What does it mean the earnest of the spirit as in Eph 1:13,14 ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. and 2 Cor. 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. Also 2 Cor. 5:5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing [is] God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
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Earnest of the Spirit
- Thread starter percho
- Start date
Tom Butler
New Member
The term "earnest" is somewhat like a down payment. Let's say you want to own a house. To seal the deal, you put down some "earnest money" knowing that someday you'll own it outright.
That's what Jesus did. He secured our salvation on the cross, sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in us when he returned to the Father. The in-dwelling of the Spirit gives us a foretaste of what's coming when we dwell with the Lord.
Others can probably put this better, but that's how I see it.
That's what Jesus did. He secured our salvation on the cross, sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in us when he returned to the Father. The in-dwelling of the Spirit gives us a foretaste of what's coming when we dwell with the Lord.
Others can probably put this better, but that's how I see it.
Yes Tom, that is correct. The term 'earnest' refers to a 'downpayment' or 'partial payment' (IOW - a pledge) that is given in advance as a security for the rest, which in proper time - the full amount will subsequently be paid or imparted. Another aspect this word held historically, refers to a 'dowry', such as what is given for a wife.
Simply put - to give a pledge (foretaste, displaying His commitment) that He will fulfill His promise in full.
What Tom and Allan said...:applause::thumbs::applause:
convicted1
Guest
Marching in is the Hallelujah chorus!!
We have an accord with Bros. Tom, Allan, and Iconoclast, and myself!!
:thumbs: :wavey: :thumbsup:
We have an accord with Bros. Tom, Allan, and Iconoclast, and myself!!
:thumbs: :wavey: :thumbsup:
Tom Butler
New Member
Thanks Allan, you said it lot better than I did.
Tom Butler
New Member
Whoa, what's going on here?
Earnest of the Spirit, partial payment. Does this mean partial payment of fulfillment of the Spirit?
I ask this in context to these verses; I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and [with] fire:Whose fan [is] in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
I will add I believe the baptism with fire here would be to be cast into hell. You may agree or disagree with that however my question is. Could to be given the earnest of the Spirit be construed as being baptized with the Spirit?
Are we presently baptized with the Spirit or as Jesus said here Matt. 20:23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: (This was speaking od something other that his water baptism) Can the earnest mean to be immerse into?
Earnest of our inheritance, partial payment. Partial payment in what manner relative to what we will inherit? What will we inherit?
It is like God has made an agreement with mankind for their slavation and spending eternity with Him. That Earnest Money contract is the Holy Spirit dwelling in us.Earnest of the Spirit, partial payment. Does this mean partial payment of fulfillment of the Spirit?
I ask this in context to these verses; I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and [with] fire:Whose fan [is] in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
I will add I believe the baptism with fire here would be to be cast into hell. You may agree or disagree with that however my question is. Could to be given the earnest of the Spirit be construed as being baptized with the Spirit?
Are we presently baptized with the Spirit or as Jesus said here Matt. 20:23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized withThis was speaking od something other that his water baptism) Can the earnest mean to be immerse into?
Earnest of our inheritance, partial payment. Partial payment in what manner relative to what we will inherit? What will we inherit?
Baptism of Fire let me remember this one it has been a while since I looked back through my teaching notes on that one. I'll answer you when I get to them or rember the definition of the baptism of Fire.
Alright Baptism of the Holy Spirit occurs at Salvation when you are both indwelt, which never stops and filled with the Spirit which stops when you sin but begins upon confession of sin. The bible is clear be ye not drunk with wine wherein is excess but be ye filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:18. You are indwelt and filled at salvation by the Holy Spirit and that is the Baptism of the Spirit.
Christ brings salvation with that comes Baptism of the Spirit and it is immediate. That part of the prophecy of John the Baptist has been fulfilled.
But He also sadi Christ would baptize with fire, that means judgement. The Baptism of fire is seen when Chrisr seperates the sheep from the Goats
Matthew 25: 31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
When they go into eternal punishment in the Lake of Fire that is the Baptism of Fire. It is yet a future event.
So Christ Baptize us today with the Spirit and He will baptize the unbeliever at judgement with fire.
Percho, here is what I find in my salvation, as I study His Word. Perhaps it will make sense to you. When we begin to read the Epistyle's of Paul our Way of Salvation can become clear to us. In the writings of Paul is where we find out about the BODY OF CHRIST. If we be in Him then we are dead to the Law, and in becoming ONE WITH HIM, we hope we will be fertile and produce Good Works (Romans 7:4). In Romans 8:23 we learn we are waiting for something, and that something is the redemption of our Body.
It looks to me that our inheritance is two fold. The Holy Spirit baptizes us into One Body, I Corinthians 12:13. The Work that Jesus did for us paid off big time. Only God is responsible for our salvation, for just those that believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, that through Him, His Faith in His Father can become One with HIM.
The Holy Spirit has baptized us into our surety. How can we in these sinful bodies ever make it to heaven, as we continue to sin, and be sinners? We have inherited a down payment, and that is the CROSS. No more Laws to keep, no more ordinances (nailed to the Cross, Colossians 2:14) to hang onto. Is this Freedom or What? He is in heaven, so that is now Our Address also. God the Father gave Him a Kingdom, and we will populate it.
Our salvation has been put into the envelope (body), closed (sealed), prepaid (approved redemption). I believe our Lord Jesus Christ inherited us, and being in Him as we die, we also will inherit Our glorified bodies. Fire? I know our WORKS will be tried by Fire.
This in haste, as the wife calls me to Supper.
No, as it reflects contextually to full or completion of God's promises toward His people which we do not have in full yet. Thus the giving of the Holy Spirit is only 'earnest' of that which we have yet to fully enjoy according to the promises of God. Look once again at the scripture cited in the OP.
Ok. 2 things here.
1. Yes, we will disagree on the fire part
2. No, earnest can not mean immersion. It has no historical evidence that it was ever used in that way. Earnest, historically and specifically in that day and time was used to illustrate a down payment or partial payment (and/or dowry paid). It symbolized the one who promised will also make good on His promised payment in full.
However, it does reflect that giving of the Holy Spirit at salvation, at which time the believer is also baptized by Him into Christ Jesus.
Is this a trick question?
We have yet to obtain all that God has promised His people.
New sinless physical bodies.
New Earth without sin.
New Kingdom, government, and His absolute rule on Earth over men.
No more sorrow, no more pain, no more suffering... ect.. ect...
There is much more, but in most all of them, we only experience them in part in our current Christian walk. (with the exception of course to the sinlessness of the physical body and Earth)
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Hi Percho
"What does it mean the earnest of the spirit as in Eph 1:13,14 ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. and 2 Cor. 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. Also 2 Cor. 5:5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing [is] God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit."
Yes, I am marching along as well.
The word translated “earnest” is the Greek word (transliterated “arrabon” and is from the Hebrew transliterated “arabown.” So in addition to the three NT verses listed above, we have three OT verses (Genesis 38:17,18 and 20) where the root Hebrew word is translated. The KJV renders it “pledge.”
So we are sealed in Christ spiritually with the Holy Spirit which is the “earnest or pledge” guaranteeing what? The promised Holy Spirit sealed us in Christ, but what does that sealing guarantee?
We have two paths before us, the promised Holy Spirit leading back to Jeremiah 31:31-34, or the Holy Spirit of Promise leading us back to Genesis 28:4.
Ephesians 1:13-14 says, NASB, In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation – having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of Promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.
If we break this down, this is what jumps out:
In Him refers to individuals, who have been spiritually placed in Christ,
You also refers to those in the audience that have been placed spiritually in Christ,
After listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation refers to an action that preceded being spiritually placed in Him. Those in Christ not only heard the gospel message, they believed in Christ such that God credited their belief as righteousness.
You were sealed in Him refers to being in Christ spiritually, and then the Spirit being put in you spiritually, such that you are in Christ and Christ is in you.
With the Holy Spirit of Promise – now here is where we must consider our options. If we accept that “redemption of God’s own possession” refers to our bodily resurrection at the second coming of Christ then the Holy Spirit is given as a pledge of our resurrection unto life, eternal life with God.
To merge the two paths, we can observe that the promised Holy Spirit, Jeremiah 31:31-35, is also the Spirit of Promise where Gentiles (Galatians 3:14) are grafted into the promises made to Abraham. Not to get too far into the weeds, but this points toward progressive dispensationalism.
Which is given as a pledge of our inheritance. To inherit, one must be an heir, a descendant, and so when we arise in Christ a new creation, we are a spiritual child of God, giving us the right to become a physical child of God, and so the Holy Spirit guarantees that we will be bodily resurrected at the Lord’s second coming.
To the praise of His glory refers to what His own possession does, which according to 1 Peter 2:9, is to declared the excellencies of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.
"What does it mean the earnest of the spirit as in Eph 1:13,14 ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. and 2 Cor. 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. Also 2 Cor. 5:5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing [is] God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit."
Yes, I am marching along as well.
The word translated “earnest” is the Greek word (transliterated “arrabon” and is from the Hebrew transliterated “arabown.” So in addition to the three NT verses listed above, we have three OT verses (Genesis 38:17,18 and 20) where the root Hebrew word is translated. The KJV renders it “pledge.”
So we are sealed in Christ spiritually with the Holy Spirit which is the “earnest or pledge” guaranteeing what? The promised Holy Spirit sealed us in Christ, but what does that sealing guarantee?
We have two paths before us, the promised Holy Spirit leading back to Jeremiah 31:31-34, or the Holy Spirit of Promise leading us back to Genesis 28:4.
Ephesians 1:13-14 says, NASB, In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation – having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of Promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.
If we break this down, this is what jumps out:
In Him refers to individuals, who have been spiritually placed in Christ,
You also refers to those in the audience that have been placed spiritually in Christ,
After listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation refers to an action that preceded being spiritually placed in Him. Those in Christ not only heard the gospel message, they believed in Christ such that God credited their belief as righteousness.
You were sealed in Him refers to being in Christ spiritually, and then the Spirit being put in you spiritually, such that you are in Christ and Christ is in you.
With the Holy Spirit of Promise – now here is where we must consider our options. If we accept that “redemption of God’s own possession” refers to our bodily resurrection at the second coming of Christ then the Holy Spirit is given as a pledge of our resurrection unto life, eternal life with God.
To merge the two paths, we can observe that the promised Holy Spirit, Jeremiah 31:31-35, is also the Spirit of Promise where Gentiles (Galatians 3:14) are grafted into the promises made to Abraham. Not to get too far into the weeds, but this points toward progressive dispensationalism.
Which is given as a pledge of our inheritance. To inherit, one must be an heir, a descendant, and so when we arise in Christ a new creation, we are a spiritual child of God, giving us the right to become a physical child of God, and so the Holy Spirit guarantees that we will be bodily resurrected at the Lord’s second coming.
To the praise of His glory refers to what His own possession does, which according to 1 Peter 2:9, is to declared the excellencies of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.
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Maybe this will help,
Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
This is another way of saying we have the earnest of the Spirit. If the Holy Spirit dwells in us then we will be raised from the dead or receiving a resurrected body.
Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
This is another way of saying we have the earnest of the Spirit. If the Holy Spirit dwells in us then we will be raised from the dead or receiving a resurrected body.
No, as it reflects contextually to full or completion of God's promises toward His people which we do not have in full yet. Thus the giving of the Holy Spirit is only 'earnest' of that which we have yet to fully enjoy according to the promises of God. Look once again at the scripture cited in the OP.
Ok. 2 things here.
1. Yes, we will disagree on the fire part
2. No, earnest can not mean immersion. It has no historical evidence that it was ever used in that way. Earnest, historically and specifically in that day and time was used to illustrate a down payment or partial payment (and/or dowry paid). It symbolized the one who promised will also make good on His promised payment in full.
However, it does reflect that giving of the Holy Spirit at salvation, at which time the believer is also baptized by Him into Christ Jesus.
Is this a trick question?
We have yet to obtain all that God has promised His people.
New sinless physical bodies.
New Earth without sin.
New Kingdom, government, and His absolute rule on Earth over men.
No more sorrow, no more pain, no more suffering... ect.. ect...
There is much more, but in most all of them, we only experience them in part in our current Christian walk. (with the exception of course to the sinlessness of the physical body and Earth)
Well it wasn't intended to be a trick question however I think it turned out that way for I believe our inheritance is eternal life and I don't think you could have a partial payment of eternal life therefore the earnest there of must be the assurance of obtaining it.
I like the way the KJV puts this: ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
In other words the Holy Spirit is the surety of the promised inheritance.
Until? When is the redemption of? What is the purchased possession?
The body or the soul? I do not think it can be the body being the body returns to dust, yet 1 Cor. 15:38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him,2 Cor. 5:2 our house which is from heaven: therefore it must be the soul. If so and it is the earnest until, when and from whence is the soul redeemed?
Agree. The earnest is God the Holy Spirit. But the Holy Spirit is not the Surety.
Toward the end you ask for clarification. See below as to "purchased possession".
A Vital question here. Was it God the Holy Spirit, or the Word of God that shed His Blood for you?
I know it is so very difficult for Christians to truly accept what Christ Jesus from heaven says apart for what He said on earth. But to answer such a question as you ask (you evidently have found conflict of HIS EARTHLY WORDS, AND HEAVENLY ONES), we must come to acknowledge this dispensational gospel that Paul was given. Our Lord Jesus Christ will "purchase His possession" at the Rapture. The Body of Christ is not possible from Genesis to the Cross, and not known until after Damascus Road. "Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret for long ages
26. but is now disclosed and through the prophetic writings is made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith" (RSV)Romans 16:25.
I believe scripture confirms we cannot destroy both. We can kill a body, but not anyone the Soul, but God. The Body is to dust, as you notice, but not the soul.
I look at it, as I believe scripture tells us, that I live (body and soul). When I die, it is my body that dies, but not my soul. Are we not told we "sleep" I Thessalonians 4:13-14, "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him." The Soul that never died received a glorified Body.