The Earnest of Our Inheritance Ephesians 1:14

As Paul the apostle continued to share with the Ephesian church, he told them they “were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise” after they “heard the word of truth, the gospel of” their “salvation”. In chapter one and verse fourteen of his letter, Paul added how this was “the earnest of” their “salvation” where we read:

Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption

of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

The verse begins, “Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption...” Paul began with the words, “Which is the earnest” or “money which in purchases is given as a pledge or downpayment that the full amount will subsequently be paid” “of our inheritance” which means “property received by what is given to one as a possession” “until the redemption” or “a releasing effected by payment of ransom and deliverance or a libation procured by the payment of a ransom”. The gift of the “Holy Spirit” was the “down payment” for our “inheritance” until we are at last “redeemed”.

The verse goes on to say, “... of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” Paul continued, “of the purchased possession” or “preserving of one's own property and obtaining”, “unto the praise” which means “approbation, commendation and laudation” “of his glory” or “judgment, view, opinion, estimate, splendor and brightness”. The “earnest” given by God is to “preserve His own property” which demonstrates and magnifies His abundant grace.

When we meditate upon these words of Paul, we should feel so blessed if we are believers in Jesus Christ. God Almighty put a “down payment” of His Holy Spirit upon us as a promise to “redeem” us, and it was all “unto the praise of his glory”. God in His “brightness and splendor” chose to “purchase” us with the precious blood of His Son Jesus Christ, and in the same manner in which we give “earnest” money to secure the purchase of items in this world, God has done so for us. May we ever bask in the “grace” and “abundant mercy” of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Next time Paul shares what he did after he “heard of” the Ephesians“faith in the Lord ”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.