Earnest of the Spirit

2Co 1:21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
2Co 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.


God establishes us, no one else. God establishes us in Christ. God seal us. God gives us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.


The earnest of the Spirit.


ar-hrab-ohn'
Of Hebrew origin [H6162]; a pledge, that is, part of the purchase money or property given in advance as security for the rest: - earnest.


A pledge, a part of the purchase in advance as SECURITY for the rest.


The SPIRIT, part of the SPIRIT in our hearts. We need the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts if we are to live in this world surrounded by so much evil. It is only with the Spirit in us, in our hearts that we can hope to live for Christ. God seals us, God gives us the Spirit.


It is true...


1Co 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.


We receive part of the Spirit now as earnest, as a promise, a pledge, a security for the rest. We know in part now, we are seeing through a dark glass and we all know looking through dark glass isn't easy, or rather it isn't easy to see through the darkened glass to what is on the other side of the glass, it obscures our vision. We only see part of the mysteries of God, we only see dimly what life is all about. We see in part, we have part of the Spirit in us and yet we have a promise with that Spirit, a promise of more, of the Spirit fully in us. We shall one day see clearly, not darkly. One day we'll see it all face to face. We shall one day know as we are known. And we are known to ourselves- we know ourselves better than any one else. For as much as others might assume they know us, they truly only know what we allow them to know. Yes, some people wear their hearts on their sleeve so to speak and people believe they have some inner knowledge of them that the person doesn't even have of themselves but it's not true. We know ourselves and one day we will know even as we are known. We shall see others as we see ourselves. We will understand things that are mysteries to us now. We have a promise of this and the promise given to us by God through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior is the Holy Spirit in our hearts.


May God through Christ seal us and give us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. Please Lord this is our prayer that the promise within us is grasped hold of tightly never let go, that we cling to the Spirit in our hearts as a surety of the fulness of the Spirit upon Your return.


By the mercy and grace of our Lord and Savior now and forever.


Amen.