BY GREG CRUM

“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.” Ephesians 1:13-14

Brothers and sisters, would you like some great news in the midst of a world of bad? Here goes…we’ve been sealed with the “Spirit of promise,” the Holy Spirit, who is the earnest (downpayment) of our inheritance until the redemption of God’s purchased possessions that is soon to come!

In the Epistle to the Ephesians we read that the Holy Spirit is likened to a downpayment, or an earnest, which in this context is a pledge, or part of a purchase (money or property) that is given in advance as security for the rest. In other words, this earnest was an advanced sum given to assure all involved that a deal was done. What deal? Who is buying what? What’s the Word of God trying to tell us here? God, the purchaser, is saying that we are the purchased, and that the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the spirit of the believer is the proof of purchase! What a deal for us, right?!

So, according to the Bible, the Holy Spirit, the third part of the Trinity, is our proof of purchase. What does that mean though? What is the soon coming and, beyond that, eternal significance of this truth? Well, to answer those questions we must first understand the purpose of a proof of purchase. What is it, and what is it used for?

In our modern conception, a proof of purchase is usually some portion of the packaging that a product comes in, along with a register receipt or a sales invoice proving the product’s purchase. At times, an internal confirmation or tracking number may also be accepted as a proof of purchase. Additionally, unique codes printed on packaging are used more and more in this digital age as a product’s proof of purchase. The point of a proof of purchase? For manufacturers?

Among other things, it allows them to develop a more direct relationship with their customers. For the consumer? It’s physical evidence that we have purchased a product and it is now rightfully ours. When we have the proof of purchase no one can lawfully claim that purchased possession as their property. If they attempt to take that possession, then they are a thief and there are legal ramifications.

So, what’s the spiritual significance to all of this you ask? Friends, we’ve been purchased by God. We are rightfully and lawfully His! If and when the Thief tries to come and harm God’s property, there are legal ramifications. Remember I Peter 1:18-19? There it states that we were redeemed (bought back) with the precious blood of Jesus. In I Corinthians 6:20 we are told, “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” Wow! Total opposite of the mindset of the world today, right?

The world has taught us that we are our own, that we answer to no one, that it’s “our body,” and we can do what we want with it. Nope! If you’re born again, you are not your own. You’re a purchased possession of God. Sure, you can voluntarily choose to get out of the “shopping cart” or the “cupboard” anytime you like, but as long as we desire to be a child of God, we are also His purchased possessions. Now to that some would say, “Oh, the slavery!” No friends, “Oh, the blessing!” Why? Because what God owns, He takes great care of—spirit, soul and body!

Saints of God, we’ve been purchased by God and the Holy Spirit inside of us is proof that He is coming again to take us unto Himself. We’ve been sealed. The downpayment has been given 2,000 years ago, and the pickup draws near.

Greg Crum is the pastor of Calvary Temple in Lovely.