Jan heard a speaker at a recent International Ladies lunch here in Saigon. His topic was security and he gave some quite helpful information, especially to those who rent houses here in Vietnam. We of course are now apartment dwellers, but one thing was relevant to us. Apparently when placing a deposit on an apartment, in his opinion/experience, you are not absolutely guaranteed that the owner may not still rent it to someone else. I am glad we didn't know that when we put a deposit on our present apartment. I certainly hope that does not happen as we look for our next apartment.
Normally here and in most parts of the world if a significant deposit is received, it acts like a guarantee. The downpayment or deposit is the physical indication for both parties that "the deal is done." The one receiving it is confident that the rest of the payment will come.
So we are offered this confidence by God. "He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come."II Corinthians 1:21, 22 (See also Ephesians 1:13, 14) Every believer has received the Holy Spirit. He is the One who regenerates us or "births us" into our new life in Christ and lives within us. The Third Person of the Trinity is the deposit, the guarantee that God owns us and that He has only begun His great work in us.
Amazing assurance. If He has already given us His Holy Spirit, what confidence we can have that we absolutely and forever belong to Him! Add to that the words of Romans 8:32: "He who did not spare His own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will He not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?"
Do I belong to God? Of course I do - look what He has given, look at the amazing cost of the down payment, the deposit! You and I are guaranteed by God Himself that we belong to Him. Oh and this other wonderful verse from II Corinthians 1:20: "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "yes" in Christ." He is our guarantee that God will fulfill every biblical promise to us.
With these truths, have a great week! Jan and I start this week by looking for a new apartment - and when we sign a new contract, we will give the owner a large deposit! And trust that we really will move in later, because it is guaranteed. :)
Normally here and in most parts of the world if a significant deposit is received, it acts like a guarantee. The downpayment or deposit is the physical indication for both parties that "the deal is done." The one receiving it is confident that the rest of the payment will come.
So we are offered this confidence by God. "He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come."II Corinthians 1:21, 22 (See also Ephesians 1:13, 14) Every believer has received the Holy Spirit. He is the One who regenerates us or "births us" into our new life in Christ and lives within us. The Third Person of the Trinity is the deposit, the guarantee that God owns us and that He has only begun His great work in us.
Amazing assurance. If He has already given us His Holy Spirit, what confidence we can have that we absolutely and forever belong to Him! Add to that the words of Romans 8:32: "He who did not spare His own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will He not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?"
Do I belong to God? Of course I do - look what He has given, look at the amazing cost of the down payment, the deposit! You and I are guaranteed by God Himself that we belong to Him. Oh and this other wonderful verse from II Corinthians 1:20: "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "yes" in Christ." He is our guarantee that God will fulfill every biblical promise to us.
With these truths, have a great week! Jan and I start this week by looking for a new apartment - and when we sign a new contract, we will give the owner a large deposit! And trust that we really will move in later, because it is guaranteed. :)
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