Contributor: Isekhua Evborokhai

INTRODUCTION

Last week we commenced the study of the Book of Ephesians. We learnt that it was written to give insight into the mysteries of eternal life in Christ Jesus. That the apostle Paul dealt with the fundamentals of the gospel of Christ in all its saving glory.

In our text today, we encounter a verse (Verse 3) that says categorically that God has blessed us with EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING in heavenly places! For the singular reason that we belong to Christ! So, in today’s study we shall be considering what these Spiritual Blessings are; and why He choose to bless us with them and if there are any purposes or reasons for these blessings.

VERSE 3:

“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”

The Living Bible says:

“How we praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every blessing in heaven because we belong to Christ.”

So, what are these Spiritual Blessings; and why did He choose to bless us with them? Are there any purposes or reasons for these blessings?

VERSE 4: BLESSING #1 - CHOSEN SPECIALLY

He chose us! He picked us and carefully selected us out! Long ago, even before He made the world, God chose us to be His very own through what Christ would do for us. (1 Peter 2:9, Isaiah 43:1)

PURPOSE/REASON #1: To be holy and without blame before 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” Ephesians 1:4 (Emphasis mine)

VERSE 5: BLESSING #2 - PREDESTINED FOR ADOPTION

Predestination implies an outcome or course of events determined in advance by divine will or fate. So, God predestined us; His plan has always been to adopt us into His own family from the foundations of the world. (Jeremiah 1:5, 2 Timothy 2:19)

PURPOSE/REASON #2: He chose to do this according to the pleasure of His will! And he did this because he wanted to!

“having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will” Ephesians 1:5

VERSE 6: BLESSING #3 - DIVINE ACCEPTANCE

He made us accepted in the Beloved; on the basis of our unity with “His beloved Son, in whom He is well pleased” (1 Peter 2:5)

PURPOSE/REASON #3: For the praise of the glory of His grace

“to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.” Ephesians 1:6

VERSE 7: BLESSING #4 - REDEEMPTION

He gave us redemption through His blood, and the forgiveness of sins (Galatians 3:13)

PURPOSE/REASON #4: According to the riches of His grace

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” Ephesians 1:7

VERSE 8: BLESSING #5 - ABUNDANT GRACE

He made His grace to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence. (1 Timothy 1:14)

PURPOSE/REASON #5: According to the riches of His grace

“which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,” Ephesians 1:8

VERSES 9-10: BLESSING #6 - DIVINE REVELATION

He revealed the mystery of His will to us. God has told us His secret reason for sending Christ, a plan he decided on in mercy long ago. (Colossians 1:27)

PURPOSE/REASON #6: He decided to do this in Himself because it pleased Him to; so that when the time comes He will gather all of us together

“having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.” Ephesians 1:9-10

VERSES 11-12: BLESSING #7 - INHERITANCE IN CHRIST

He gave us an inheritance in Him (1 Peter 1: 3-4)

PURPOSE/REASON #7: To the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will. God’s purpose in this was that we should praise God and give glory to him for doing these mighty things for us,  

“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 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory” Ephesians 1:11-12

VERSE 13: BLESSING #8 - SEALED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

We have been sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise (Revelation 7:3)

PURPOSE/REASON #8: Because we trusted in Him, after we heard the word of truth, the gospel of our salvation  

“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise” Ephesians 1:13

VERSE 14: BLESSING #9 - GUARANTEED INHERITANCE

The Holy Spirit guaranteed our inheritance. His presence within us is God’s guarantee that He really will give us all that He promised; and the Spirit’s seal upon us means that God has already purchased us and that He guarantees to bring us to Himself. (Hebrews 7:22)

PURPOSE/REASON #9: to the praise of His glory

“who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:14

CONCLUSION

The Almighty has showered us with such abundance of blessings! Reading through the reasons and purposes for God showering us with such blessings reveal His extravagant grace! A sound realization of these amazing blessings should cause us to be grateful, confident and humble! And like Paul, we cannot but break out in praise blessing the Almighty God for such extravagance!