The Difference Between Material and Spiritual Blessings! - Ephesians 1

Ephesians 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God’s holy people in 

Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the 

Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesus is located in Asia Minor, modern day Turkey.  It was probably the most important New Testament church in the 1st century.  It was situated in a very strategic location on the northeast part of the Mediterranean Sea.  It also was a straight route across the sea to Greece (Corinth).  Many of worldly influences of the culture in Corinth came over to Ephesus, such as idol worship and sexual immorality.  

Paul stayed in Ephesus for 3 years so it was near and dear to him.  The apostles John and Paul spent time there as well as Timothy, Paul's protege.  It is thought that John migrated there with the Jesus' mother, Mary due to the persecution in Jerusalem.  John also wrote his gospel there in Ephesus.  The term Ephesus means "desirable".  Unlike other letters Paul isn't writing to the Ephesians about specific issues they had written him about, but the letter is universal for all the churches in Asia Minor.  Finally, Ephesus is the first of seven churches mentioned in the Revelation 2.  In this chapter, the apostle John describes them as a church that has "forgotten its first love."  We should keep this in mind as we read this letter.   

Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

"Paul then launches into one of the most power theological declarations in all the New Testament, intended to remind the church of all they received in Christ." Verse by Verse ministry.org

What is amazing about verses 3-14 is they are only one sentence.  Paul wrote the longest run on sentence in history.  Note how focused Paul is on the importance of Christ and how we have received EVERY spiritual blessing in Christ.  Here are some of the blessings we have received through Christ. 

1. He chose us IN Christ before the beginning of the world to be blameless in His sight.

Note God chose us.  It was his intention to chose us.  Just like Jesus chose his disciples like Paul and Peter, He chose you and me. . 

2. He predestined us to adoption and sonship THROUGH Jesus Christ. 

Once again it says He predestined us to be sons and daughters in Christ. The predestination argument continues to rage on, but it is clear in this passage that God chose and presdestined us, we did not choose Him first. 

3. To the praise of His glorious grace which he has freely given us IN the one he loves.

Sometimes we talk about accepting God's grace, or having to do something to accept it, but we see here that grace is given to us freely. We did nothing to deserve it OR accept it.  He chose you and I not because we deserved it, but because he determined it to be. This is important because it moves us from being in control, and puts us COMPLETELY dependent on God's mercy alone.  This is how God intended it to be. 

4. In Him we have the forgiveness of sins and redemption THROUGH His blood. 

Redemption means to "buy back", and in Jesus' day it meant to buy back a slave and set them free.  We were in slavery to sin, but Jesus has paid the ransom through his blood and set us free.  

5. He has made known the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure which He purposed IN Christ. 

God was pleased to reveal the truth of who He is in Christ.  God wanted us to know Him and was pleased to use Jesus to do it. What was hidden has now been made known because of His desire to do so.

6. To be put into effect to when the times reach their fulfillment to bring unity to all things in heaven and earth UNDER Christ. 

"The Greek word translated "administration" means "under management". This administration will continue until the fullness or fulfillment of these times or until this age is closed." (Verse by Verse)

These are not material blessings but spiritual blessings.  There are other legitimate blessings we receive on earth in a temporal sense, but they are only that ... temporary.  Because of the wealth in Ephesus and due to its location, Paul starts right out by telling them that the spiritual blessings of Christ go way beyond the temporary material blessings of this world.  Before Paul goes to anything practical in terms of how they should live their lives as Christians, he starts with all of the blessings we have been given freely by God's grace through His Son. 

This will be the central tenet by which Paul teaches the Ephesians in this letter. The sooner you realize how rich you truly are in heaven, the sooner you relinquish the thought of gaining the wealth here. (Verse by Verse ministry.org)

How often do you take time to give thanks to God for your spiritual blessings?  Do you realize the eternal nature of these blessings, which are stored in the "heavenly realms"? Do you focus more on what you should be doing for God, or what He has already done for you?