The Earnest of Our Inheritance
A Sermon on Ephesians 1:14
Originally preached April 17, 1955
Scripture
14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Sermon Description
As Christians anticipate heaven, the most glorious reality will be seeing the Lord face to face. Until that day, what is the connection between the heavenly reality that awaits the Christian and their life now? According to the apostle Paul, it is the work of the Holy Spirit as the pledge or guarantee of future inheritance that connects the future with the present. In this sermon on Ephesians 1:14 titled “The Earnest of Our Inheritance,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones labors to explain the apostle’s words by arguing that the translation “earnest” fits the context of Paul’s teaching. This rich term communicates the guarantee or pledge, but it also speaks of an installment. The Christian has a glimpse or foretaste of heaven through the work of the Holy Spirit. While one does not fully see Christ in this life, they should be encouraged that they do indeed see Him, even if only as through a mirror dimly. Dr. Lloyd-Jones challenges the listener to share in Christ’s life now by pursuing holiness, purity, peace, and love. Wonderfully, when one does this, they taste what righteousness will be like in the future.
Sermon Breakdown
- The apostle Paul is continuing his teaching from Ephesians 1:13 about the work of the Holy Spirit in the believer.
- Specifically, Paul wants to show the Ephesians the glory of their position in Christ by introducing the concept of the "earnest of the Spirit."
- The "earnest of the Spirit" refers to the Holy Spirit as a pledge or guarantee of the believer's future inheritance in Christ.
- The word "earnest" was used in business transactions to refer to a pledge or down payment that serves as a guarantee of the full payment to come.
- An "earnest" is more than just a pledge - it is a pledge of the same kind as the final payment. It is a first installment of the whole.
- The Holy Spirit is the "earnest of our inheritance" - He is the first installment of the full inheritance believers will receive in Christ.
- The Holy Spirit as the "earnest" serves as an assurance of the believer's future inheritance until the "redemption of the purchased possession." This refers to the final completion of God's plan of salvation.
- The "sealing" of the Spirit refers to the assurance believers have of their position in Christ. The "earnest of the Spirit" refers more directly to the assurance believers have of their future inheritance.
- The Holy Spirit as the "earnest" serves as a pledge by guaranteeing the believer's future bodily redemption from sin. The Spirit's presence is a guarantee that believers will be freed from sin and death.
- The Holy Spirit also serves as an installment, giving believers a foretaste of their future heavenly inheritance. This includes: seeing and enjoying God, becoming like Christ in holiness, experiencing perfect love and joy, and having perfect peace.
- Believers can experience a foretaste of their heavenly inheritance through the Holy Spirit even now. They can see God's glory, know His love, experience joy and peace, and grow in holiness.
- The sermon encourages believers to enjoy the foretaste of heaven they can experience now through the Holy Spirit.
Sermon Q&A
Questions and Answers from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones's Sermon on "The Earnest of the Spirit"
What is the meaning of "earnest" in Ephesians 1:14?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, "earnest" has two main meanings in the context of business transactions. First, it is a pledge or guarantee. Second, and more importantly, it is "a pledge in the form of an installment, and an installment in kind." Unlike a regular pledge which might be of a different nature from what is promised, an earnest is "a part of the thing itself" - a first payment or installment of the very thing that will be fully received later. When the transaction is completed, the earnest is not returned but is counted as part of the full payment.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones differentiate between the "seal" and the "earnest" of the Spirit?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the seal of the Spirit assures believers of their position as inheritors - it gives "assurance with regard to myself, with respect to the inheritance." The earnest, however, gives "an assurance with regard to the thing itself" - it provides a foretaste or first installment of the actual inheritance. The sealing relates to our relationship with God, while the earnest relates to our relationship to the inheritance itself.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones mean by "the first fruits of the Spirit"?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes the first fruits as the beginning portion of a harvest that gives a taste of what the full harvest will be like. He says, "The Holy Spirit within us is not only a pledge, he's an installment... Even we ourselves, which have the first fruits of the spirit." These first fruits or foretastes of heaven include: seeing Christ (though now "through a glass darkly"), experiencing holiness, knowing divine love, and enjoying spiritual peace and joy that transcend circumstances.
How does the Holy Spirit serve as a guarantee of our future redemption?
The Holy Spirit dwelling in believers serves as a guarantee of future bodily redemption. Dr. Lloyd-Jones quotes Romans 8:11: "If the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his spirit that dwelleth in you." The presence of the Spirit in us guarantees that our bodies will eventually be completely delivered from sin, even though we currently "groan within ourselves waiting for... the redemption of our body."
What are the two chief elements of heaven according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies two chief elements of heaven: "Seeing him and becoming like him." He references 1 John 3:2, "When he shall appear, we shall see him. We shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." He explains that heaven primarily consists of seeing God face to face and being transformed into complete holiness and perfection - without spot, blemish, or any defilement.
How should Christians experience the "earnest of the Spirit" in this present life?
Christians should experience the earnest of the Spirit as a foretaste of heaven - "celestial fruits on earthly ground." This includes: seeing Christ "as in a glass" (imperfectly but truly), knowing something of His love, experiencing "the joy of holiness," hating sin, delighting in God's law, loving fellow believers, and experiencing "a joy unspeakable and full of glory" and "the peace of God that passeth all understanding" regardless of circumstances.
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones caution about modern Bible translations?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones cautions that while modern translations may be linguistically accurate, they can reflect theological biases by choosing words that diminish the full meaning of the original text. He specifically critiques the Revised Standard Version for translating "earnest" merely as "guarantee," which he says misses the richer meaning of the term as both a guarantee and an installment. He states: "Strict accuracy in language is not everything. A bias can come in... it's rather important that you should observe the theological position and standing of your scholars."
What is the purpose of doctrine according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the purpose of doctrine is "not merely to give us intellectual understanding or satisfaction" but "to establish us, to make us firm, to make us solid Christians, to make us unmovable, to make us have such a foundation that nothing can shake us." Sound doctrine helps believers understand their position in Christ and God's eternal plan for them, which provides stability and assurance.
The Book of Ephesians
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.