What is the Holy Spirit of promise the down payment of?
The Holy Spirit of promise is the earnest, or down payment, of our inheritance. God seals believers with that Spirit as His mark of ownership. The indwelling Holy Spirit serves as God's brand, demarking ownership, and is the down payment of the inheritance that belongs to the believer.
Les explains that salvation is not church membership or baptism; after a person believes, God seals and brands him. Using the ranch brand as an illustration, Les teaches that the indwelling Holy Spirit is God's mark of ownership. Believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest, or down payment, of our inheritance. The surrounding context then turns to Romans 5:8, where God commended His love toward us, showing everything is based on His love.