The book of Ephesians provides critical insight into the spiritual blessings bestowed upon believers in Christ. One well-known passage that highlights several of these blessings is Ephesians 1:3. In this verse, the apostle Paul offers praise to God for the incredible spiritual benefits granted to followers of Jesus.
To fully appreciate the spiritual blessings noted in Ephesians 1:3, we must start by understanding the context and background of this verse. Ephesians is a letter written by Paul to Christians living in the city of Ephesus. In the opening chapter, Paul expresses his profound gratitude for the work of God on behalf of His people. Ephesians 1:3 serves as a transition into this doxology of praise to God.
The Backdrop of Spiritual Blessings
Before diving into the specific spiritual blessings, it is important to understand what “spiritual blessings” mean overall. As used in the New Testament, spiritual blessings refer broadly to the benefits and gifts granted to believers in Jesus Christ for their faith and salvation.
Other scriptural passages help underscore what these spiritual blessings entail. Romans 15:27 refers to the spiritual blessings Jewish Christians received from the gospel. 1 Corinthians 12 highlights spiritual gifts given to believers such as wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, and prophecy. And Ephesians 1:13-14 indicates that redemption, forgiveness, and the Holy Spirit are all spiritual blessings from God.
In summary, spiritual blessings relate to any endowments that come from God for the spirit, soul, and inner being of a Christian. These go beyond material prosperity and physical health to impact one’s understanding, purpose, and connection with God.
Key Spiritual Blessings Highlighted in Ephesians 1:3
Keeping this background in mind, we can now explore the specific spiritual blessings Paul references in Ephesians 1:3. As we examine each one, we’ll gain insight into the riches of God’s grace at work in every believer’s life.
Chosen by God
The first blessing noted is that Christians have been chosen by God. This refers to the biblical doctrine of election – that God, in His sovereignty, chose believers to be saved and adopted into His family. Elsewhere in Ephesians 1, Paul expounds on this election, noting that it took place before the foundation of the world.
This blessing underscores that our standing with God does not originate in anything we have done. Rather, it flows from His preordained, unilateral choice to redeem us in Christ. The security and comfort this provides is an incredible spiritual blessing.
Adopted as God’s Children
The next blessing listed is that God has adopted believers as His sons and daughters. Those who put their faith in Christ are brought into God’s family and granted an intimate familial relationship with Him. In Christ, we can approach God as our perfect heavenly Father.
Roman adoption practices help illuminate the wonder of this spiritual blessing. Adopted children experienced a complete transfer from their old family into the new one. They gained all the rights and privileges of natural-born children. This depicts our new standing before God. He gifts us an exalted position as His beloved, forever children.
Redemption through Christ’s Blood
Verse 7 highlights the spiritual blessing of redemption through Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross. To redeem means to liberate someone by paying a ransom price. Jesus shed His blood and gave His life as the atonement needed to secure our freedom.
In Christ, believers are redeemed from the curse and consequences of sin. We are liberated from the chains that once enslaved us. This work of redemption provides indescribable spiritual riches and blessings to all who embrace it in faith.
Forgiveness of Sins
Flowing out of Christ’s redemptive work is the blessing of forgiveness. God’s forgiveness does not merely overlook sin; it removes the stain of sin before God’s holy sight. No matter how heinous our deeds, God’s abundant mercy provides forgiveness and cleansing to believers in Jesus.
This spiritual blessing grants renewed relationship and fellowship with God. Our offenses no longer create separation between us and Him. What a gift to have the weight of guilt permanently lifted before our Creator!
Insight into God’s Will
Paul also notes the spiritual blessing of understanding the mystery of God’s will. Through Christ’s work, the plans and purposes of God held in mystery for ages past are now revealed to His people. The Holy Spirit enlightens believers to grasp the beauty of the gospel and its implications.
This spiritual insight shapes everything from our perception of self to our outlook on world events. As we grow in comprehension of God’s will, we experience the blessing of aligning more closely with His wise, good, and loving perspective.
Guaranteed Inheritance
The final spiritual blessing listed is a promised future inheritance for believers. This refers to the hope of eternal life believers will receive at the culmination of God’s redemptive work. While we experience the first fruits of this redemption now, it will culminate with resurrected life in a restored world.
The guarantee of this future hope fortifies endurance and perspective in the ups and downs of our current lives. Our inheritance as children of God provides a forward-looking orientation that profoundly shapes how we live.
Taken together, these incredible spiritual blessings underscore several important truths that should shape how believers approach day-to-day life.
First, they reveal that our standing with God comes not through works or personal merit but by His grace and sovereign choice.
Second, we have been granted a position of profound privilege as God’s beloved children and co-heirs with Christ. This provides deep assurance of our value and security in Him.
Third, Christ’s work of redemption has liberated us from sin and death. We now have the hope of eternity and can live free from guilt and condemnation.
Finally, through the Holy Spirit, Christians have access to supernatural wisdom, perception, and discernment of God’s beautiful truths.
As Paul’s doxology makes clear, these spiritual blessings in Christ impart incredible riches. May we respond to such gifts with ceaseless gratitude and devotion as we grow in comprehending the fullness of God’s grace towards us.