Now he that has made us for the same thing is God, who also has given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
All Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 5:5 Go To 2 Corinthians 5
Tertullian of Carthage
AD 220
This is why he shows us how much better it is for us not to be sorry, if we should be surprised by death, and tells us that we even hold of God "the earnest of His Spirit".
Between God and man "He keeps in His own self the deposit of the flesh which has been committed to Him by both parties-the pledge and security of its entire perfection. For as "He has given to us the earnest of the Spirit, ".
"earnest; ".
But if repentance is a thing human, its baptism must necessarily be of the same nature: else, if it had been celestial, it would have given both the Holy Spirit and remission of sins. But none either pardons sins or freely grants the Spirit save God only.
