin.
Not only did the Father send the Holy Spirit as a pledge, but He has sealed us. “Now He which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” (2Corinthians 1:21-22) In ancient times when a document was sent by the king, he would put his stamp and seal on it. It was his word in that document where and to whomever he sent it as if he were present. That seal proved the authenticity and the authority of the king. Likewise we are sealed. We have been authenticated by the authority of God, by the seal of the Holy Spirit as His. This seal which is visible in the spirit realm is on our foreheads. It’s the name of Jesus and the name of God. (Revelation 9:4; 14:1; 22:4)
The study of the Holy Spirit is something more wonderful than we can imagine. It’s supernatural. And that is the reason some avoid it. Because it’s beyond this “reasonable” world understanding. Some have placed it in a category of Truth, but not to be understood. While it’s something hard to understand, we can study about Him and learn some things about Him who indwells us. He is God in us.
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