On Deposit ! ! (Ephesians, Chapter 1) Series

Series Title: The Heavenly Reserve Bank of God(Ephesians)

Message Title: On Deposit (Ephesians, Chapter 1)

Scripture: Ephesians 1:13-14

(Ephesians 1:13) And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession--to the praise of his glory.

Introduction:

Have you ever been excluded from anything and you knew you shouldn’t have been? You know what I mean. Something was going on and a group got together and you were not invited or asked to participate. And, then when the people that did go talk about it later people look at you because you are clueless and are wondering what is going on. Oh, you might see a few sad faces about your exclusion, or you might even hear some snickers or laughs in the back or behind your back. You might even hear a murmur or a statement or two about your character.

What about this?

Have you ever been in the store ready to buy something and find out that you are just a few pennies short, or your credit card is expired? You reach into your pocket, and the money that you thought you put there is actually in that pair of pants that you just changed out of!

Well, as you’re standing in line there, you might see a few sad empathizing faces about the predicament that you’re in. More than likely you’ll hear some snickers or laughs in the back, maybe even a statement or two about your character.

Or, maybe this happened to you.

What about when you were in elementary school or middle school and they were picking teams for basketball, volleyball or even some type of academic game and you were always the last one picked? Again, you might see a few sad faces about not being picked, and you’ll more than likely hear some snickers or laughs in the back, maybe even a statement or two about your character and your talent.

The world, which can sometimes include Christians, can be extremely cruel and cold, especially when it comes to talking about your character and your talent. The world demands that participants or potential members in any area first have the capabilities or the funds ON DEPOSIT to participate.

In most so-called ‘country clubs’ they demand money, and lot’s of it! In addition to the admission fee and annual fees, you must first have money and position to even be considered for admission to their prestigious gatherings.

The world would laugh in your face if you told them that you have been accepted into a society or group where the director freely gives you the entrance fee to get in! They would argue and say, “Well, that’s no club at all, if anyone could get in.”

As a matter of fact, that simplicity is the very reason that many never get in. As a matter of fact, it is probably this un-exclusivity, or commonness, that may be what keeps many from the kingdom of God... It is probably this commonness of Christianity that keeps many from wanting to mix with people of low position and small bank accounts. Remember, Jesus said it was rough for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of Heaven.

But, our bank accounts are not small, are they! The book of Ephesians tells us just how rich our DEPOSITS are. It tells us of the abundance of the DEPOSITS that we have in Christ. It tells us of the richness beyond measure in Jesus Christ, which is more than any bank could ever hope to have ON DEPOSIT.

The first three chapters of Ephesians tell us of the infinite SPIRITUAL WEALTH we have in our Lord, but the book does not stop there. It then proceeds with the last three chapters in telling us how we can have a spiritual life, or walk, that is rooted in this spiritual wealth provided by our Father in Heaven. It tells us how we can spend the wealth of Jesus.

Our verses today, verses 13 and 14 of Ephesians chapter 1, give us an initial glimpse at what we have ON DEPOSIT. Our points are for

The Claimants’

Their Underwriter

Their Indemnity

Their Compensation

The Claimants’

Their Underwriter.

Verse 13 tells us,

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him…

Here in this verse, I can lay claim as a Christian to my Christianity! Here I can see the precious underwriter of my faith. Here I see:

My Position, Assurance and Selection

My Truth