Daily Bread - Dec 24 2006

Ephesians 1:13-14 - "In whom you also heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation - in whom also you, believing, were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise. Which is the first installment of our inheritance as a ransom payment for the purchase unto the praise of His glory."

The noun 'arrabon' may be translated either 'first installment,' 'deposit,' 'down payment,' or 'pledge' all of which denote paying the first part of a purchase price. Jesus told the disciples in Luke 24:49 to go and wait until they received the "Promise of my Father." The Spirit of promise then hearkens back to the glorious day that the promise of the Father was poured out upon the 120 on the day of Pentecost. It was on that day that God made His first payment to us and sealed us as His sons and heirs (Acts 1:4; Acts 2:1; Luke 24:49).

It seems that we should be making a payment to Him for redeeming us. Instead, God made a payment to us providing proof that we have been "bought with a price," the precious blood of Jesus. The terms of this transaction is that we agreed to belong entirely to God and, in exchange, the Father through Christ Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

This experience of His grace is the initial evidence that we agreed to be purchased. Subsequently, in keeping with the covenant, we no longer live to ourselves; rather, we glorify God in our bodies and spirits which He has purchased.

Merry Christmas,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org