GOD'S SWEET BLESSINGS
READ Ephesians 1:3-7
This morning's reading looks to the spiritual blessings of God in your life. The Apostle begins by speaking of the manner in which God has blessed us with all spiritual blessings. Verse 3, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ." It does not take one long to realize the praise due to the Father relating to the blessings He has bestowed upon us, and those blessings are found in the person of Christ. The origin of all blessings is in Heaven where the Father resides. Do you recognize all the spiritual blessings you have in Christ today?
Verse 4 speaks of God having chosen us to be holy and blameless. "According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love." Clearly, this verse speaks about the matter of election. The word "chosen" means to be chosen out of a group, and that choosing happened prior to the foundation of the world. The greater scope concerning election in the Bible is corporal in distinction to personal. Just as God chose a people in Abraham (i.e., Israel), He also has chosen a people in Christ (i.e., the church). Most New Testament references to election deal with the body of Christ rather than individual believers. Jews to this day enter into their election by physical birth. We do so by a spiritual birth. We further have the open invitation, “whosoever will may come.” The greater truth is that our election (i.e., the church) has been “in Him,” that is, in Christ.
It is of further significance that our election in Christ has been that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. God chose us to the end we might be holy. The word holy may refer to our ultimate positional holiness in Christ while being “without blame” may refer to our day-to-day living. In any event, God has chosen us to be altogether holy, not only positionally, but also personally. That is why He chose us in Christ in the first place. This is His divine purpose.
The final phrase, “in love,” likely refers to God’s great love wherewith He loved us. His purpose was that we might be holy. His motive was His love. From thence has flowed His amazing grace and boundless mercy.
Verses 5-6 present the fact that God has adopted us as His children. In verse 5 Paul now adds, "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself..." This additional statement may not be so much a new thought as an enhancement upon the former thought. The word predestinated often holds inaccurate understanding. It does not refer to a fatalistic inevitability or irresistible grace. Rather, the thought is that God in ages past planned ahead of time to adopt us unto Himself “by Christ Jesus.” Our adoption is through Jesus Christ. Jesus is God’s only begotten Son, and we are His numerous adopted sons. Though the basis of our relationship is different, an adopted son is as permanent as a begotten son. Both enjoy full privileges of sonship. This whole matter of sonship, election, and even predestination has been according to the good pleasure of His will. The thought is that all of this is through the goodness and kindness of His will. The wonderful benevolence of our heavenly Father is in view. All these blessings in Christ and more are predicated upon the kind and gracious purposes of His will.
The even greater motive in all of this is that we should be "...to the praise of the glory of His grace." His wonderful kindness and good pleasure toward us redound to praise the glory of His grace. The latter thought, in this context, alludes to His graciousness, love, kindness, and goodness to us. Indeed, it demands praise. It indeed is glorious. It is thus in His grace wherein "...He hath made us accepted in the beloved." It is God’s grace toward us which has so blessed us in Christ. Hence, all profound spiritual blessings being defined derive from God’s grace and are in Christ.
Verse 7 speaks of how God has redeemed us— He has forgiven our sins. The verse states, "In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace." The next blessing in Christ is noted via “in whom.” That is “redemption through His blood.” The ransom of our redemption was the precious blood of Christ. Redemption, of course, alludes to how God through Jesus’ blood has purchased us back from the bondage of sin. To that degree, He became our kinsman redeemer. Moreover, through His shed blood, we have “forgiveness of sins.” As per Hebrews 9:22, the shedding of blood is the necessary requisite for forgiveness. It is the basis upon which God’s forgiveness rests.
We are greatly blessed, and we are to be praising God for His manifold blessings. Will you lift Him up in your heart today?
Your Friend and His,
Pastor Abbott
MEDITATIONS
1. Do you believe that you have access to all of God's spiritual blessings? How is that possible?
2. Who or what is the source of all spiritual blessings?
3. What is your obligation to God considering all that He has done (according to verse 4)?
4. What is the ultimate goal of being holy and blameless?
5. How meaningful is the fact that you have been adopted by your heavenly Father?
6. What price did God pay to redeem you from sin's bondage? What price did you pay? Who paid the greater price?
7. Can you tell a person how he can have his sins forgiven, how he can be redeemed? What is the value of being able to do so?