The Holy Spirit: A Promise and a Pledge – EGP Blog post from December 19, 2012

1 John 2:19–20 ()

[19] They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it§ would be shown that they all are not of us. [20] But§ you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know.

1 John 2:19 Lit they would be revealed
1 John 2:20 Lit And

This passage shows that those who haven’t truly accepted Christ as Lord will eventually fall away. They may make some sort of confession, have faithful attendance, or they may even hold an office at a church! But when life hits hard or persecution begins, the truth inside comes out. The threshing floor (tough times and persecution) breaks apart the wheat (believers) from the chaff (unbelievers), and strengthens Christ’s Body.

Matthew 3:12 ()

[12] “His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

talks about knowing because “you have an Anointing.” This “Anointing” is the Holy Spirit at work within us.

Ephesians 1:13–14 ()

[13] In Him,§ you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed,§ you were sealed in Him§ with the Holy Spirit of promise, [14] who is given§ as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

Ephesians 1:13a Lit whom
Ephesians 1:13b Or believed in Him, you were sealed
Ephesians 1:13c Lit whom
Ephesians 1:14 Or a down payment

At the moment of our conversion to accept Christ’s salvation, our eternity was sealed by the Holy Spirit. The word translated “pledge” here carries the connotation of “a down payment,” in that the blessings we have here and now thanks to the Holy Spirit are just the beginnings, glimpse, and a promise of the blessings of our future eternity in God’s glorious presence!