The gospel: ROMANS 10:9— for, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

• Acts 2:38 and Ephesians 1:13–14—In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

God pours out his Holy Spirit on all of his children to guarantee (or to provide a “down payment” on) their share in his eternal kingdom because he applies to them all God’s powerful working in redemption. “until we acquire possession of it.” This phrase can also be rendered “until God redeems his possession.” In that case it means that, like the Levites in the Old Testament, believers are the Lord’s specially treasured possession (see Num. 3:12, 45; Num. 8:14; Josh. 14:3–4; 18:7)