Ephesians 1:14 – Our Eternal Guarantee
who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
Truth to Learn
If you are saved, you are permanently saved.
Behind the Words
“Guarantee” is translated from the Greek word arrabōn, which is actually transliterated from the Hebrew word. The Hebrew word refers to “a deposit given as evidence and proof that some act will be done and the deposit is not returned until the act is completed.”
The word “inheritance” is from klēronomia, which is derived from klēronomos. This is made up of klēros, which refers to “a lot” or “a portion” and nemō, meaning “to hold or have in one’s possession.” Thus, klēronomos refers to “having a right to receive a portion of an inheritance,” that is “an heir,” and klēronomia refers to the substance of the inheritance.
“Purchased possession” is the translation of the Greek word peripoiēsis, which is made up of peri, indicating acquisition of something and poieō, meaning “to make.” So, we see that peripoiēsis means “that which was acquired or purchased.”
Meaning Explained
In yesterday’s verse Paul taught us that when we first believed the gospel message, the truth that Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins, we were sealed, or branded, with the Holy Spirit. In the current verse he tells us that the Holy Spirit, with whom we have been branded, is our guarantee. This is very much like earnest money in a real estate transaction. When an offer is made on a house or other property, it is accompanied with earnest money. If for some reason the purchasing party backs out of the deal, the earnest money is forfeited.
An Old Testament example of this earnest, or pledge, is given to us in Genesis 38:17-18 where Judah promised Tamar that he would pay her for her services with a young goat on the following day. She kept his seal and staff until the transaction was completed. Since Judah never sent the payment, Tamar kept the seal and staff.
Too many people read over today’s verse and completely miss what Paul is telling us. Since we have been given the Holy Spirit as a seal and guarantee of our salvation, God has promised that He will complete the transaction or forfeit the guarantee. In other words, if we were to get “unsaved” then we would get to keep the Holy Spirit, God couldn’t take it back. There are those who would say, “Yes, but if I cancel the transaction myself, I would have to return the earnest.” However Christ said:
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. (John 10:27-28)
In other words, you can’t cancel salvation’s transaction because even you can’t take yourself out of His hand!
Application
If you are saved, you are securely, eternally saved, period! There is nothing that you or anyone else can do to unsave you because you possess God’s irrevocable guarantee!
In God’s service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2011 Will Krause. All rights reserved.
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