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 KJV
A comparative translation from the ESV says: In him (Jesus Christ) you (believers) also,……..were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it,…
The word translated as earnest in the KJV is translated as guarantee in the ESV. Both refer to a pledge or down payment.
The American Heritage Dictionary says that earnest refers to; money paid in advance as part payment to bind a contract or bargain (also called earnest money). It is also defined as; a token of something to come; a promise or assurance.
According to WE Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, the word for earnest in the Greek is arrabon. Originally this word referred to money deposited by the purchaser and forfeited if the purchase was not completed. It came to denote a pledge or earnest of any sort; in the NT it is used only of that which is assured by God to believers; it is said of the Holy Spirit as the Divine pledge of all their future blessedness. See also II Corinthians 5:5.
The KJV says; ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance. The same passage in the ESV says; you also……. were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance.
The KJV grammar uses the word which to define the holy Spirit of promise as the earnest of our inheritance. The Holy Spirit is not an object, power, or influence. The Holy Spirit is a person and should be properly defined as He, who is the earnest of our inheritance. The ESV correctly describes the Holy Spirit as He, who is the guarantee of our inheritance.
Although this passage emphasizes an inheritance which we regard as yet future, we have the Holy Spirit from the moment we receive Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour (Romans 8:9). That means that benefits of our inheritance are available to us the moment we believe. Our inheritance begins when we are saved, with full benefits when we step into glory.
The Holy Spirit is God. It is God who is the guarantee of our inheritance. God will never default on His purchase.
Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. I Corinthians 1:21 & 22