Dr Paul Allen

The Holy Spirit depicted as a dove, surrounded by angels, by Giaquinto, 1750s. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) "Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God , who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit." ( 2 Corinthians 5:5 ) This is a fascinating concept and a wonderful reality. The indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer is said to be an "earnest"--that is, a pledge or deposit--on an ultimate fulfillment of a magnificent promise from God Himself. The word translated "earnest" (Greek arrhabon) is essentially a transliteration of its Hebrew equivalent (arabown), translated "pledge" in the Old Testament (see Genesis 38:17-20 ). Now if the guiding presence of God, through the Holy Spirit, is merely an earnest payment , the fulfillment must be glorious beyond comprehension. This "selfsame thing," as our text calls it, is a wonderful "house which is from heaven," the spiritua...

Image via Wikipedia "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also 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 )   From very ancient times it has been the custom to confirm and guarantee an agreed-on purchase by sealing the contract with a seal which could only be broken by the buyer when he was ready to take possession of his purchase.   The marvelous transaction seen by John at God 's throne in heaven was in reference to this practice. There, only the Lamb is found worthy to open the seven-sealed scroll on which is recorded the title to the whole creation.  Image via Wikipedia "And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the |scroll|, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by th...