Spiritual Blessings in Christ

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This message was given by Pastor Les on July 10, 2016 and is based on Ephesians 1:4-8. It explains the spiritual blessings we have in Christ that causes the Apostle Paul to erupt in praise even when he is in prison.

Written Excerpts:

Ephesians 1:3 (NKJV) 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

Introduction:You’re writing a letter to some very dear friends. There is so much you want to say, you hardly know where to begin. You start off with the normal greetings you usually would use at the beginning, but then, your mind is so crowded with the wonderful blessings of the Lord, you just “erupt” into a really long expression of praise for all the gracious benefits God has given.

That description is a little like what we find right here in the first chapter of Ephesians.

A couple of weeks ago I preached from 2 Timothy and presented the background information that it was probably written from prison when Paul had been arrested the second time. This letter to Ephesians was probably written a few years earlier when Paul was “in prison” the first time. (The letters Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon were also written during this imprisonment.)

Knowing that Paul is in confinement and awaiting some sort of trial, yet he is able to erupt into a burst of praise for all the spiritual blessings from God, should give all of us an example to follow when things aren’t exactly going in a positive direction for us. May God help us to realize anew today that no matter what the circumstances may be in our lives, we can always offer sincere praise to the Lord for the blessings He pours upon us so abundantly.

According to verse 3, these blessings are “in heavenly places,” meaning that they are spiritual blessings, not material or earthly blessings. (Tyndale) In the realm of unseen forces…

We also see that they are blessing “in Christ Jesus.” That is, we have been given these blessings because we are in Christ.

For the message this morning, I want to explore the specific things that Paul mentions as part of our spiritual blessings from God.

Blessing # 1 – We are chosen by God (v. 4)

Ephesians 1:4 (NKJV) 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,

There has been a long-standing debate among theologians regarding the apparent tension between the sovereignty of God and the free-will of man; between predestination and personal choice.

The story is told of a group of theologians who were discussing the tension between predestination and free will. Things became so heated that the group broke up into two opposing factions.

But one man, not knowing which to join, stood for a moment trying to decide. At last he joined the predestination group. "Who sent you here?" they asked. "No one sent me," he replied. "I came of my own free will." "Free will!" they exclaimed. "You can't join us! You belong with the other group!" 

So he followed their orders and went to the other clique. There someone asked, "When did you decide to join us?" The young man replied, "Well, I didn't really decide--I was sent here." "Sent here!" they shouted. "You can't join us unless you have decided by your own free will!"  (Today In The Word, August, 1989, p. 35.)

Since this isn’t a theology class and we do not have the time to discuss and respond to questions, we will simply say that there is a mystery about how the two biblical truths work in concert without canceling out each other.

D.L. Moody – The elect are the whosoever wills, the non-elect are the whosoever won'ts. 

Someone else said - God sovereignly predestined all who would choose to believe.

If you made the choice to trust Christ and accept His salvation, you did so with the divine help of God’s grace and because God chose you.

He chose us before the foundation of the world.

He chose us to be holy and blameless in Him.

Blessing # 2 – We are adopted by God (v. 5)

Ephesians 1:5-6 (NKJV) ⁵ having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, ⁶ to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved.

Chapter 2 talks about how we were strangers and aliens, apart from the household of God.

But we have been adopted and brought into the family and household of God through the blood of Christ.

We were someone else's kid! Like Jesus told the Jews, "You are of your father the devil."

We were abused by him and misused, but God took us in and made us one of His kids!

We enjoy all the blessings and privileges of being a member of the family – love, fellowship, full inheritance (we’ll talk more about it later), etc. etc.

Blessing #3 – We are redeemed by God (v. 7-8a)

Ephesians 1:7-8 (NKJV) ⁷ In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace ⁸ which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,

We have been purchased back from the power and control of the enemy by the precious blood of Jesus.

Apostle Peter says, “We are not redeemed with corruptible things such as silver and gold… but with the precious blood of Jesus, as a lamb without blemish and without spot.”

A few years ago I did a series of Bible lessons on Wednesday nights on the topic of redemption. I’m thinking of using that as the basis for a series of Sunday morning sermons sometime in near the future.

Songwriter says, "Redeemed how I love to proclaim it…."

Paul goes on to say Redemption provides the forgiveness of sins.

Think of the fact that through faith in the blood of Jesus Christ, every disobedience, every rebellious action, every idle thought, and every kind of sin is forgiven and wiped away because we have been redeemed.

Why? Because of the boundless riches of His grace! Infinite wealth of grace!

Blessing #4 – We are taught by God (vv. 8b-9)

Ephesians 1:8-9 (NKJV) ⁸ which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, ⁹ having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,

God grants knowledge, wisdom and prudence.

He makes things known to us that we did not know before, i.e., the “mystery of His will.”

Heb. 1:1f – God spoke in the past by the prophets, but in these last days He has spoken by His Son.

God did not keep the message hidden, but He has revealed it in varying stages and in various methods. He has taught us the “mystery” and we are the benefactors of His grace and blessing because of it.

The God of the Bible is one who Has revealed Himself.

Francis Schaeffer wrote a book, “He Is There and He Is Not Silent.”

Blessing #5 – We are bequeathed by God (vv. 11-14)

Ephesians 1:11-14 (NKJV) ¹¹ 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, ¹² that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. ¹³ 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, ¹⁴ who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

We…you – Jews first then Gentiles.

Inheritance – everything purchased by the blood of Christ… forgiveness now, salvation full and complete later.

Romans 8 - … the whole creation groans and labors… await the redemption of our bodies…

And, it is all accomplished for the purpose of giving all the glory to God.

Jesus, Our Stunt Double - Actor Kevin Bacon recounted when his 6-year-old son saw Footloose for the first time:

He said, "Hey, Dad, you know that thing in the movie where you swing from the rafters of that building? That's really cool, how did you do that?"

I said, "Well, I didn't do that part—it was a stunt man."

"What's a stunt man?" he asked.

"That's someone who dresses like me and does things I can't do."

"Oh," he replied and walked out of the room looking a little confused.

A little later he said, "Hey, Dad, you know that thing in the movie where you spin around on that gym bar and land on your feet? How did you do that?"

I said, "Well, I didn't do that. It was a gymnastics double."

"What's a gymnastics double?" he asked.

"That's a guy who dresses in my clothes and does things I can't do."

There was silence from my son, then he asked in a concerned voice, "Dad, what did you do?"

"I got all the glory," I sheepishly replied.

Joel Sarrault —That's the grace of God in our lives. Jesus took our sin upon himself and did what we couldn't do. We stand forgiven and bask sheepishly triumphant in Jesus' glory. In Fresh Illustrations for Preaching & Teaching (Baker), from the editors of Leadership. (Today's Best Illustrations)

Conclusion:

What wonderful blessings we have through Jesus Christ! It’s no wonder the Apostle Paul erupted in a doxology of praise! Here he is in confinement, awaiting trial, and he decides to write a letter of instruction and encouragement to a young church that he helped get started. He only gets a few words into the letter before he begins praising God for all these spiritual blessings.

These blessings were not only for Paul, and they were not only for the Ephesians. They are provided for every person; whosoever will!

Have you abandoned your sins and trusted in Christ?

Have you experienced the redemption and forgiveness of your sins?

If not, you can. You can trust Christ any time you admit you’re tired of running your own life.

You can trust Him any time you admit your disobedience against the will of God and the sins you have committed.

Any time you throw yourself on the mercy of God and accept the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross as a substitute for you.

Let’s close our service by singing the invitational hymn: Only Trust Him