“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.” (Ephesians 1:3)
This little phrase, “in Christ” conveys a world of doctrinal truth with great blessing to the believer. Positionally speaking, God has actually “raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6). God in effect sees us as “in Christ,” and this wonderful position, at God’s right hand, implies great honor.
It is well to note similar phrases throughout Scripture. Paul assures us that we were “chosen . . . in him before the foundation of the world” (1:4), “accepted in the beloved” (1:6), and “created in Christ Jesus unto good works” (2:10).
He is the one “in whom also we have obtained an inheritance” (1:11), and “in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (2:22). We have the glorious future promise that God will “gather together in one all things in Christ” (1:10), “according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places” (1:19-20).
Therefore, in our exalted position in Him, in the heavenly places, we do indeed enjoy “all spiritual blessings.” This doctrinal truth provides us with the incentive and power to live a practical Christian life that is genuinely consistent with our high calling and position in Him.
This is the basis of the many New Testament exhortations to the believer to live daily “in Christ.” For example, “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him” (Colossians 2:6). “Therefore, since “you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:1-3).
Now that is something to think about:
Be Blessed,
Pastor Bob