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Author
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Topic: The Earnest of The Spirit
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Eden
unregistered
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posted
Good subject, Caretaker. I was wondering; assuming that Jesus had 100% of the Holy Spirit or 100% of the Godhead flowing in and through Jesus, what then is this earnest or downpayment of the Holy Spirit that we have received so far capable of doing or not doing, compared to the 100% Holy Spirit or Godhead that Jesus had in Him.
Can it for instance be expected that a downpayment of, say, 20% of the Holy Spirit, can produce the same results as a 100% Holy Spirit person which thus far, as far as I understand, has only been Jesus.
If we only have the earnest or downpayment of the Holy Spirit thus far, as the scripture declares, tehn we can only do so much in terms of changing who we are, wouldn't you think?
And the reason why we only have a dowmpayment thus far is probably because our bodies would burst if these sin-tempered bodies were filled with 100% Holy Spirit and both the believer and the Holy Spirit would be spilled out.
Is that not why we now only have an earnest or downpayment of the Holy Spirit?
eden
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Caretaker
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Member # 36
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Remember the 10 Virgins in Matthew?
The five foolish without oil in their lamps.
The five who were wise with oil in their lamps, who were ready when the Bridegroom came.
Oil
Most Christians regard oil as a symbol of the Person and ministry of the Holy Spirit. Throughout the Old Testament we see oil being used for holy purposes. The priests were consecrated and ordained unto God as oil was poured upon their heads … "Then shalt thou take the anointing oil, and pour it upon his head, and anoint him" (Exodus 29:7 - see also Leviticus 8). During such ceremonies oil was used abundantly, for it ran down the priest's beard and clothing … "It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments" (Psalm 133:2). The kings of Israel were also anointed with oil as they took up office.
Oil was used to keep the lamps burning in the Holy Place, and it was vital that they should never run dry … "And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always" (Exodus 27:20). Without the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives and churches, spiritual darkness soon overtakes us.
The large quantity of oil used reminds us of the New Testament Baptism in the Spirit. We do not need a volume of oil in order to have the presence and power of the Spirit poured upon and within us.
Oil can be used to anoint the sick also … "Anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them … Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord" (Mark 6:13; James 5:14). This reveals to us that the Holy Spirit must be involved in every area of the believer's life. Just as oil enlightens and lubricates, so the Holy Spirit wants to illuminate and eliminate friction in our lives. We should ask the Good Shepherd to anoint our heads with oil (Psalm 23:5).
There are those sitting in the pews, working in the Church, lifelong confessors of Christ and practitioners of religious ritual who do not have His Holy Spirit within their hearts and lives.
They have not truly received Christ.
Romans 10:
8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report F39?
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
It is true heart belief, and in which God endows with His Earnest of the Spirit.
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A Servant of Christ,
Drew
1 Tim. 3:
16: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh..
Posts: 3978 | From: Council Grove, KS USA | Registered: Jun 2002
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Caretaker
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Member # 36
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posted
The Believer is justified SOLELY through the propitiation of the Blood of Christ Jesus our Lord:
We are justified solely through the Blood of Christ.
Romans 5:1,9 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:” “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” Man’s legal standing with Heaven is one of condemnation, and worthy of the righteous wrath of almighty God. Romans 3:23 “ For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God;”
Justification is the act of God whereby He accepts the blood of Christ as the complete and satisfying sacrifice for all human sin, propitiation, thus changing our legal status and establishing a means of reconciliation with man.
Believers are justified by the grace of God through faith. Titus 3:7 “That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Romans 3:28 “ Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” We see that the status of man is changed from that of the condemned to that of an heir, one who is able to inherit. Thus man is reconciled to God through the propitiation of Jesus Christ and restored to full legal righteous standing.
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A Servant of Christ,
Drew
1 Tim. 3:
16: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh..
Posts: 3978 | From: Council Grove, KS USA | Registered: Jun 2002
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Caretaker
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Member # 36
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posted
quote:
Originally posted by Michael Harrison:
quote:
The persons thus sealed are not carnal and unconverted persons, only believers in Christ, and these, after they commence such;
I do hate to dissagree with the 'experts', for who am i? However, every epistle in the New Testament addresses the 'carnality' of the spiritual christians, how that they are limited by it from knowing the power of His resurrection, which is Christ their Life, as their life!
Your generalized broad-sweeping statement is without merit, substance, validity or accreditation:
"every epistle in the New Testament addresses the 'carnality' of the spiritual christians, how that they are limited by it from knowing the power of His resurrection, which is Christ their Life, as their life!"
The true context of the epistles speaks of the Believer as being justified through faith alone in Christ alone:
Eph. 2:8-9
8)For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9)Not of works, lest any man should boast.
You tend to disagree quite a bit, from what I have read on the board, and in this case you take the statement out of context for your attack/disagreement.
ONLY BELIEVERS are sealed with the Spirit of promise according to the Word of God.
"The persons thus sealed are not carnal and unconverted persons, only believers in Christ, and these, after they commence such; the seal by which they are sealed, is not any of the ordinances, as circumcision under the Old Testament, or baptism, or the Lord's supper under the New; for these are no seals, nor are they ever so called; but the Spirit of God himself, as the Holy Spirit of promise; for the same who, in the next clause, is called the earnest, is the seal; see
Ephesians 1:13)
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,
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A Servant of Christ,
Drew
1 Tim. 3:
16: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh..
Posts: 3978 | From: Council Grove, KS USA | Registered: Jun 2002
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Michael Harrison
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Member # 6801
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posted
quote:
The persons thus sealed are not carnal and unconverted persons, only believers in Christ, and these, after they commence such;
I do hate to dissagree with the 'experts', for who am i? However, every epistle in the New Testament addresses the 'carnality' of the spiritual christians, how that they are limited by it from knowing the power of His resurrection, which is Christ their Life, as their life!
Posts: 3273 | From: Charlotte N.C. | Registered: Sep 2007
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Caretaker
Advanced Member
Member # 36
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posted
2 Cor. 1:
21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
23 Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.
24 Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.
2 Cor. 5:
5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
Eph. 1:
13 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,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Earnest:
Strong's Number: 728 Browse Lexicon
Original Word Word Origin
ajrrabwvn of Hebrew origin (06162)
Transliterated Word TDNT Entry
Arrhabon 1:475,80
Phonetic Spelling Parts of Speech
ar-hrab-ohn'
Noun Masculine
Definition
1. an earnest
a. money which in purchases is given as a pledge or downpayment that the full amount will subsequently be paid
John Gills exposition of 2 Cor. 1:22
John Gill's Exposition of the Bible
2 Corinthians 1:22
Who hath also sealed us?
"Two" things more are here attributed to God; "first", the sealing of his people. The use of seals is various, as to denote property in things, to distinguish one thing from another, to show esteem and affection for persons or things, and for security and protection, and to hide and conceal; all which might be applied to sealing, as expressive of the grace of God to his people, in claiming a property in them, distinguishing them from the rest of the world, setting his affections on them, securing and protecting their persons, and hiding them under the shadow of his wings: but sometimes a seal is used to certify, make sure, or assure the truth of a thing; see (John 3:33) (1 Corinthians 9:3) (Jeremiah 33:10) in which sense the word "sealing" is used here, and intends that assurance which God gives his people of their interest in his love, and the covenant of grace; of their election of God, and redemption by Christ; of their interest in Christ, and union with him; of their justification by him, and adoption through him; of the truth of grace in their hearts, their perseverance in it, and sure and certain enjoyment of eternal glory. The persons thus sealed are not carnal and unconverted persons, only believers in Christ, and these, after they commence such; the seal by which they are sealed, is not any of the ordinances, as circumcision under the Old Testament, or baptism, or the Lord's supper under the New; for these are no seals, nor are they ever so called; but the Spirit of God himself, as the Holy Spirit of promise; for the same who, in the next clause, is called the earnest, is the seal; see (Ephesians 1:13) .
"Secondly", the giving of the earnest of the Spirit:
and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts:
by "the Spirit" is meant, not the gifts and graces of the Spirit merely, but the Spirit of God and Christ himself; who was concerned in the creation of the world, in inditing the Scriptures, in forming and filling the human nature of Christ, and in his resurrection from the dead; he himself is given as an "earnest": the word (arrabwn) , here used, and in (2 Corinthians 5:5) (Ephesians 1:14) is the Hebrew word (Nwbre) , and comes from (bre) , which signifies "to become a surety, to give a pledge"; and is used for a pledge in covenants and bargains, both in Scripture, see (Genesis 38:17,18,20) , and in Jewish writings F4; which is given as an earnest, and in part of what it is a pledge of, and is never returned: the Spirit of God is an earnest or pledge of the heavenly inheritance, which is not only prepared for us, and promised to us, and Christ is in the possession of in our nature, in our room and stead, and as our representative; but the Spirit of God also is sent down "into our hearts" as a pledge of it; where he dwells as in his temple, supplies us with all grace, witnesses to us our sonship, and assures us of the heavenly glory: and as such he is "given"; and an unmerited free grace gift he is; for him to be given in this manner, and for such a purpose, is a wonderful display of the love of the Father, and of the Son, and is a surprising instance of his grace and condescension of the Spirit, and for which we should be abundantly thankful.
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The Believer has the absolute irrevocable guarantee from God of eternal redemption through the very indwelling presence of God the Holy Spirit. It is our seal that we ARE His for eternity.
Surety:
2 a : a formal engagement (as a pledge) given for the fulfillment of an undertaking : GUARANTEE b : a basis of confidence or security
Main Entry: 3earnest
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English ernes, ernest, from Anglo-French arres, erres, plural of erre earnest, from Latin arra, short for arrabo, from Greek arrhabOn, of Semitic origin; akin to Hebrew 'ErAbhOn pledge
1 : something of value given by a buyer to a seller to bind a bargain
2 : a token of what is to come : PLEDGE
It is within the heart of the Believer that the Holy Spirit produces spiritual fruit, and this fruit is evidence of the sealing of the Believer which has taken place.
A fruit of the Spirit is faith, and it is this faith by which we are saved.
Ephesians 2:
8: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Galations 5:
22: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23: Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
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A Servant of Christ,
Drew
1 Tim. 3:
16: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh..
Posts: 3978 | From: Council Grove, KS USA | Registered: Jun 2002
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