Ephesians 1:14

Which is an earnest of our inheritance, unto the redemption of God's own possession, unto the praise of his glory.

THOUGHTS REGARDING THE EARNEST (GUARANTEE)

The meaning of "earnest" as used here is exactly the same as that intended by the use of the word today to refer to a partial payment tendered as a guarantee that the full amount promised will be paid in the future. The earnest of the Holy Spirit is given to Christians by the Father in heaven, or by Christ (it is true both ways), as a pledge of the ultimate reception of the redeemed souls into eternal fellowship with the Father in heaven.

The earnest is always merely a token, not any large share of the amount guaranteed. Those receiving the earnest of God's Spirit are not thereby commissioned to throw away their Bibles and start "walking by the Spirit"! Regarding the New Testament teaching of what this gift is, what it does for Christians, and what it is not, and some of the synonyms by which it is called in the New Testament, see under Galatians 5:22ff.

The "love, joy and peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, etc.," which mark the true Spirit of promise in Christian hearts are here considered to be one in kind with the joys of the redeemed in heaven. The Christian life, faithfully lived, is itself the beginning of the heavenly adventure.