“The Earnest of Our Inheritance.” Part 1, July 2017.

"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 1,13b, 14. This was our starting point in chapter one of this study; and as we proceed to unearth and unlock long lost truths, we are stirred by the spirit of research with a desire to learn more and more, of truths that seemingly laid dormant and shrouded in the ashes of antiquity, ever since Paul wrote his letter to the Ephesians.

As we alluded to in the previous chapter, salvation comes with two vital and pronounced and integrated components, I call them "THE BUYING BACK" to be followed by "THE BRINGING BACK." (From God's perspective.) In other words, our salvation was purchased instantly upon Calvary's cross when Christ said, "IT IS FINISHED." Many Christians, including many preachers like to add, Man's redemption is complete. I remember back in the 1950s in Kingston, Jamaica, where I was born, I used to listen to Jo Stafford singing this beautiful song.

There's a cross for everyone to bear, but there's a heaven for each soul to share. There's a place in Heaven awaiting me, I got it through His death at Calvary. (Refrain) Each drop of blood bought me a million years. A soul was born each time He shed a tear. He broke the chains that fettered you and me; He bought my soul through death at Calvary. Though days are long and often filled with care, I talk to Him and with each wondrous prayer, He bids me stay and gives new strength to me, He bought my soul through death at Calvary.

Day after day I listened to this song being played on the local radio station, in so much that Jo Stafford became my favorite female singer, and Jim Reeves my favorite male singer. While still living in, London, I heard of Jim's death on the radio, and I could not help shedding a tear. During my prayers and earnestly seeking the Lord, he instructed me to consider every word when I read, as He said, "Words have meanings and a word out of place or wrongly interpreted can change the entire passage and we miss the truth." Over the years, and having the good fortune to share the ministry with dedicated ministers who walked in what the bible calls "present truths" the subject we are now studying began to open a brand-new world to me. In scripture, timing is everything for the child of God.

We read "When the fulness of time was come, when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb." These, and many more should impress upon us the importance of "time" or timing. At 16 years old, on a Sunday night in December 1951, the Lord spoke to me by prophecy and the laying on of hands, that he has called me to be an apostle in his house. He told me of countries that I would visit—gifts that would operate while on the mission field, and even the people I would meet and minister to. (As he said, a people that are not of your kind.)

It took me twenty years to begin grasping the full import of what is meant to be ordained an apostle. At 16 it sounded good; but I went on with my life not thinking of what my calling was. After all those years, I began to be reminded of the words spoken some 20 years before. As I slowly began to see how God's promises began to unfold in my life, I also began to understand the importance of God's time as it applies to us, and how important it is for us to understand it.

While conducting a crusade in Kingston, Jamaica in August 1968, the host pastor had me stand before him as he laid a hand upon my shoulder. Among the many prophetic word, he spoke, were these, "People would have you move fast, or slow. But do not go before the Lord or linger behind him. You must act within his time that is set forth for you." I remember being in a big crusade in London, England and the evangelist conducting the crusade said, "If you want to hasten the coming of the Lord, send me your tithes and offerings and help me to bring Jesus. back." Sounds catchy at face value; but we cannot hasten the coming of the Lord.

God has already appointed a day in which He'll judge the world; he does not adjust the appointed time, depending on how our missionary work, or whether our evangelistic outreach is producing fruit for the harvest. Life goes on for multitudes of Christians, who are content to go through the same routine, with the mindset of being faithful to their local church (Assembly). They pay keen attention to the faith that they currently possess. But in truth, they are simply cherishing the "earnest of their inheritance" that they received when they first believed.

However, the earnest is only the first down payment—a token that guarantees the complete transaction at a future date. More than once I have heard preachers say in their sermons, "Save your soul, and don't worry about your body, because it ain't going anywhere. That body of yours is destined for the grave, so don't try to save it; pay attention to the saving of your soul." Of course, Paul had a different understanding of this very thing and wrote, "For ye are bought with a price, therefore glorify God IN YOUR BODY, and in your spirit, which are God's." 1 Corinthians 6:20. In another letter, the apostle placed the body on center stage. He wrote an exhortation in the form of a challenge to the people of God.

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God (that is what it will take) that ye present YOUR BODIES A LIVING SACRIFICE, HOLY, ACCEPTABLE UNTO GOD, which is your reasonable service." Romans 12:1. Let us borrow from the Phillips Translation that will use words which are easier to understand. "With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to him and acceptable by him."

I think this is as clear and simple as it needs to be! I have said many times from the pulpit, that if there is any part of me that Christ cannot save, he needs to come back and die again; for he gave one whole man for one whole man. "Thank you Jesus!" Can you wrap your arms around this truth? As far as our full salvation is concerned, Paul saw its unfolding in the Spirit and he even thought that he would be alive to partake in the glorious event. Listen to what he wrote!

"For this corruptible must PUT ON incorruption, and THIS MORTAL must put on immortality. Here is the reference to time that is linked back to the redemption of the purchased possession. So WHEN —(speaking of time as the years we live in)—this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal (this means you, you, you, and all those who can receive it) shall have put on immortality, then (at that time) shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory." 1 Corinthians 15:53, 54.

Suppose we look at the contrast between the hope, and the daily practice of Christians in their hope expressed in their manner of life and expectations for the end of their Christian sojourn? While the Christian world marches to the same drumbeat of organized religion; and the people live in a state of "the same soup warmed over every Sunday morning" the creation has a brighter and better grasp of what is pending. The missing link in all of this, is the sad fact that Christians across the broad spectrum of Christendom live and serve with the belief that they have already obtained all that are ordained as integral parts of FULL SALVATION.

On the other hand, according to the J. B. Phillips Translation, there is a more positive view and understanding of the glory and beauty of that which is yet to be unveiled before our very eyes. "The whole creation is on tiptoe to see the wonderful sight of the sons of God coming into their own. The world of creation cannot as yet see reality, not because it chooses to be blind, but because in God's purpose it has been so limited. Yet it has been given hope. And the hope is that in the end the whole of created life will be rescued from the tyranny of change and decay, and have its share in the magnificent liberty which can only belong to the children of God. It is plain to anyone with eyes to see that at the present time, all created life groans in a sort of universal travail.

And it is plain, too, that we who have a foretaste of the Spirit (that is the earnest or the down payment given when we first believed) are in a state of painful tension, while we wait for the redemption of our bodies which will mean that at last we have realized our full sonship in him. Romans 8:19-23. Notice that even creation itself is on tiptoe, anxiously waiting to see the wonderful sight of the sons of God coming into their own—into our full sonship in Christ. But wrap your arms around this truth! Paul did not imagine or concoct the idea that the whole creation is groaning, and we with it. He actually heard the groans of creation.

When Jesus found no fruit on a certain fig tree, he cursed it and in a few days on his way back, Peter observed that the fig tree had withered. Why? Because the tree heard and responded to the words of the Creator. Jesus went for fruit on the fig tree because it had leaves. Fig trees bear fruit before they shed forth leaves. Since this particular tree had leaves, Jesus assumed that in the correct order, there should also be figs. Since this tree was functioning outside the law that governs its cycle of life, there was no loss in cursing this tree.

Why did the winds and waves obey his command? Because he is the Master of all life, no matter in what form it exists. Back in the days of Isaiah, he came face to face with the glory of the Lord that made him cry, Woe is me, for I am undone! But watch this carefully! "And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke." Isaiah 6:4. Because we are surrounded by life in various forms, the doorposts had no difficult responding in awe of the glory of the Lord. It is plain for any normal observer to see that the church world that is now before us, have no clue of what we are talking about. Watch your favorite television sermon on Sunday morning, go to your annual camp meeting in the Ozark or out in Arizona, listen and look carefully and see if the hundreds of loved ones are around you are waiting for the sons of God to come forth, resulting in the redemption of our bodies. Should you find such groups, praise the Lord and join in the celebration. I think that they are few and scattered abroad.

The greatest event the world has ever seen is just beyond the horizon. The clouds are taking on new vibrant colors adorned with spiritual hews. Let us examine how certain words are figured into God's master plan of our salvation. Allow me to copy from the example in real life, that is being practiced just about every day in buying and selling houses, lands, heavy machinery, and even thriving businesses. First, we will take a closer look at the term "the earnest of our inheritance." Let us apply a simple exercise that all of us (or most of us) can identify with. Let's assume that you drive into a certain neighborhood, seeking to buy a house.

In the quiet neighborhood of your choice, you come upon the ideal house that perks your interest. You make a note of the agent's name, telephone number, and the street address of the property. Upon keeping your appointment to meet with the agent, the transaction begins. The agent taps a few keys on his computer and brings up all the details of the property in question. He/she gives all pertinent details about the house. How many bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, basement, dining area, den, garage, so forth and so on! Let us suppose that at this point, you agree that this lovely house will be yours in a matter of several weeks. You ask the agent to hold the property for you, on a simple hand-shake and you begin to leave. The agent quickly says, "Mr. Kennedy, fill in your name. I am in the business of selling houses on a first come first served basis based upon who hands over the required cash deposit."

After a little back and forth with the agent, you decide to hand over a postdated check for $500. That $500 will be put into escrow and will be figured into the closing costs when the deal is made final. The agent takes your check and attaches it to the tentative contract that was drawn up to which you affixed your signature. The process of buying the house is now in motion and your check becomes "the earnest" "a down-payment" that obligates the buyer to the seller in a legal agreement in which the buyer has obligated himself. While walking away from the agent's office, the buyer has agreed (under legal terms) to return and complete the purchase at a later date. That is exactly what God has done!

So it is, when we first believed, we were given the Holy Spirit of promise, a promise by God himself that at a future date, he will return and complete the transaction between him and us, in which he obligated himself in a binding contract. HE IS OBLIGATED TO COMPLETE THE PROCESS! He has signified this by given us the Holy Spirit of promise. Writing to people who were already saved, Paul introduced a new concept. "And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep, for now our salvation (of course they already had salvation) nearer than when we believed." Romans 13:11. Paul wrote this about A.D. 96 or sometime before a hundred years after the death of Christ had elapsed.

Remember that we remarked how the Holy Ghost was given to us as a seal, or a mark, until the day of redemption. But again, the seal was given to saved people who already had salvation. In the scripture above, Paul is telling people who were already saved to be alert and acknowledge that the time they are now living in is ushering in a salvation that they had not yet experienced. It is going to be a salvation that will affect their bodies. He concluded, "But PUT YE ON the Lord Jesus, and make not provision for the flesh. "Romans 13:14. Remember, "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have PUT ON CHRIST." Galatians 3:27.

It means that we wear him like a garment—.covered in his likeness. Over the years of ministry, I call this "Body Felt Salvation." The Holy Ghost is for within, and the Fire is for the body! Remember that the cloven tongues of fire were SEEN, sitting upon each person in the upper room. We are called upon to SHOW FORTH his praises! The face of Stephen shone as the face of an angel as he stood before the court in his trial. We have said this over and over in past writings; but I feel that it cannot be over-emphasized since a major portion of Christendom is uninformed to its ultimate impact upon the children of God, and upon the whole creation. To properly understand Paul's writings in his letters to various churches and his pastoral letters to the elders he installed in many churches, we must look into his mindset, and quite often project ourselves beyond what he actually wrote.

We must conclude that whatsoever the apostle wrote, he did so out of the reservoir of truths that was buried deep within his spirit. As we look closely at his letters and epistles, we notice that it was necessary for him to contemplate his thoughts, and to evenly commit them to the events of time itself. As if seeing through a glass darkly, Paul included himself into major pending world events, as he envisioned himself as being a partaker of those events. For instance, he wrote saying, "We shall not all sleep (but he slept and was not a participant of what he spoke) but we shall all be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:51. He included himself among those who will be changed, but he died a physical death. Supposed we take this concept a long ways down the corridor of time and see how far off Paul's vision was.

He spoke of the sounding of the trumpet and all of God's children are changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. He spoke of the dead in Christ rising first, to be joined by the living saints who are changed. He spoke of the fact that this mortal must put on immortality, and this corruptible putting on incorruption. Paul wrote and taught events in which he included himself as being a beneficiary of those glorious events. But more than two thousand years later, those events are yet to materialize. We should quickly understand that Paul's vision and understanding of these events still holds true today. The missing link was that Paul could not get the time-line correct. To him, it was like tomorrow; and he felt sure that he would be a part of those grandiose events. Here is an example of what I am saying. "Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should COME UNTO YOU, Searching what, or what manner OF TIME the Spirit of Christ which was in them DID SIGNIFY, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels
desire to look into. "(Carefully consider the timeline set by Peter.)

In the quiet neighborhood of your choice, you come upon the ideal house that perks your interest. You make a note of the agent's name, telephone number, and the street address of the property. Upon keeping your appointment to meet with the agent, the transaction begins. The agent taps a few keys on his computer and brings up all the details of the property in question. He/she gives all pertinent details about the house. How many bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, basement, dining area, den, garage, so forth and so on! Let us suppose that at this point, you agree that this lovely house will be yours in a matter of several weeks. You ask the agent to hold the property for you, on a simple hand-shake and you begin to leave. The agent quickly say, Mr. Kennedy (fill in your name) I am in the business of selling houses on a first come first served basis based upon who hands over the required cash deposit.

After a little back and forth with the agent, you decide to hand over a postdated check for $500. That $500 will be put into escrow and will be figured into the closing costs when the deal is made final. The agent takes your check and attaches it to the tentative contract that was drawn up to which you affixed your signature. The process of buying the house is now in motion and your check becomes "the earnest" "a down-payment" that obligates the buyer to the seller in a legal agreement in which the buyer has obligated himself. While walking away from the agent's office, the buyer has agreed (under legal terms) to return and complete the purchase at a later date. That is exactly what God has done!

So it is, when we first believed, we were given the Holy Spirit of promise, a promise by God himself that at a future date, he will return and complete the transaction between him and us, in which he obligated himself in a binding contract. HE IS OBLIGATED TO COMPLETE THE PROCESS! He has signified this by given us the Holy Spirit of promise. Writing to people who were already saved, Paul introduced a new concept. "And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation (of course they already had salvation) nearer than when we believed" Romans 13:11. Paul wrote this about A.D. 96 or sometime before a hundred years after the death of Christ had elapsed.

Remember that we remarked how the Holy Ghost was given to us as a seal, or a mark, until the day of redemption. But again, the seal was given to saved people who already had salvation. In the scripture above, Paul is telling people who were already saved to be alert and acknowledge that the time they are now living in is ushering in a salvation that they had not yet experienced. It is going to be a salvation that will affect their bodies. He concluded, "But PUT YE ON the Lord Jesus, and make not provision for the flesh. "Romans 13:14. Remember, "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have PUT ON CHRIST." Galatians 3,27.

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope TO THE END for the grace that is to be brought unto you AT THE REVELATION of JESUS CHRIST." 1 Peter 1:10-13. Here is another passage of scripture that speaks about the revelation of Jesus Christ. "And to you ho are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. When he shall come to be glorified in jj• saints, and to be admired in all them that believe." 2 Thessalonians 1:7, 10. As we can see in these scriptures, the revelation of Christ is on God's schedule to happen among his people—and through his people. And although the apostles included themselves to be participants of this glorious event, they passed over to the other side without seeing the reality.

They have become the great cloud of witnesses that encompasses us. The writer of Hebrews puts it this way. "And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise, God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect." Hebrews 11:39, 40. In a matter of a few years after the apostles wrote and preached these exciting words, they all died without being a part of what they predicted. But what they prophesied must eventually happen because his words will not return unto him void. Thus, we must conclude that this glorious revelation of Jesus Christ which Peter and the saints back then thought that they would live to see and be partakers of, has not yet happened. Can you grasp the truth that even the apostles did not get a comprehensive picture and understanding of the times that God has left hidden within himself? But Paul looked to the end, or the culmination of our great spiritual journey and offered what can be called, "the grand finale" and wrote, "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit, and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thessalonians 5:23. It is correct to assume that Paul and the other apostles thought that Christ would return in their lifetime. Read 1 Corinthians 7:29; Hebrews 10:25; James 5:8,9; 1 Peter 4:7.

All of these scriptures highlight the fact that the apostles clearly thought that Christ would return in their lifetime. But now the impetus is on us, upon whom the end of the world has come. What I present to you, is not for casual reading! These writings are bible studies for you to study with your bible open, and your spirit ready and alert to glean and masticate the truths being presented. As we often say in sermons, take the word off the written page, and put them deep in your spirit. The glories spoken by the apostles have not diminished or evaporated simply because time has elapsed. They are still valid, and we, along with creation should be on tiptoe, as we see the time of our unveiling fast approaching.

"On Eagles' Wings Ministries" is a bi-monthly publication (replacing New Horizons Ministries) dedicated to the ministering of "present truths. (2 Peter 1:12) as they pertain to us today. As we know, truth is progressive, and as such, is always unfolding from glory to glory, always shedding more light on the Kingdom of God. The thoughts expressed in these writings are for those who seek spiritual growth and more knowledge of Christ. You are invited to join our family of those who seek to be more like Jesus every day. All materials are sent FREE of charge by mail UPON REQUEST, and can also be accessed online at, www.godfire.net/kennedy.  Feel free to print, copy and share, any number of these writings. If you plan to move anytime soon, please send me your new address. Thank you!

Royce O. Kennedy           

Home