2 Corinthians 5:5

The hope of an immortal body is not just wishful thinking. We already have the down payment of our inheritance in the Holy Spirit. In modern Greek the word translated "pledge" (NASB) or "deposit" (NIV) here, arrhabona, elsewhere describes an engagement ring (cf. 2 Corinthians 1:22). Our present possession of the Holy Spirit is God’s guarantee that He will provide all that we need in the future.

The Spirit may not seem like a very convincing guarantee since we cannot see Him. However, we can see what His presence in us produces, namely, our character and conduct transformation (cf. John 3:8). This should give us confidence that God will transform us completely in the future.