Our lesson today is from Eph 1:1-14. In Eph 1:3, God “hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.” These spiritual blessings are:
OUR HOLINESS. We will be holy and without blame before him in love – Eph 1:4 – this is the choice that God made before the foundation of the world. He didn’t choose who would be “in him.” He chose that all who are “in him” will be holy and without blame. That’s a blessing. See Eph 5:27.
OUR ADOPTION. We are predestinated unto the adoption of children – Eph 1:5 – everyone who trusts Christ to save them becomes a son of God [Jn 1:12]. So, adoption doesn’t pertain to becoming God’s child. Adoption pertains to the redemption of our body [Rom 8:23]. Therefore, we are predestinated, not to salvation but rather, to being conformed to the image of Jesus Christ [Rom 8:29; Phil 3:21]. That’s a blessing.
OUR ACCEPTANCE. We have been made accepted in the beloved – Eph 1:6 – God said that Jesus Christ is the “beloved,” [Matt 3:17]. When you are in him through salvation you are accepted by the grace of God. So, salvation is not so much that we accept Christ as our Savior. Rather, it is that we trust Christ to save us and he accepts us. That’s a blessing.
OUR FORGIVENESS. We have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins – Eph 1:7 – God purchased us with his own blood [Acts 20:28]. When we put our faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ, we are redeemed and our sins are forgiven [Rom 3:24-26; Eph 4:32].
OUR UNITY. We will be gathered together in one in Christ Jesus – Eph 1:8-10 – one of the mysteries of God’s will is that “we are members of his body, of his flesh and of his bones,” [Eph 5:30-32]. When Jesus Christ died on the cross, he reconciled all things to himself [Col 1:20]. In time, all things will be gathered together in one in Christ. Ultimately, God will be all in all [1 Cor 15:28]. That’s a blessing.
OUR INHERITANCE. We have obtained an inheritance – Eph 1:11-12 – to inherit is to take as a possession, by gift or divine appropriation. By virtue of our faith in Christ, we have already obtained the inheritance of everlasting life [Lk 18:18; Acts 26:18]. That’s to the praise of his glory. That’s a blessing.
OUR ASSURANCE. We have been sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise – Eph 1:13-14 – we trusted in Christ after we heard the word of truth and believed. Then, when we were saved we were sealed with the Holy Spirit [Eph 4:30]. He was given to us as the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of our bodies [Rom 8:23] which he purchased [1 Cor 6:19-20]. This is why we have assurance of salvation. This is one of the greatest blessings of these seven spiritual blessings.
These are seven spiritual blessings you receive when you are in Christ. And the following are practical things we can do and be now that manifest the spiritual blessing we have in Christ.
BE HOLY. Until we are before him “in heavenly places,” [Eph 1:3], we must be holy, 1 Pet 1:14-16.
BE CHRIST-LIKE. 2 Cor 3:18 we should be changed into the same image, since this is our ultimate “destination”.
BE ACCEPTED AND ACCEPTING. Rom 8:14-16, we are children of God and so are those who are saved by Jesus.
BE FORGIVEN. Don’t try to live with Christ with unconfessed sin in your life. After we’re saved, we still sin. So, we confess our sins [1 Jn 1:9] and God forgives us based on the propitiation of Jesus Christ [1 Jn 2:1-2]. Through confession, God cleanses us from all unrighteousness. God’s desire is “that ye sin not,” [1 Jn 2:1]. In confession, we agree with God [1 Jn 1:8, 10] that we have sinned. And he, through the blood of Jesus, “cleanseth us from all sin,” [1 Jn 1:7]. That’s the way to get sin out of your life. And that’s a blessing.
BE IN UNITY. Eph 4:3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Col 3:14 charity.
BE AN HEIR. In the kingdom of God, we may also receive the reward of our inheritance if we serve the Lord Christ [Col 3:23-25] and if we suffer with him [Rom 8:16-17]. This inheritance is rewarded or lost at the judgment seat of Christ [2 Cor 5:10].
BE ASSURED. Know that you know that you know you are saved, 1 Jn 5:13. Don’t live in doubt of your salvation.