What Are Spiritual Blessings?

Ephesians 1:3 (NKJV) 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,

What are these spiritual blessings, and how do they benefit us?

Relationship with God through Jesus Christ is the key to experiencing its benefits, which are not reserved for a select few and do not involve any mysterious powers or cosmic connection.

The word blessing in Ephesians 1:3 is a translation of the Greek word “eulogy” which means to speak well of. Since God is acting in this verse, we can say that God has spoken good things about us or pronounced good things for our benefit. The good things that God has decreed for us are probably beyond our ability to number, but we can outline a few by looking at the verses that follow the statement (Ephesians 1:4–13).

The first blessing listed is the ELECTION as saints. Ephesians 1:4 says that He has “chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.” God has chosen to make us holy and blameless, and all because of His love, His good pleasure, and His grace (verses 5–6). What a blessing, that “even when we were dead in sins” (Ephesians 2:5), God chose to extend His grace to us and offer us salvation. This is even more amazing when we realize that He made that decision before sin even entered into the world.

The second blessing listed is found in Ephesians 1:5 is OUR ADOPTION as His sons. Not only has God chosen us to be made holy, but He grants us full status as HIS SONS, with all the benefits thereof. John 1:12 says, “As many as received him, to them gave the power to become the children of God, even to them that believe in his name.” When we believe the gospel, we receive full access to the Father, able to call out to Him as His children.

The third spiritual blessing is in Ephesians 1:6, where we are made “ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED.” The word is related to grace and gives the idea of making us graceful or favourable through Christ, the beloved of God. When we put on Christ, the Father sees His loveliness when He looks at us. The blood of Christ has taken away the guilt of our sins, and we stand before the Father as perfectly accepted.

This leads us right into the fourth blessing (Ephesians 1:7), THE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD. Redemption speaks of buying one’s freedom, by paying a ransom. The price for our sins, the payment to buy us out of eternal condemnation, was fully paid by the blood of Christ. In Christ, we are no longer slaves to sin, but we become slaves to God. Since we are bought and paid for by His blood, we have an obligation to glorify God in our body and spirit (1 Corinthians 6:20).

Ephesians 1:7 also describes the fifth blessing, THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS. It is closely related to redemption but looks at the other side of the coin. In paying the ransom for our sins, the debt of sin was cancelled, and we were forgiven. We no longer have the burden of guilt for violating God’s holy laws.

The sixth spiritual blessing listed is KNOWING THE MYSTERY OF HIS WILL (Ephesians 1:8–10). God has given us wisdom and insight through His Word and has shown us His desire to bring all things together to glorify Christ. Since all of creation was made by Him and is for His good pleasure (Revelation 4:11), the consummation of His plan is when everything and everyone is brought in line to glorify Him. By aligning ourselves with Him by faith, we become part of His perfect plan and purpose.

Ephesians 1:11 says that another blessing is THE INHERITANCE THAT IS GIVEN TO US THROUGH CHRIST. What is included in that inheritance? “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). The riches of glory, the presence of God, the eternal home — these don’t even scratch the surface of all the blessings that belong to our inheritance.

Another blessing is found in Ephesians 1:13, which is the SEALING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. When we become God’s children, He places His mark of ownership on us, guaranteeing our eternal security. This is spoken of as the down payment of our full redemption, to hold us until the day Christ brings us to Him.

The list could go on and on speaking of the privileges that are ours in Christ. We are LABORERS together with God (1 Corinthians 3:9); we are AMBASSADORS bringing the message of reconciliation to a foreign land (2 Corinthians 5:20); and we are THE BRIDE OF CHRIST (2 Corinthians 11:2). We have available to us THE PEACE THAT PASSES UNDERSTANDING (Philippians 4:7) and the assurance that NOTHING IS ABLE TO SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD THAT IS IN CHRIST JESUS (Romans 8:39).

How do we access all these blessings? They are readily accessible to everyone WHO IS IN CHRIST JESUS. The way to be in Christ is to repent, or turn away from our sins (Acts 17:30; ), confessing to God that we are sinners (Proverbs 28:13; Romans 10:9). When we believe that Christ died to take our punishment and now lives to give us new life (1 Corinthians 15:3–4), He grants us forgiveness of sins and all the blessings that accompany that salvation.

To access these spiritual blessings, you must be saved. You have to accept Jesus as your Lord. But how?

John 3:16 says that “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life”. The Bible says that you must believe Jesus as you Lord.

Also in Romans 10:9–10,13 says, “ that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation……. For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”

Do you believe that Jesus came in the flesh, was crucified, buried, and resurrected on the third day? If you believe now call upon the name of the Lord.

Pray this prayer aloud. Father, I thank you for your word says that if I believe with the heart Jesus rose from the dead, I will be made righteous. Father, I believe so. And if I confess that Jesus is my Lord I will be saved. I Confess Jesus is my Lord. I believe your word and now I am saved. Thank you, Father, for saving me. Jesus is my Lord and Savior from today henceforth.

Now because you are saved, you are now entitled to all these blessings we have looked above and all blessings that are in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Hallelujah! Glory to God. Welcome to the family of God. Thank you, Father, for all my spiritual blessings that are in Christ Jesus in the heavenly places.

Contributor

By Gilbert Magomere Ayieko

Minister