What does Ephesians 1:14 mean by the sealing of the Holy Spirit being the earnest of our inheritance?
The sealing of the Holy Spirit is the earnest, the down payment, of the believer’s inheritance, guaranteeing it until the redemption of the purchased possession. Though the soul and spirit are already redeemed, the body’s redemption is still awaited; that final redemption will complete the believer for eternity.
Les teaches that Ephesians 1:14 calls the sealing of the Holy Spirit the earnest, or down payment, of our inheritance. This earnest remains until the redemption of the purchased possession. He explains that God has already redeemed the soul and spirit, but what is still waiting is the redemption of the body. Les then points to Romans chapter 8, where Paul says everything is moving toward the day of that final redemption of the body. At that time believers will be a complete entity, ready to go into all eternity.
Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.