Why does the Holy Spirit come in at salvation as a down payment?
At salvation the Holy Spirit comes in as God's seal and earnest, a down payment of the purchased possession. Salvation is complete for the soul and spirit, but the body is the third part still awaiting eternal readiness. The Spirit is God's pledge of that future completion, all to the praise of His glory.
Les teaches that after a person hears the word of truth, the gospel, and believes, God seals them with the Holy Spirit of promise. In verse 14 the Spirit is called the earnest, the down payment. Les explains that salvation is complete in the soul and spirit—redeemed, justified, sanctified—but one part of the great plan of redemption is only partial. The purchased possession is not the soul and spirit but the body, the third part that must be ready for eternity. The Holy Spirit comes in at salvation as God's earnest or down payment of that purchased possession, which will all redound to the praise of His glory.
Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
What is the Holy Spirit a down payment of, and what is the result?
The Holy Spirit is God's earnest, or down payment, of the purchased possession—specifically the body, the third part of us needing to be ready for eternity. This partial redemption will ultimately redound to the praise of His glory, while soul and spirit are already complete.
What is the Holy Spirit's role at salvation and why?
At salvation, the Holy Spirit seals believers and serves as God's earnest or down payment of the purchased possession. After belief, God seals us with the Holy Spirit of promise, guaranteeing the future redemption of the body, which will redound to the praise of His glory.