Yes, for believers, the Holy Spirit is God's down payment guaranteeing future redemption of the body.
The Holy Spirit is given to believers as an earnest, or down payment, of their inheritance. It secures the soul and spirit at salvation, but the body awaits redemption. This down payment assures that God will complete the full redemption of the believer, including a new body.
Ephesians 1:13-14 — Directly explains that believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 — States that God has sealed us and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
According to Ephesians 1:13-14, after hearing the word of truth, the gospel of salvation, and believing, believers are sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise. This Spirit is the earnest (down payment) of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. This indicates that while the soul and spirit are redeemed, the body is not yet fully redeemed. Similarly, 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 says that God establishes us in Christ, anoints us, and seals us, giving us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. This marks us as God's possession and is a guarantee of what is to come.
Les Feldick explains that the Holy Spirit given at salvation is God's down payment on the believer. He emphasizes that while the soul and spirit are fully redeemed at the moment of belief, the physical body is not yet redeemed. The down payment guarantees that even the body will eventually be redeemed and transformed to be like Christ's glorious body. Les uses the analogy of a down payment in a transaction: it is a holding pattern until something later consummates. The indwelling Holy Spirit is God's mark of ownership and preservation, assuring believers that regardless of death or disaster, they will one day receive a new body, reunited with soul and spirit for eternity.
Yes, according to Les Feldick, the soul and spirit are completely redeemed at salvation. He says, "Spiritually of the soul and the spirit? Yes. It's complete." However, the body remains unredeemed, still prone to pain, sickness, and sin.
The down payment of the Spirit guarantees that even the physical body will be redeemed. Les explains that one day believers will have a new body, like Christ's glorious body, and it will be reunited with the soul and spirit. This is the hope of the believer.
Les uses the analogy of a cattle brand to explain this. The Holy Spirit is God's mark of ownership on the believer. This sealing is also a mark of preservation, indicating that God will keep us until the redemption of the body.
Sealing and Earnest
Les explains from 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 that God seals believers and gives the earnest of the Spirit in their hearts, paralleling Ephesians 1:13-14.
Down Payment for Body Redemption
Les teaches that the down payment assures the redemption of the body, which is not yet redeemed, being still in the flesh and prone to sin.
Partial Redemption of Body
Les clarifies that while soul and spirit are fully redeemed, the body is the third part awaiting redemption, and the Holy Spirit is the down payment on it.
Down Payment as Holding Pattern
Les explains why Paul used the term 'down payment'—it indicates a holding pattern until the consummation, referencing Ephesians 1.
Preservation and Future Body
Les teaches that the sealing is a mark of preservation, and the down payment guarantees the future redemption of the body, which will be like Christ's glorious body.
Hope of New Body
Les assures that regardless of death or disaster, believers will one day have a new body reunited with soul and spirit, due to the Spirit's down payment.
Final Redemption of Body
Les reiterates that the sealing is the earnest of inheritance until the redemption of the body, which is exactly what believers await.
Mark of Ownership
Les uses the cattle brand analogy to explain that the Holy Spirit is God's mark of ownership, sealing believers as His, and is the down payment of inheritance.
Ephesians 1:13-14: 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.
Key verse explicitly stating that the Holy Spirit is the earnest (down payment) until the redemption of the purchased possession.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22: Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
Shows that God gives the earnest of the Spirit in believers' hearts as part of His establishing and anointing.
Romans 8:23: And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
Reinforces that believers await the redemption of the body, which connects to the down payment concept.
The Holy Spirit is given to believers at salvation as God's earnest or down payment, guaranteeing future inheritance and the redemption of the body.
No, the soul and spirit are fully redeemed, but the body awaits redemption. The down payment assures that even the body will be redeemed.
It refers to the full redemption of believers, including the body, which will be transformed to be like Christ's glorious body.
Watch the Teaching: What It Means to Be Sealed by the Holy Spirit — 2 Corinthians 1:21-22