"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
The aim of this verse, of course, is to glorify God for His wonderful grace toward those who are "saints in Christ Jesus (v.1)." It merits our thoughtful meditation and should, indeed, eventuate in our high praise to God. Let us proceed by outlining the verse in the classical format of journalism: Who, What, When, Where and Why.
Who: "The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." Think on it; the eternal God, creator and sustainer of heaven and earth, has time and interest to devote to us, individually and particularly. Many an earthly father has little time for, and often little interest in his offspring, but not so our heavenly Father praise His name!
What: His blessings —spiritual blessings. Attend an average prayer meeting, and you may hear thanksgiving for what we call blessings, but more often than not, they are temporal blessings which will sooner or later pass away. Certainly it is appropriate to give thanks for our daily bread, our creature comforts, etc., but that is not what the Spirit of God has in mind here. In view here are blessings of a different order and a much higher level. Confining our research to this chapter alone, some of those "spiritual blessings" are easily identified: our election in Christ, "chosen… in Him before the foundation of the world" (v.4); accepted (of the Father) in Him (v.6); redeemed in Him (v. 7), i.e., bought back from Satan's dominion by the incredible price Christ paid at Calvary to free us from his grasp; afforded an inheritance in Him (v.11), i.e., made "joint heirs" with His Son, Jesus Christ (cf. Rom. 8:16,17); finally, sealed in Him "with that Holy Spirit of promise" (v.13), providing our eternal security.
To all this may be added, we are "quickened," or made alive in Him, a spiritual resurrection from our native condition as "dead in trespasses and sins (2:5)"; raised up "together with Him," and in consequence seated with Christ in heavenly places (2:6). It is this last disclosure that prompted a good friend and fellow preacher once to say, "Keep looking down." In other words, let us reckon our position as already settled with Christ in the heavenlies, and live from that perspective. It is the perspective of victory, properly ours because of the blessings the Father has bestowed upon us "in Christ."
When: Observe that all these spiritual blessings are presented as ours in "the today of our experience," as we have just implied. Our text reads, "Who hath blessed us… " This immeasurable spiritual wealth is ours now; it is not something merely to be hoped for in a vague and distant future. We can claim it, affirm it, rest in it, if we walk by faith. "Keep looking down!"
Where: In heavenly places. That establishes their security. Our temporal blessings are expendable; these are inexhaustible and unassailable. Some may be tempted to say, 'if they are in heavenly places, they'll do us no earthly good.' That is the conclusion if we fail to adopt the divine perspective, but that is not what God intends. We are to value these blessing highly, and make them our first pursuit.
Why: That we should be "to the praise of the glory of His grace (v.6)." If we live earthbound lives, focusing only on the temporal, we will rob God of His glory and oursleves of our joy. If we shift our emphasis, giving priority to the eternal, we will be able to see Him who is invisible, count our spiritual blessings as the real capital of life, and glorify God in our bodies and in our spirits. May you and I be numbered with those who "Worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh [Phil. 3:3]."
Note in conclusion, where all of this is found: it is "In HIM." These blessings are the possession only of those who are "in Christ Jesus." The prerequisite for that is to be born again, through a personal faith in the Son of God Who loved us and gave Himself for us. Are you in Him?
Yours for HIS glory,
"Pastor" Frasier
The aim of this verse, of course, is to glorify God for His wonderful grace toward those who are "saints in Christ Jesus (v.1)." It merits our thoughtful meditation and should, indeed, eventuate in our high praise to God. Let us proceed by outlining the verse in the classical format of journalism: Who, What, When, Where and Why.
Who: "The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." Think on it; the eternal God, creator and sustainer of heaven and earth, has time and interest to devote to us, individually and particularly. Many an earthly father has little time for, and often little interest in his offspring, but not so our heavenly Father praise His name!
What: His blessings —spiritual blessings. Attend an average prayer meeting, and you may hear thanksgiving for what we call blessings, but more often than not, they are temporal blessings which will sooner or later pass away. Certainly it is appropriate to give thanks for our daily bread, our creature comforts, etc., but that is not what the Spirit of God has in mind here. In view here are blessings of a different order and a much higher level. Confining our research to this chapter alone, some of those "spiritual blessings" are easily identified: our election in Christ, "chosen… in Him before the foundation of the world" (v.4); accepted (of the Father) in Him (v.6); redeemed in Him (v. 7), i.e., bought back from Satan's dominion by the incredible price Christ paid at Calvary to free us from his grasp; afforded an inheritance in Him (v.11), i.e., made "joint heirs" with His Son, Jesus Christ (cf. Rom. 8:16,17); finally, sealed in Him "with that Holy Spirit of promise" (v.13), providing our eternal security.
To all this may be added, we are "quickened," or made alive in Him, a spiritual resurrection from our native condition as "dead in trespasses and sins (2:5)"; raised up "together with Him," and in consequence seated with Christ in heavenly places (2:6). It is this last disclosure that prompted a good friend and fellow preacher once to say, "Keep looking down." In other words, let us reckon our position as already settled with Christ in the heavenlies, and live from that perspective. It is the perspective of victory, properly ours because of the blessings the Father has bestowed upon us "in Christ."
When: Observe that all these spiritual blessings are presented as ours in "the today of our experience," as we have just implied. Our text reads, "Who hath blessed us… " This immeasurable spiritual wealth is ours now; it is not something merely to be hoped for in a vague and distant future. We can claim it, affirm it, rest in it, if we walk by faith. "Keep looking down!"
Where: In heavenly places. That establishes their security. Our temporal blessings are expendable; these are inexhaustible and unassailable. Some may be tempted to say, 'if they are in heavenly places, they'll do us no earthly good.' That is the conclusion if we fail to adopt the divine perspective, but that is not what God intends. We are to value these blessing highly, and make them our first pursuit.
Why: That we should be "to the praise of the glory of His grace (v.6)." If we live earthbound lives, focusing only on the temporal, we will rob God of His glory and oursleves of our joy. If we shift our emphasis, giving priority to the eternal, we will be able to see Him who is invisible, count our spiritual blessings as the real capital of life, and glorify God in our bodies and in our spirits. May you and I be numbered with those who "Worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh [Phil. 3:3]."
Note in conclusion, where all of this is found: it is "In HIM." These blessings are the possession only of those who are "in Christ Jesus." The prerequisite for that is to be born again, through a personal faith in the Son of God Who loved us and gave Himself for us. Are you in Him?
Yours for HIS glory,
"Pastor" Frasier
No comments:
Post a Comment