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The Sabbath-School

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Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jan 17, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 3.

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The Sabbath-School.

LESSON FOR THE PACIFIC COAST—JAN. 26.
REVIEW OF 1 COR. 16 AND 2 COR. 1-3.

"The Earnest of the Spirit."

THE apostle uses this expression to indicate that God has not merely given his word of promise but has given us a pledge, or part pay in advance, as an assurance that he will faithfully perform his part of the contract. It is a business custom familiar to men in all ages, and always implies an honest intention to act in good faith. The expression is used in 2 Cor. 1 : 22; 5 : 5, and Eph. 1 : 13, 14, in such a manner as to show plainly its meaning, and indicates the reasonableness and anxiety of our heavenly Father in his efforts at man's reconciliation through the word of his Spirit. This "earnest" is called the "first-fruits" of the Spirit, in Rom. 8 : 23. The importance attached to this most valuable pledge may be learned from John 14 : 15-17, 26; 15 : 26; 16 : 7; where it is called "the Comforter."