## What a Deal!

## Ephesians 1:13-14

- When was the last time that you made a really good deal?
- A deal in which you came out on top; a deal in which you got an exceptional value for your money?
- And when was the last time that someone else made a great deal, and then gave you ALL the benefits of that deal?
- Unheard of, right?
- "Would never happen to me," you say? It did happen to you, some 2000 yrs ago "on a hill far away - on an old rugged cross."

Let's examine this deal: Read: Eph. 1:13-14

I. LOOK AT WHAT WE GET IN THIS DEAL:

A. Salvation.

1. The benefits of this deal include the forgiveness of our sins.

2. Now, that's a BIG deal!

3. Because without forgiveness, we would be the recipients of God's wrath, which He had reserved for sinners.

4. But salvation isn't just being saved from God's wrath:

a. It is also being saved from a life of sin

b. Those who have been saved do not have to live life being in bondage to sin.

c. They can be free.

d. Now that's a GREAT deal!

B. Eternal Life.

1. Eternal life is not just eternal existence, it is eternal existence in the presence of God!

2. It is never being separated from the face of God.

3. Eternal life is a quality of life, given to us by Jesus Himself.

4. This God given life has qualities that that natural life doesn't.

a. First, we have the quality of peace:

1) peace with God (because we are now saved)

2) peace with men (because we are concerned for his salvation, not his possessions)

3) and peace with our circum- stances (because we know that God controls everything and anything that happens in our lives; we have put our complete trust in Him).

b. Second, we have the quality of holiness:

1) we live in the realm of right- eousness because we are now the righteousness of Christ.

2) Our lives are a pursuit of holiness; we strive to walk in it every moment.

c. Third, we have the quality of eternity:

1) men without eternal life believe that when you are dead, you are dead! That's it!

2) But those with eternal life have an eternal outlook on life: we think in eternal terms when it comes to life; we believe that we will live forever with God.

3) This gives our lives a special quality.

5. In this life we can know God in an intimate way and have a relationship with Him.

II. LOOK AT HOW WE RECEIVED THIS DEAL:

A. By listening. (vs.13)

1. We trusted Christ for this deal, AFTER we heard the Word of Truth.

2. The Word of Truth is called the "Gospel of your salvation."

3. The word Gospel means "good news."

4. The good news is that you can be forgiven and saved from God's wrath!

B. By trusting. (vs.13)

1. We put our trust in Christ when we heard the Gospel because the Gospel contains irrefutable evidence that we can test for ourselves.

2. How do we test the Gospel message?

a. First, it is not difficult to test and prove that man is a sinner.

b. Second, it can be proven that Jesus Christ defeated death, and therefore has the keys to death and life.

c. Third, if Christ has the keys to life, it is a very logical decision to trust Him for your life, which you do not have any control over.

d. Accepting the Gospel is the most LOGICAL decision you will ever make!

C. By accepting.

1. So simple! So easy! Such a great deal; such a simple way to obtain it!

2. No work, no money, just accept it.

3. Now that's an amazing deal!

III. LOOK AT HOW WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED THIS DEAL:

A. We have been given a guarantee. (vs.14)

1. An "earnest."

2. When a transaction is made, an earnest is an amount of money that the buyer gives to the seller as a pledge or down payment that the full amount will eventually be paid.

B. Jesus purchased our salvation at the Cross.

1. As an heir to this inheritance, we have been given an earnest: the Holy Spirit.

2. We know that we will get the rest of this "purchased possession" because we have part of it now:

3. And it is not a small down payment - it is a substantial one: God is already living within us!

4. And if this is only the down payment, can you imagine what the balance will be like?

C. This earnest is called a "seal."

1. If you are an heir to this inheritance, you have been sealed, or "marked for ownership by God."

2. A seal also means security.

a. Your inheritance is secured.

b. Nothing can take it away.

c. Paul tells us that we have been "...sealed unto the day of redemption!" Cf Ep. 4:30

What a deal! What an incredible deal! It's ours! Why not take it today?