Earnest
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. Eph1:13-14

Earnest is not a Guarantee, arrabōn 'down-payment, pledge', of Hebrew origin, word used in trade for money that exchanged hands in pledge of a future purchase. The Gift of eternal life is in Christ and all those who ABIDE in Christ have the Gift abiding in them by the Seal of the Holy Spirit. Abide: 'Remain, not to depart, Continue, dwell, endure',  ^'If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. Jh15:6,  'IF', Subjunctive mode, something that may or may not occur depending on circumstances. The 'Seal does not guarantee the Gift, the gift is held in 'Earnest' unto the Day of redemption, when we finish the race, endure to the end. 'I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith 2Tim4:7

Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. 1Cor1:22

And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto (toward) the day of redemption. Eph4:30

Our Soul is the purchased possession, it is 'vouch safe' by Christ, who has freely given us remission of past sins through the shed blood, plus all things that pertain to life and godliness, the exceeding great and precious promises through which we can escape the corruption that is the world through lust. (2Pet1:3-4) The Holy Spirit guides us as our Comforter, 'Paraketos', but we are Made Holy by what we DO in His Name, holiness and righteousness is NOT transferable! It is an absolute Imperative that we remain Faithful to the end to receive the Prize of eternal life! 

 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 1Cor9:24.  'Look to yourselves, that we do not LOSE those things we worked for, but that we have receive a full reward' 2Jh8

And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. Rev22:12

The Prize, Crown, Reward (all same thing) is ETERNAL Life. There are not many rewards or varying degrees of inheritance, that would make God a respecter of persons, playing favoritism one over another. A Covenant requires both parties to remain faithful to the agreement. His faithfulness is without question, your is dependent on what you DO! 'Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments; Deut7:9, Dan9:4

 
Just as the modern Bible translators have changed 'Earnest to Guarantee' (in most newer version) and your Pastor Pundits have made the Hope of eternal life an Assurance, based on the finished work of Christ instead of your faithfulness to the end, so to we have masses of Professed Christians who have placed their confidence in something they do not possess; for God will not place His Seal (of earnest) on a defiled Vessel. How can the 'hope of eternal life be in someone who is not Pure and dwelling in Christ. 

The HOPE of eternal life is NOT the Assurance of it, 'That being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Tit3:7. It is YET to be Reaped, Gal6:9, in the AGE to Come, 'Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Chris Tit3:13, Every passage in the NT that speaks of eternal life in Christ is expressed as a HOPE: Rom4:18, 5:2,4, 8:24-25, Gal5:5, Eph1:18, 4:4, Col1:5, 23, 27, 1Thes5:8, 1Tim1:1, Heb3:6, 6, 11, 19, 1Pet1:3, 13, 'In hope of the glory of God', 'We are saved in this Hope', 'Rejoicing in Hope', 'Wait for the hope of righteousness by faith', 'The hope of His calling', 'The hope that is laid up for you in heaven', 'The hope of the gospel', 'Hope in our Lord Jesus Christ', 'The Hope of Salvation', 'The Hope of eternal life', 'Holding fast the confidence and rejoicing of the hope firm to the end', 'Having begotten us again to a lively hope', 'Gird up the lions of your mind, be sober and hope to the end', 'That your faith and hope might be in God', 'And every man that has this HOPE in him, purifies himself even as He is Pure!' 1Jh3:3

YES, it is a 'Lively (living) Hope, 1Pet1:3, for those who are abiding in Christ, who eagerly wait for it with perseverance, Rom8:25, and have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear (actively sinning) but received the Spirit of adoption by whom they cry 'Abba Father', Rom8:14. Those who understand their Covenant relationship with Christ and their responsibility to Continue in the faith make their calling sure, never trampling His blood (by excusing sin) but holding it precious by which they can draw near with a true heart in full assurance having been washed and purged (of their dead works of rebellion) holding fast the confession of their hope without wavering; for He who promised is faithful! Heb10:22-23. 'Watch, stand-fast in the faith, be brave, be strong!' 1Cor16:13.

^{By Mike D}