In Ephesians 1:3, we are told, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,”
This passage encourages us by saying that we are blessed in Christ with “every spiritual blessing” in heavenly places. Not only that, but as we look at these blessings, you will be amazed at the extraordinary gift of Christ and your position in Him. 1 Corinthians 2:9 “But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—”
Please note that the following is not an exhaustive list of blessings, but we will look at those given in this chapter.
Firstly, Ephesians 1:4 says, “even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.” This blessing is an eternal election of God even before the foundation of the world was laid. God determined all who would believe in His Son and be saved. Not after creation, or after the fall, or after someone was born, but before the foundation of the world. God the Father had already chosen the heirs of salvation, and if you believe in Christ, you are one of them. Amen! The purpose of this election is for us to be free from blemish, be set apart for God, and reflect his purity.
Secondly, Ephesians 1:5 says, “In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,” The source of this blessing is placed in God’s love, resulting in our adoption as children of God. Under Roman law, the adopted son enjoys the same privilege and status as the real son. Likewise, the gracious act of God to adopt us is according to His good pleasure and will. Jesus Christ is the Son of God by nature, which means we are co-heirs with Him by adoption. Romans 8:17 says, “and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.”
Thirdly, Ephesians 1:6 says, “to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.” These blessings are all for the acknowledgement and recognition of God’s mercies for His people, and that should lead us to praise Him in every area of our lives. Our love for Him must bring us to praise Him and glorify Him because of His amazing love for us, our adoption, our predestination, and because we are covered in the righteousness of Christ.
Fourthly, Ephesians 1:7-8 says, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight”. This blessing is a declaration of being released from prison, redeemed from slavery to sin because Christ paid the ransom price through His blood. The highest price was paid through Christ shedding His blood on the cross. This sacrifice of God shows the magnitude of the riches of His grace to save us, deliver us, and adopt us. Not only that, but He blessed us with wisdom to see things as they really are and gave insight, allowing us to discern what is right and take appropriate action.
Fifthly, Ephesians 1:9-10 says, “making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.” God has blessed us by giving us insight through His word to do all things for the glory of God. The word reveals God’s will for us, His character, His blessings, and His divine plan for mankind and His elect. This is why reading and meditating on the Bible is so important in the life of a child of God.
Sixthly, Ephesians 1:11-12 says, “In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.” Again Paul is applying the concept of election and predestination, having an inheritance in Christ. This calling is for the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will. It is all His doing, and for that, we ought to give glory and praise to God.
Seventhly, Ephesians 1:13-14 says, “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” Finally, we are told that when we heard the word of truth, the gospel of our salvation and when we believed in Christ – we were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it. Amen! We cannot do this in our own strength and ability, so God gives us His Spirit to help us and keep us until the very end. This is our hope.
In conclusion, these are the incredible spiritual blessings that we have been blessed with. It is a blessing that encompasses our complete salvation – right from its beginning to its completion—starting from His choosing of us, not a salvation that we earned on our own because it is impossible for man. So, He predestined and chose us that we might have salvation in Him. This salvation is for the purpose of His divine will and His glory. A salvation only made possible by sending His Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross and shed his blood to pay for our sins. By doing so, the fullness of His grace, mercy, love, faithfulness, justice, righteousness, and His Holiness is being put on full display to the glory of His name as He lavished it upon us. Oh, what a glorious blessing in Christ.
He revealed this mystery to us so that we may know who He is and to believe in the gospel through the Holy Spirit by whom we are sealed. The Holy Spirit is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, through whom we are now children of God co-heirs with Christ. Our salvation is sure and secure in him because of the work of the Holy Spirit in us. This means our salvation is from Christ, our salvation is through Christ, our salvation is complete in Christ, and our salvation is for Christ. Not our works, but it is entirely His doing and for that, we praise and worship and glorify Christ in all that we do, Hallelujah. Jesus is the founder and perfector of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Amen!
