Leaving Laodicea

The Trinity… Right Before Our Eyes

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins,

according to the riches of His grace.

Ephesians 1:7

Critics often point out that the word “Trinity” isn’t found in the Bible, and they’re right. But the truth of the Trinity is revealed throughout both the Old and New Testaments, and we can see it clearly in the first 14 verses of Ephesians. Consider the following:

In the original Greek, Ephesians 1:3-14 is actually one long, complex sentence consisting of 202 words. In our English translations, this single Greek sentence is broken up into several sentences for better readability and understanding. And depending on the translation, it’s divided into anywhere from 3 to 7 sentences. When taken as a whole, these verses paint for us an incredible picture of the totality of God, in which each Person of the Godhead is active in our salvation.

For example, the work of God the Father is primarily described in verses 3 through 6, where He planned our salvation even before time began. In Ephesians 1:7-10, we see the work of the Son who achieves salvation for us by His redemptive death on the cross, or “through His blood” (Eph. 1:7). And the final few verses, Ephesians 1:11-14, highlight the role the Holy Spirit plays in applying salvation to our lives. It couldn’t be more clear. But it was all “in Him” or “in Christ” that we were granted redemption and the forgiveness of our sins. Jesus is the One responsible for all of this.

Note: I have already discussed the “in Him” or “in Christ” aspect of this verse in an earlier post. So, let me encourage you to go back and look again at that to gain a deeper understanding of Jesus’ impact on all aspects of our Christian life, not just our salvation.

And then, we move on to the incredible word, redemption.

Redemption

Redemption is an essential core theme of Christianity. In fact, this one verse, Ephesians 1:7, summarizes the entire gospel, where it says, “In Him (Jesus, the Son) we have redemption (how) through His blood, (described as) the forgiveness of sins, (on what basis) according to the riches of His grace.” If John 3:16 is the first and most important verse kids learn in Vacation Bible School, then Ephesians 1:7 runs a close second.

But how important is the idea of redemption to Christianity? It’s indispensable.

B.B. Warfield (1851-1921), a prominent American theologian and professor at Princeton Theologica, emphasized the significance of Christ’s role as Redeemer when he said:

“There is no one of the titles of Christ which is more precious to Christian hearts than ‘Redeemer.’ Whenever we pronounce it, the cross is placarded before our eyes and our hearts are filled with loving remembrance not only that Christ has given us salvation, but that He paid a mighty price for it.”

That’s right. When we think of Christ as our Redeemer, we always picture Him as the Christ of the cross, whose blood provided for our redemption.

Understanding Redemption

But what exactly does “redemption” mean? In his book “Systematic Theology,” Wayne Grudem defines redemption as “Christ’s saving work viewed as an act of ‘buying back’ sinners out of their bondage to sin and to Satan through the payment of a ransom.” Okay, that makes sense. But is there more?

The New Testament primarily uses two Greek words for redemption (and their derivatives). The first is agorazō and comes from the noun meaning marketplace, or agora. It means “to buy” or “to buy in a marketplace.” This word emphasizes the price Jesus paid for our salvation. In essence, He purchased or bought us back in the marketplace where we were sold, like slaves, based on the consequences of our sins. Pretty telling picture, isn’t it?

The second Greek word for redemption is luō, and its various derivatives, which means to “loose or set free or deliver by the payment of a price.” In other words, our Redemption was accomplished when a price was paid for our freedom at the marketplace or slave market of sin. And that price was the blood of Christ, where He purchased us and set us free from the consequences of our sins. As a result, we are justified in God’s sight, as if we had never sinned.

Ok, got that. We’ve covered the technical stuff, and I understand it academically. But how does my redemption change my life today?

Simply put, understanding your redemption should change your whole view of your salvation. You came to Christ and received all the blessings we have been studying, and more, not by mentally acknowledging a list of historical facts about Jesus and then trying to live by some moral code better than you did before. It’s recognizing that in your lost state, you were guilty, convicted, and enslaved by sin, and facing eternal death as a consequence. But Jesus, through the sacrifice of His life and the shedding of His blood on the cross, redeemed you— He paid the ransom to set you free.

For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s – 1 Corinthians 6:20.

But there’s more.

The Appreciation of Redemption

Once you begin to understand the true nature of your salvation, it should deepen your appreciation for the gifts and blessings you have already received. The greatest of these blessings, and the one from which the others flow, is your election by God the Father (Eph. 1:4), the provision for your sin through the blood of His Son (Eph. 1:7), and the application of that truth to your life through the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13-14). This should always bring a smile to your face and give you a reason to get up in the morning. After all, “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (Eph. 1:3) includes your redemption.

And if that wasn’t enough, Christ “gave Himself as a ransom for all” (1 Tim. 2:6), that “He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14). Then Peter reminds us that we were “not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Pet. 1:18-19).

In fact, redemption is so incredible that it is listed among the things Christ became for us in 1 Corinthians 1:30, where it says, “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God —and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.” Let that sink in for a moment.

Even in Revelation 5:9, when the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fall down and praise the Lord, they specifically mention redemption: “For You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.”

So, before we pray, let’s ask ourselves a few questions.

Renewing Your Love for Jesus

How much do you love Jesus? No, I’m serious. How much do you really love Jesus? Has your relationship with Him become commonplace— maybe even somewhat boring, taking for granted the fact you were chosen, adopted, predestined, and redeemed by His blood? Have you ever deeply considered the price He paid to redeem you from the penalty of your sin, to forgive you, and to present you faultless before God’s presence, all the while keeping you from stumbling in the process (Jude 1:24)?

One of the most dangerous things that can happen in the Christian life is allowing these profound blessings and truths to become mere footnotes to our current experiences or day-to-day habits. And when that happens, we lose the awe, wonder, and thankfulness for everything Christ has done.

Don’t let that happen to you.

So Let’s Pray

As you pray, consider anew the depth of what Jesus has done for you. For when you do, you will love Him more, yield to Him more, and abide in Him more. You’ll put aside everything in this world and embrace Him and His kingdom alone. And as you do this, you’ll experience Him like never before. The abundant life, that sometimes seems so fleeting, will become your normal life, as He allows you to bear fruit for the glory of His Father.

Nothing compares to this. Nothing. So consider who you were and what Christ has done for you. Think about the place He’s prepared for you in His home, and how He did all this, and so much more, by the wonderful word, redemption. Submit everything in your life to His Lordship, and hold on tight— because there’s a wild ride ahead!

And we will talk more soon.

The Antidote for Self-Doubt

To the praise of the glory of His grace,

by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

Ephesians 1:6

As believers, one of the most incredible truths we can embrace is that God has made us, even with all our failures and shortcomings, “accepted in the Beloved” or “accepted in His Son” (Eph. 1:6). This short phrase reveals the depths of God’s love and the privileged position we now enjoy in Christ. And when we grasp the full implications of these few words, they will revolutionize the way we view ourselves and how we live out our faith on a daily basis. That’s not hyperbole, just the facts.

Let’s look at what it means to be truly “accepted in the Beloved.”

God’s Gracious Choice

As we begin to unpack the richness of this verse, we must start with the declaration that God “chose us in Him before the foundation of the world” (Eph. 1:4). Let that sink in— before God spoke creation into existence, and before He formed the galaxies or breathed life into Adam, He had already selected you to be “holy and without blame” in His sight. And He chose you for no other reason than the “good pleasure of His will” or, more precisely, because He wanted to (Eph. 1:5).

Just think, you didn’t earn His sovereign choice of you, and you certainly don’t deserve it— none of us do. But that’s what makes His grace so amazing. God set His affection on you, not because of your merits, but simply because it delighted Him to do so. He predestined you to be adopted as His very own son or daughter (Eph. 1:5). The King of Kings wanted you in His family.

But, and I know it may be hard to believe, it gets even better.

Accepted and Highly Favored

Now, because of His loving choice and predetermined plan, you are “accepted in the Beloved” (Eph. 1:6). The word “accepted” means much more than we assume when we use it today. We speak of inclusion, such as, “I just got accepted into college” or “I feel accepted by my co-workers.” But in Greek, “accepted” (charitóō) means being “highly honored” and “greatly favored.” In fact, it is the same word used of Mary when the angel Gabriel appeared to her saying, “Rejoice, highly favored one (charitóō), the Lord is with you” (Luke 1:28). And this is the only other place in Scripture this particular word is used.

Just as Mary found grace and favor in God’s sight to be chosen as the mother of the Messiah, you also have found grace and favor to be chosen and accepted by Him as His beloved child. Jesus took on the punishment your sins deserved, paying their penalty of death on the cross and, by doing so, made you righteous and reconciled to the Father. So when God looks at you, He doesn’t see your sins, failures, and shame, but the perfect righteousness of His Son imputed to you (2 Cor. 5:21)— His now adopted son (Eph. 1:5).

In Christ, you are now (and I know this may be hard to believe) highly honored and esteemed, deeply loved, and greatly blessed in Him. And God doesn’t begrudgingly accept you because He spoke too soon, maybe before He knew what you were really like, and has to fulfill a promise He’d rather not. No, He now joyfully allows His grace to “abound” toward you in all His wisdom and prudence because of the “riches of His grace” He was pleased to lavish upon you (Eph. 1:7-8). How does that make you feel? And where is the place in your life for insecurity when God has already highly honored you to the degree He has? Read the verse again, if need be.

No More Insecurity… Ever!

Think about what this means for your identity and sense of self-worth. You no longer have to be crippled by feelings of insecurity or inadequacy, constantly striving to prove yourself and win acceptance from others. Your standing with God is not based on your performance but your position in Christ. It’s not what you do, but who, or Whose you are. Therefore, you are loved and favored by the only One whose opinion ultimately matters. So, who cares what people say about you behind your back, on social media— or anywhere?

God’s acceptance frees you forever from the fear of rejection. Though people may betray you, and they will— God will never turn His back on you. He will “never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb. 13:5) because His love and acceptance are unconditional and irrevocable. So, in those moments when you feel like a failure no one could ever love, you can proclaim this truth to yourself— “I am accepted in the Beloved. What can man do to me? (Eph. 1:9; Heb. 13:6). God’s favor and acceptance of you is steadfast and unchanging, and as secure as God Himself. So rest easy. You are secure in Him.

Living as the Favored of the Most High

Knowing you are accepted in the Beloved doesn’t just change your self-image; it empowers you to live differently, more abundantly (John 10:10), which is your birthright in Him. When you see yourself as God sees you, it gives you the courage to take bold steps of faith because of Him. You can move forward with confidence, not in your own strength and abilities, but in the unshakable favor and acceptance of God.

Again, instead of being paralyzed by what others think, you are free to pursue God’s unique calling in your life. The need for people’s approval loses its grip when you are already approved by the Most High God— who is also your Father. Think about that for a moment. If you have already been accepted by the best (God), why spend a second worrying more about what the less (others) think of you? Then, like Paul, you can learn to be content in any circumstance, assured that Christ has made you “accepted in the Beloved.”

Let this truth become the soundtrack of your soul, especially in times of fear, self-doubt, or discouragement. Proclaim it to yourself, out loud, again and again, if necessary. Let this passage overshadow your circumstances. You are blessed. You are favored. You are honored. And you are accepted— not because of what you’ve done, but because of what Christ has done for you.

Are you smiling yet? You really should be.

Grace-Fueled Obedience

Understanding your acceptance in the Beloved also motivates your obedience to Him and His Word. Joyful, grateful submission to Him naturally flows from a revelation of God’s glorious grace. You serve Him, not to gain His approval, but because you already have it.

And when you sin, you don’t have to wallow any longer in shame, fearful that somehow you’ve fallen from God’s grace and He no longer wants you as His child. No, you can boldly approach the throne of grace (Heb. 4:16), knowing that Christ’s blood continuously cleanses you and that you are forever accepted in Him (1 John 1:7). Repentance, once often neglected, now becomes a gracious opportunity to realign yourself with the truth of who you are in Christ.

Now, secure in your standing with Him, you are empowered to love and serve others freely. You can offer the same grace that you have received and become an instrument of God’s unconditional acceptance to those, like you once were, desperately longing for it. People will be naturally drawn to the Christ they see in you, the One who makes sinners His favored sons and daughters— which is a perfect picture of “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27).

Rejoicing in Your Spiritual Blessings

And as you meditate on the wonders of being “accepted in the Beloved,” don’t lose sight of the broader context of what we have been reading in Ephesians 1:3-14. Paul’s declaration of your acceptance comes amidst an amazing description of the spiritual blessings you possess in Christ— right now, in full.

You have been chosen, predestined, redeemed, forgiven, and sealed with the Holy Spirit. You have obtained an inheritance and been given wisdom to know the mysteries of God’s will. And all of this is “to the praise of His glory.”

Anything else? Just one more thought.

Remember, your acceptance in the Beloved is not an isolated reality, like a line item on a balance sheet, but is inseparably linked to the full package of heavenly blessings that are yours in Christ. And these blessings are not something you have to strive for, but something you already possess. They are stated in the past tense, meaning they are your birthright as a child of God.

So Let’s Pray

When you pray, let your heart rejoice with thanksgiving for all that is yours in Him. And as you face challenges (which you will), remember that you are fully equipped for them, whatever they are, with “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3). You lack nothing. After all, the same favor that rests upon Christ rests upon you, since you are “predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom. 8:29). Ah, to be just like Jesus.

So let Paul’s prayer for the Ephesian believers be your prayer for yourself today (and be sure to make it personal):

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you (make it personal, put your name here) the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your (put your name here) understanding being enlightened; that you (and here) may know what is the hope of His calling (for you), what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints (of which you are), and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us (and you) who believe, according to the working of His mighty power – Ephesians 1:17-19.

May this become our prayer as well. May the eyes of our understanding be enlightened to truly comprehend the hope, riches, and power that are ours because we are “accepted in the Beloved.” May we grasp the height, depth, length, and width of Christ’s love for us (Eph. 3:17-19). And may we live in the confidence that nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord— or in His Beloved (Rom. 8:38-39).

Finally, may we live for Him as the highly favored sons and daughters that we are. And may our lives be a continual praise to the glory of His grace.

And we will talk more later.

“In Him”… and it Only Gets Better

In Him also we have obtained an inheritance…

Ephesians 1:11a

In this passage, we see more of the blessings that are ours because we are “in Him” or “in Christ.” Again, I suggest you spend a little time with Blue Letter Bible or another Bible software program of your choice and search the phrases “in Him” and “in Christ” for yourself. After all, we all learn better by doing rather than just watching someone else do it. So jump on in and get your feet wet. And when you do, begin with “in Christ” and scan the verses to see how the theology of these two words permeates almost all of Paul’s writings. He obviously understood the significance of being “in Him,” and it would do each of us good if we understood it as well.

What it Says

We have been studying the first chapter of Ephesians and are focusing on verse 11, where it says:

In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.

So let’s look at each word and phrase in the first part of this verse to see exactly what God is saying so we can determine exactly what He means by what He says (we are only going to look at the first eight words today; we’ll cover more next time).

Being Thrilled With What You Already Have

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

Ephesians 1:3

The Cup is Always Full

Let’s face it, we live in troubling times. Almost everywhere we look, there is division, chaos, fear, uncertainty, and corruption that erodes our confidence in our so-called “sacred institutions” and can be so depressing they often keep us from wanting to get out of bed in the morning. The future, for many, looks bleak. And the present doesn’t look so hot either. But that should never be said of a believer— especially after praying through this one verse, which is part of a long, single sentence in the letter to the church at Ephesus. No, this truth should give us hope and encouragement as we see life, not from the physical, horizontal perspective, but from God’s perspective. After all, His way is always better. And our problems always look smaller, almost insignificant, when viewed from heaven (Isa. 55:8-9).

Remember, we don’t have to choose to look at the glass as either half full or half empty. It is always full, totally, right to the brim. But it’s not necessarily full of the same thing or with what we can readily see. Half may be water and the rest air. But it is still full, nevertheless. And so it is with God. Some things we can see and some things we can’t. But He is still present, filling everything to the brim, even if our eyes are not open to Him moving. Then, we rely on faith in His promises and rest in the goodness of our God (Rom. 8:28). What an incredible place to live.

For this is where we experience the peace that passes all understanding (Phil. 4:6-7).

But don’t take my word for it; experience His peace yourself. Ask Him to put you in a place where you have nowhere to look but up, and see what this will do for your faith. Still not sure, then check out Hebrews 11 for some examples.

“Blessed,” “Every,” and “Heavenly Places”

When you pray through Ephesians 1:3 today, focus especially on three key phrases: “has blessed us,” “every spiritual blessing,” and my favorite, “in the heavenly places.”

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ – Ephesians 1:3.

In our last time together, we spoke about the past-tense nature of our blessings, meaning they have already been given to us, and we possess them now (even if it doesn’t feel like it so much). This is not some minor grammatical detail, but a liberating spiritual truth once you wrap your mind around it. Basically, all God has in store for His children is available to us today, right now, in our present situation. The phrase, “has blessed us” means we don’t have to wait until He returns to earth to set up His kingdom, or we die and go to live with Him in heaven, or the trump of God sounds and the rapture takes place before we come into possession of “every” or “all” (pas) of our spiritual blessings. Nor do we have to earn them by living flawless lives or working ourselves ragged to gain His favor. No, we have them with us already, always— just like the Holy Spirit, who continually dwells in us.

Next, we are drawn to the words “every” (pas) and the phrase “spiritual blessing.” For me, I am reminded He has held nothing back from me, and I am now completely “blessed” with “every” or “all” spiritual blessings. Our Lord, our Father, has already bestowed on us things we cannot understand— truly amazing things, unheard of things. Try this one on for size:

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man (what) the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” – 1 Corinthians 2:9 (quoting Isaiah 64:4).

And these things are described as being “exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Eph. 3:20). Ah, takes your breath away, doesn’t it?

Plus, the “spiritual blessings” we possess are just that: spiritual. They are blessings that pertain to our spiritual life, our relationship with God, and our eternal destiny— you know, the things that last, unlike cars or money or houses or fame. And they are blessings that involve the work of the Holy Spirit. In fact, the word translated “spiritual” (pneumatikós) always pertains to the work of the Holy Spirit. Always. You might want to look into that amazing truth yourself.

And finally, these blessings are not limited to our time here on earth, but are reserved for us “in the heavenly places” where God dwells. Where time is abolished. Where we will spend eternity with Him. Where our true reality resides, and not just this shadow of things to come. And where it really matters.

Some Blessings That Matter Most

As a quick reminder, look at some of our “spiritual” blessings revealed in just the first fourteen verses in this chapter (we will look at each of these in the days to come):

1. Election – Ephesians 1:4

2. Adoption – Ephesians 1:5

3. Acceptance – Ephesians 1:6

4. Redemption – Ephesians 1:7

5. Forgiveness of Sins – Ephesians 1:7

6. The Revelation of God’s Purpose in History – Ephesians 1:10

7. Our Inheritance – Ephesians 1:11

8. Sealing by the Holy Spirit – Ephesians 1:13

Tell me, what more could we need, or want, than what we already have?

“Complete in Him”…er, Lacking Nothing

One final thought before we pray.

While looking at this passage, I was also drawn to Colossians 2:9-10, where the Lord tells us we are “complete in Him” and, by definition, lack nothing. It means, there is nothing to add to make us more than we are. There is nothing we need to make us whole or more loved by the Father. In Him, and only “in Him,” we are right now, at this present moment, and just like we are: complete. And the word translated “complete” is pleróō which means to “make full, supply abundantly, or impart richly.” This is who we are in Him and the spiritual blessing we already possess.

And if that wasn’t enough, in Psalm 23:1, our Shepherd, the Lord Himself, promised us, “I shall not want.” Do you know why? Because we are already, past tense, “blessed” with “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” What is there to want if we already possess all there is to have in Him? Makes you think, doesn’t it?

So Let’s Pray

I hope you experience a bit of awe when you pray this verse today. And I hope these truths will give you pause to reflect on how much the Father truly loves you, no matter what you have done, no matter your past— and no matter how messed up your present may seem.

Now, armed with this, go to Him in prayer, use these marvelous truths to allow His Word to guide your prayers, and see how our Lord desires to reveal Himself to you.

Dear Father,

Once again, I come before You with a heart full of gratitude and praise for Your choice of me “before the foundation of the world” (Eph. 1:4). And I thank You that in Christ, You have blessed me with “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (Eph. 1:3). What an incredible truth this is! To know that the moment I placed my faith in You, You chose to lavish upon me the full riches of Your grace and blessing (Eph. 1:8) for no other reason than the “good pleasure of Your will” (Eph. 1:5). Thank You so much for giving me what I don’t deserve, nor ever will.

And thank You that these blessings are not something I have to earn or strive for, but are already mine in Christ. Thank You for the forgiveness of sins, for my adoption into Your family (Eph. 1:7), and for the indwelling presence of Your Holy Spirit (Eph.1:13-14). Thank You for the wisdom, the hope, the peace, and the joy that are my inheritance in Christ.

Father, I pray these truths will not just be intellectual knowledge for me, but become living realities in my life. Help me grasp the incredible scope and magnitude of the spiritual blessings I possess in Christ. Open the eyes of my heart to see myself as You see me— seated with Christ in the heavenly places, blessed with every spiritual blessing (Eph. 2:4-7).

I pray the truths of these blessings will transform the way I live each day. Help me to draw upon the spiritual riches that are mine in Christ, to walk in step with Your Spirit, and to live out the fullness of life that is mine in Your Son. When challenges and trials come, remind me that my life is anchored in the unshakable realities of Your eternal kingdom.

Above all, may the truth of these blessings lead me to a life of continual praise and thankfulness to You. Keep me from ever taking Your grace for granted or living as a spiritual pauper when in reality, I am a spiritual millionaire (or billionaire)! Fill my heart with wonder and awe at the glorious inheritance I have in Christ.

Finally, Lord use me to be a conduit of Your blessings to others. Let me not hoard the spiritual riches You have given me, but freely share them with those around me. Make me an instrument of Your grace, Your love, and Your truth in this world.

Thank You, Father, for the unsearchable riches of Christ that are mine in Him (Eph. 3:8). I pray I will spend the rest of my days exploring the depths of these blessings and living in light of the glorious truth of who I am and what I have in You.

In Jesus’ precious name, I pray. Amen.

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Our Blessings in Christ

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Ephesians 1:3a

The phrase “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” appears three times in the New Testament, and in each instance, it highlights some often-neglected spiritual blessings that believers have in Christ (Eph. 1:3; 2 Cor. 1:3; 1 Pet. 1:3). And once we learn to embrace these blessings and not let them slip out of the spotlight because of our trials, temptations, or just the chaotic stuff of life, then we can remember how truly blessed we are, regardless of how we feel or what others might say. Long two sentences, I know. But let’s look at some of the incredible things God has already given us by virtue of our redemption provided by the sacrifice of His only Son (John 3:16).

The Letter to Ephesus

In Ephesians 1:3, Paul proclaims, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, (why) who has blessed us with (what) every spiritual blessing (where) in the heavenly places in (how) Christ.” He then lists some of these blessings that are easily ignored. For example (and we’ll only look at the ones found in this one, long sentence):

•  We Have Been Given Every Spiritual Blessing: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed (past tense, action already accomplished) us with every (pas) spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ ” (Eph. 1:3). This overarching truth sets the foundation for all the blessings that follow. In Christ, we have been granted access to every (pas) spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms— which means there are no existing blessings we do not have access to. Everything, all of them that ever existed, are available to us as His children. This is the meaning of the adjective “every” (pas) in the Greek. It doesn’t say we have been blessed with “some” of the blessings or “most” of them are available to us. No, it says “every” or “all” (pas). Think about that for a moment. Do you understand what that means?

•  We Have Been Chosen for Holiness (to be just like Him): “Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love” (Eph. 1:4). Before the creation of the world, before time began, God chose us in Christ to be holy and blameless in His sight. And our holiness is not based on our own efforts, which are usually littered with failure, but on His sovereign choice and the work of Christ in our lives, where He imputed His righteousness to us (2 Cor. 5:21). God chose us to be like Him, holy, faultless, and without blame, simply because He loves us and wants us to be with Him (Jude 1:24).

•  God Determined to Adopt Us to Himself: “Having predestined (to predetermine the outcome beforehand) us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, (why) according to the good pleasure of His will” (Eph. 1:5). God not only purposed to adopt us as His children, but has also elevated our status as children to heirs, and even joint-heirs with Christ Himself (Rom. 8:16-17). Can you imagine what that means (we will unpack this truth at a later time)? God determined, long before we proved ourselves worthy or not, to bring us into His family as His children for no other reason than “the good pleasure of His will.” Or, as we would say, “Simply because He wanted to.” It was His choice to choose you as His adopted child, and this unspeakable blessing should make everything else in life pale by comparison.

•  God Has Chosen to Accept Us to Himself: “To the praise of the glory of (what) His grace, by which He made (His action and not based on our merit or work) us accepted (charitóō – to be highly honored or greatly favored) in the Beloved” (Eph. 1:6). The world may reject you, as they did Jesus, but the Father never will. By grace, God has determined to accept us unto Himself, even covered with the scars of our sins and past failures, because of His great love for His children, including you and me. And again, what problems in life could we possibly have that compare to this blessing? I can’t think of any. Can you?

And all this is only from Ephesians 1:3-6, which is just the second sentence in this letter. Can you imagine the multitude of blessings we can find elsewhere in Ephesians? I, personally, have found over sixty— and the number keeps growing daily.

How Should We Respond?

In light of these truths, what should we do? How should the blessings of God change our view of life, church, worship, and how we approach Him and others?

First, with gratitude and praise. When we reflect on what we already possess in Him, our hearts should overflow with praise and thanksgiving to God for His grace in Christ, freely given— no, lavished, on us (Eph. 1:8). We did nothing to earn or deserve these blessings because they flow from God’s love and mercy alone. So, as we meditate on these spiritual riches, let us remember the words of David: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits” (Psalm 103:2).

Next, we should be encouraged and strengthened in the face of trials. When we encounter hardships that just come with life, we remember that our identity, security, purpose, worth, future, and hope are always anchored in Christ, and not in our circumstances. Pain and suffering are for only a moment, but eternity lasts forever. And we have a compassionate Father who is ‘the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort” (2 Cor. 1:3), who will one day wipe away every tear from our eyes (Rev. 21:4). From His perspective, our sufferings and trials are nothing more than “light afflictions, which is but for a moment” (2 Cor. 4:17), and are “working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”

Finally, these blessings should inspire us to live holy and godly lives. Truth is, we were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before Him (Eph. 1:4). That seems to be one reason He created us in the first place. Therefore, our lives should be marked by growing conformity to Christ’s image (Rom. 8:29, which is called sanctification), by our daily choosing to put off the old self and put on the new (Eph. 4:22-24). And as we abide in Christ and walk in the Spirit, we will bear His fruit that gives glory to our Lord and points others to Him (Gal. 5:22-25)

Let’s Put it All Together

There is so much more to this life with Christ than we have been taught or experienced in the church in the West. And I’m not sure why that is. But, our blessings in Him are inexhaustible and already ours in Christ. They are not some future promise for those who meet some predetermined condition, nor something we receive only when we die and go to heaven. They are ours now, as stated in the past tense. We have been “blessed” (past tense) with “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places (where God lives) in Christ” (Eph. 1:3).

Tell me, what does this world offer that you don’t already have in Him? That’s right, nuthin’.

So Let’s Pray

As you pray, remember to never cease to thank and praise God for the unsearchable riches of Christ (Eph. 3:8), that are yours, right now. And ask Him to give you a life overflowing with gratitude as we share with others the wonders we have found in Christ (1 Pet. 2:9).

Dear Father,

I can’t thank You enough for all the blessings that are mine because of Your choice in me before the foundation of the world. It literally takes my breath away. And just think, You chose me for no other reason than the fact You wanted to. Lord, I am overcome with humbleness, knowing that I’m Your son, adopted into Your family because of Your love, mercy, and grace. And that this is something You actually wanted to do. You forgave all my sins. You redeemed me and made me an heir, a joint heir with Your Son. How is this possible? And why did You choose me?

Lord Jesus, I don’t know the answers or what You had in mind, but thank You for making all of this possible.

Would You teach me to show the same grace and gratitude towards others that You have shown me? And never let me get so burdened with the trials and temptations of today that I forget who I am in You, and once again view myself for who I once was. That person is dead, buried with Christ. I know I am no longer that person, but I am now someone new, created in Your image. Lord, help me live like that today, just for You.

And let me remember today, and commit to memory, Galatians 2:20:

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Father, bring this verse to my memory several times today and let me contemplate how truly blessed I am. Thank You for all You’ve done for me. And allow me to live a life worthy of Your grace and sacrifice.

In the name of Your Son Jesus, I pray. Amen.

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