"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:" - Ephesians 1:3
Bless (verb: Eulogeo to speak well of… to praise, to celebrate, b. to invoke blessings on a person
Blessing. (Noun): “eulogia “good speaking, praise,” is used of a) God and Christ; b) the invocation of blessings, benediction; c) the giving of thanks; d) a blessing, a benefit bestowed”
Both words, bless and blessing share a common root. One is the verb form while the other is the noun form.
It’s used as a noun, a verb, and an adjective.
This word, Eulegeo is not the same word as found in the beatitudes. It’s use is only every associated with God. Blessed BE the God and Father, it is the idea of giving praise. Who else do we praise? No one.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord
- Ephesians 1:3
These are blessings that are spiritual in nature. Not the blessings given to all men.
- Matthew 5:44-45
- Acts 17:24-27
There are blessings available to all mankind. He gives those blessings on all men.
Spiritual blessings in heavenly places… there is the key. These blessings we are talking about are spiritual.
All Spiritual Blessings
ALL -- if there is a spiritual blessing, it is IN Christ. There are no spiritual blessings outside of Christ.
In Heavenly Places… The Location and Source of Spiritual Blessings
"Christ is exalted to the heavenly realm. And thus, those who are in Him are found in that Heavenly realm also." - FF Bruce, Commentator
- 1 Corinthians 15:24
- Ephesians 1:20-23; 2:6; 3:9-10
Those of us in the church are on earth waiting for the resurrection.
The phrase, in Heavenly places…, is used four times in the book of Ephesians, and is only found in the here in New Testament.
- Ephesians 1:3, 1:20, 2:6, 3:9-10
Christ now sits above creation, over the church, in those heavenly places. It talks about our fellowship in the church, our fellowship with one another, in Heavenly places. The church, is certainly going to be in Heaven, but also that the church on earth has spiritual blessings.
We have the mystery revealed, the manifold wisdom of God, is in Heavenly places, and is known in the church.
Spiritual Blessings In Christ
It is a preposition, it locates our position in relationship with Christ. We are in Him, inside His body, in the church.
- Ephesians 1:22
He has one body.
- Ephesians 4:4-6
In the body the saved are found.
- Ephesians 5:23
In Christ all these spiritual blessings are in him, in his body.
The Blessings Found in the Context of Ephesians 1
- From Heaven, v. 3
- Holy & Without Blame, vs. 4
- Adoption as Children of God, vs. 5
- Accepted in the Beloved, vs. 6
- Redemption Through His blood, vs. 7
- Forgiveness of Sins, 7b
- The riches of His Grace, 7c
- An Inheritance Vs. 11
- Sealed with the Holy Spirit, Vs. 13
- Earnest, Down Payment of our Salvation, vs. 14
Blessings In Christ
The phrase, In Christ, shows us that these blessings are only found in Him, in His body.
- In Ephesians, it or a similar phrase is used 19 times.
- 10 times “In Christ”
- 7 times “in Whom” in reference to Christ
- 2 times “in Him” in reference to Christ
- “In Christ” is found 78 times in the New Testament.
Attributes that are Found In Christ
Faith in Christ
We are to place our faith and trust is to be in Christ.
- John 11:25,26
- John 14:1
Our Hope is to be In Christ
- 1 Corinthians 15:19
Our trust, faith and love are to be in Christ
- 2 Timothy 1:12,13
In Christ is All Authority
- Ephesians 1:10
- Matthew 28:18
In Christ is the Mighty Power of God
- Ephesians 1:19-20
The fullness of the Godhead Dwells in Christ, Colossians
- Ephesians 2:9, 1:16-19
Spiritual Blessings in the Church
- Redemption - Romans 3:23
- No Condemnation, Romans 8:1
- Sanctification, 1 Corinthians 1:2
- Triumph, 2 Corinthians 2:14
- Righteousness 2 Corinthians 5:21
- Liberty, Galatians 2:4
- Equality, Galatians 3:28
- Love 1 Timothy 1:14
- Spiritual Life 2 Timothy 1:1
- Grace, 2 Timothy 2:1
There are many spiritual blessings we enjoy in the church today. But, they are only found in the church, the body of Christ.
Spiritual Blessings in Heaven
- Salvation, 2 Timothy 2:10
- Eternal Life, 1 John 5:11-12
- Our eternal ineritance, 1 Peter 1:3-4
Spiritual blessings refers to being in Christ, in His spiritual body, the church, Ephesians 1:22-23.
How many bodies does Christ have? One. How many heads does the body have? One
- Ephesians 4:4-6
The saved are in the body, Ephesians 5:23, and the body is the church Acts 2:41, 47.
No Blessings for Those Not in Christ
Those who are NOT in Christ, are lost.
- Jesus taught, John 15:1-7
- As written by Paul, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9
- As stated by Peter 1 Peter 4:17-18
The question remains… if all the spiritual blessings both in this life and the one to come is found only in Christ. How does one get into Christ?
"For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." - Galatians 3:27-29
To have the spiritual blessings we have to be where Christ is, in His body. We must must be added to the church, the body. We must be baptized to be added to the church.
But, baptism alone isn’t enough. We must believe that God is, that Jesus is His son, we must repent of our sins, confess that name, and then be baptized and live a life dedicated to Him.
Jack McNiel, Evangelist
