A Note from Our Pastor:

“Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”

Ephesians 1:14

Good Morning Dearly Beloved,

Earnest

For those of us familiar with reading the KJV translation of the Bible this word is not unfamiliar to us, and yet the way in which it is used in this verse is foreign to our common language. This is not a fault of the text, it is just the reality of how language and in particular connotation changes over time.

Today we would use the word deposit or down-payment to replace the word earnest. Which is the deposit or down-payment of our inheritance. Earnest here just means a portion of the property or price paid in advance to give assurance of the full amount.

With that established — the inheritance being referred to here in verse fourteen is our heavenly home paid for and purchased with the blood of Jesus Christ. There is no greater inheritance than that and none that we long for as much in this life.

Although we long for it and seek it, we also know that our race must be fully run before we receive that inheritance. We are called upon to serve Jesus Christ here in time in accordance with his will though. And in order to provide us comfort along the way we are given a down-payment on that inheritance.

The Apostle says the promise we have that is sealed by the Holy Spirit as explained in verse thirteen is that down-payment. It clearly pales in comparison to the actual inheritance, but the hope of heaven is a greater down-payment than we could ever fathom. It is a down-payment that strengthens, uplifts, comforts, encourages, and abides through all we face in this life.

We might be stripped of all we have — material possessions, family, and even liberty — but nothing can strip from us the down-payment on our inheritance.

Our Prayers are with you daily,

Brother Jeremiah