"THE EARNEST OF OUR INHERITANCE" (Pastor Tom Henry) ~ 5/7/26

“…after that ye believed, 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.” (Ephesians 1:13, 14)

It is a wonderful thing that the eternal God should make promises to His creatures. Yet, not only has He done so, He has made a covenant of grace with His people in which He has confirmed His promises not only by pledge, but also by oath, “That by two immutable things…we might have strong consolation...” (Heb. 6:18) This covenant contains many “exceeding great and precious promises.” All established forever in Christ on the sure foundation of divine truthfulness.

In a very true and real sense, the things promised in the covenant are already the property of believers. The inheritance is already ours in Christ, “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance.” (Vs. 11) Our text confirms that the inheritance is ours in the promise of God, in the purchase by the Son, and in the first principles which we possess by the Holy Spirit. Thus, in this sure promise the Father has “blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.” (Ch. 1:3) He has not only resolved to enrich us in the future, but even now we have these in possession.

The Holy Spirit is in many ways the means of making the promised heritage ours now. By Him, we are sealed. We know that the inheritance is ours and that we belong to the great Heir, because we bear His seal. Beyond all other testimonies that we are saved are the certain evidences produced by the indwelling Spirit of God. We are born of the Spirit by regeneration, which is manifested by his sanctifying work in us. Repentance, faith, spiritual life, holy desire, seeking of things above; these are all certifications of our being in grace. The quickening and renewing of the Holy Ghost are His seal. The impress of the seal of the Spirit is valid attestation to our part and lot with the people of God. By the Holy Spirit’s seal, we have verification that we are sons, and rightful heirs to the promised inheritance.

But not only is the Holy Spirit the seal of the inheritance; He is also the earnest. Thus, not only are we promised great riches in the future, but even now we have them in possession, not in their fullness, but we are given an advance on them by “the Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance.” Now, an earnest is a part of the thing itself, given as a guarantee that the whole of it will be forthcoming in due time. The church here below is “a foretaste of glory divine.” While we wait for the sumptuous feast, we are presently enjoying an appetizer, which is part of the meal. In having the Holy Spirit, we have the beginning of the perfectness of heaven. His gifts, graces, and workings are the first principles of endless blessedness, the first fruits of the full harvest to come. Someone has said that the church here below is “a little bit of heaven on its way to heaven.” Does this agree with your Christian experience?

In having the Holy Spirit, we have the Kingdom of Heaven within us (Luke 17:21). Heaven will much consist in holiness, which by the Holy Spirit, is begun here. Heaven is complete, victory over sin, and here, as we walk in the Spirit, we are victorious over the lusts of the flesh. Heaven is an endless Sabbath of which we now have the foretaste of peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. Heaven is unbroken and unhindered communion with God, of which we now enjoy the earnest through the Word of God and prayer. These are just a few examples of the sweet foretaste of glory the Holy Spirit provides.

It is true that, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (I Cor. 2:9) But the apostle goes on in the next verse to say what is also true, delightfully true: “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit…” He has not only revealed them, but He has allowed us to taste them. By Him, we have the earnest of them. As Christians this is to be our daily experience.