These are prime "soaking" chapters. In fact I'm finding it hard to make it much past the first few verses in chapter one as I ponder the implications of what the Holy Spirit is saying through Paul. Here are just a few of my thoughts.
Ephesians 1:3 (NLT) states, "All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ."
For you KJV, NIV and NASB users, there is very little difference in all these translations for this verse. All of them agree, God is to be praised because He has blessed us with every (or all) spiritual blessings in heaven because we are in Christ.
So, what does this mean? I've read some commentators that want to limit the believers experience to receiving these blessings once we're in heaven, since in their mind that's where these blessings are. Other commentators have a narrow view that these spiritual blessings are a legal position that we hold before God in the courts of heaven.
As in all cases, scripture must interpret scripture. In order to fully comprehend what the Holy Spirit is leading us to understand, we have to review the context of this passage and we have to shed light on this passage by reviewing what God declares in other places in the bible on this subject.
Context of Ephesians 1:3
Like most writers, Paul starts us off with a powerful statement which is the subject of what he is wanting to speak to us about. Behind that powerful subject, Paul then provides supporting evidence so that the reader will understand what is moving Paul's heart to write. The subject Paul starts with is that God is to be praised because He has blessed us with all spiritual blessings BECAUSE I am in Christ. All of these blessings are for the believer, those who have accepted Christ as their savior. So here is a brief listing of supporting spiritual blessings Paul gives in this passage.
- God chose us in Christ. God planned this before the world was made (Eph 1:4a)
- I stand before God in love and without blame (Eph 1:4b)
- I was predestined as an adopted son or daughter in Christ (Eph 1:5a)
- God delights in choosing and placing me in love before Him (Eph 1:5b) - (Or in other words, I have a happy Papa who wants to bless me)
- I am accepted in Christ (Eph 1:6b)
- I am redeemed through His blood (Eph 1:7a)
- I am forgiven because of His grace (Eph 1:7b)
- God's wisdom and prudence has been abundantly poured out for my benefit (Eph 1:8) - Don't skip over this one. Again it shows the motive of God's heart and how he looks at you and I.
- God wants us to know the mystery of His will (Eph 1:9) - Or in other words He is imparting spiritual understanding to us so that His heart is revealed.
- I have obtained an inheritance (Eph 1:11)
- The inheritance God gives me will bring Him praise (Eph 1:12) - He blesses me, I bless Him and round and round it goes. It's like a "glory-go-round."
- I have been sealed with the Holy Spirit, which is the "down payment" of my inheritance. (Eph 1:13-14)
Wow, when you get to the end of just this brief listing you have to be over-whelmed with all these thoughts (if you're not overwhelmed you could be dead). No wonder Paul's next few statements were a prayer that God would open up our understanding by giving us the spirit of wisdom and revelation. We need to comprehend what God has done for us by placing us in Christ.
As you were reading through this listing, I hope that what began to take place in your heart was you started seeing that God's spiritual blessings permeate your past, present and future. God wasn't just giving you something to look forward to and God wasn't just giving you a legal standing. He accomplished the redemption of "all" of you, including where you are right now.
If Paul were to list and expound upon all of the spiritual blessings that God imparted to us through His son, the book of Ephesians would have no end. We serve an infinite God. There is no possible way that Paul touched on all of these blessings. He was just skimming the surface, hitting on big categories, or you could say serving the appetizer. Each one of these Paul mentions are like springboards into oceans of blessing adventure that God is beckoning us to explore. I really think that's why Paul started to sum up these thoughts with a prayer, "OH GOD OPEN UP THE EYES OF OUR UNDERSTANDING. GIVE US THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND REVELATION. WE NEED TO SEE MORE."
Other Supporting Bible Passages
When I started this blog, I had thought about covering other bible supporting passages here. But after getting to this point I realized there's so much more to be explored in the sections above that I can't cover it all in one blog post. So I'll just list a few supporting passages below and cover these topics and those left uncovered above in further blog posts.
- Luke 12:32 - Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
- Daniel 7:18 - But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
- Daniel 7:27 - And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.
- John 17:22,23 - The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.
- Galatians 4:7 - Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Blessings to you,
David
This is really good David! I'm going to share it with all my face book friends.
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