Thesis: To teach the hearer of the spiritual blessings which are in the heavenly places, that are in that location known as “in Christ.”
Text: Eph 1:3
Eph 1:3 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, (NASB)
Introduction,
In the beginning of this letter to the Ephesian Christians the apostle Paul here affirms a great truth.
That truth is that “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places is located in a location known as in Christ.”
Therefore in this lesson we will attempt to . . .
1) Identify the “Bestower” of these spiritual blessings.
2) Identify just “what” these blessings are.
3) Identify the “location” where these blessings are accessed.
I. IDENTIFICATION OF THE BESTOWER OF THESE SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS: (Eph 1:3a)
Eph 1:3a Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
A. Our section of Scripture starts out “Blessed be” the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1. This portion of the passage is what is known as a “doxology,” it is that which praises God.
a. The word “blessed” here is the translated from the Greek word “eulogetos,” it is not the same word that is used in the Beatitudes in Mt 5, that word is “makarios” and basically means “fortunate;”
b. “Eulogetos” here means “to speak well of,” this is same word from which our word “eulogy” comes from, which refers to one “speaking well” of a departed person.
c. Thus we see here that the inspired Paul is verbally praising, “speaking well of God.”
2. We also should be “blessing” God, “speaking well” of Him, and of His great love, of His mighty power, of His favor (grace), of His longsuffering and kindness which are being shown throughout the whole of creation which we are part thereof (Heb 13:15; Ja 4:15).
Heb 13:15 Through Jesus we should always bring God a sacrifice of praise, that is, words that acknowledge him. (GW)
Jas 4:15 . . . you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that."
a. All the heavens declare the glory of God (Ps 19:1), so also should we, the Psalmist wrote (Ps 34:1-3) . . .
Psa 34:1 I will bless Jehovah at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Psa 34:2 My soul shall make her boast in Jehovah: The meek shall hear thereof, and be glad.
Psa 34:3 Oh magnify Jehovah with me, And let us exalt his name together. (ASV)
b. We should do this is in the good times and the bad, as we see the patriarch Job did even after God allowed Satan to test him by taking his riches and most of his family (Job 1:20-22) . . .
Job 1:20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped.
Job 1:21 And he said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be (let us speak well of) the name of the LORD."
Job 1:22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.
c. Yet there are far to many individuals today taking Jehovah God's name in vain, making it mere slang, empty, worthless (as seen in the “oh God” statements), unprofitable, blasphemous, even profane words, which will help to condemn them on the Last Day, the Lord said (Mt 12:37).
Mat 12:37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
d. It is a sad state to which this country has turned, if we took an individual out of this time frame and perhaps put them back in the 1800’s when this nation was openly practicing the fear of God, I believe their speech alone would have ended them up in jail.
e. The truth is that public profanity is against the law even to this day in some areas of our world, in fact “Wisconsin is one of nine states with laws against public swearing or using profane language on the telephone” and just this summer in Arlington Virginia the penalty for public swearing was upped from a fine of $100 to $250, let us hope this trend continues for our nations sake.
B. “The God and Father”
When God the Father purposed the plan for eternal life for His creation before the foundation of the world, that plan involved a Son, His Son, the Son of the Godhead, as Isaiah writes (Isa 9:6) . . .
Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
a. Thus when the Word of God, the 2nd member of the Godhead became flesh (Jn 1:14), through the means of the power of the Most High, the Holy Spirit (Lk 1:35) overshadowed “the” virgin of Isa 7:14; in this manner God became the Father of His only, His uniquely begotten Son, Whom God sent into the world that we might have life through Him (1 Jn 4:9), for Christ is not a created being, but rather eternal in nature, as seen in (Micah 5:2).
Mic 5:2 But as for you, Beth-lehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you one will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel; His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity. (NASB)
b. God was, is, and always will be, He is, eternal in nature. Gen 1:1 it states “In the beginning God” (“Elohiym” plural, YLT renders it “Gods,” this is a reference to the Godhead, the Divine nature, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit).
c. He is the Creator, the Originator, of all that is not God, thus He is not only the Father of Jesus, He is also the Father of all creation.
d. And He is also “our Father Who is in heaven” the Christian’s Father, in a spiritual sense, for we are born again, born anew, born from above, born of water and the Spirit into the family of God, from which we were previously separated, when we were dead in our sins, without hope and without God in the world (Eph 2:1-3, 12), when as children we learned to love and desire the things of the world instead the things of God (1 Jn 2:15-17; Ja 4:4).
C. “Of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Jesus Christ has been given all authority in heaven and on earth (Mt 28:18), which includes Him being Head over all things to the church (Eph 1:22), whether man or creature, saint or sinner, or spiritual being, or any part of creation, Christ has authority over that entity, whether they acknowledge this or not.
a. He became flesh, He lived the perfect life, He was killed as the perfect sacrifice, He was resurrected from the dead, and He ascended into heaven, where the Father seated Him at His right hand, that place of authority. All this was according to the Father’s plan, where He will rule until His second coming, when all will be resurrected (John 5:28-29), and He will hand the reigns of the kingdom back to the Father, and God will be all in all (1 Cor 15:22-24, 28).
1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
1Co 15:23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.
1Co 15:24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying (abolishing) every rule and every authority and power.
1Co 15:28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.
b. “Our” (Lord Jesus Christ)” here would be a reference to Christians, those who willingly submit to the sovereign rule of Jesus Christ in all aspects their lives, He is our “Lord”, (which literally means “Master”) because we subject ourselves to Him by doing the Fathers will (Mt 7:21).
Mat 7:21 "Not everyone who keeps saying to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will get into the kingdom from heaven, but only the person who keeps doing the will of my Father in heaven. (ISV)
c. He is Lord (Master) and Savior (2 Pet 1:11) of Christians, these two attributes (Lord/Master and Savior) are inseparable. He cannot be your Savior if He is not your Lord (Master). He is your Lord (Master) “if” you “do” the things that He says, if you don’t, He is not, He Himself affirms this in Lk 6:46 . . .
Luk 6:46 "Why do you keep calling me 'Lord, Lord,' but don't do what I tell you? (ISV)
d. There are many religious bodies that Claim Jesus as their Lord (Master), yet they do not obey, thus recognize His sovereign rule over that which they “do” in the areas of worship, work, organization, nor designation. Thus He cannot be their Savior, for He certainly is not their Lord (Master; Mt 23:10b).
Mat 23:10b for one is your master, even the Christ. (ASV)
e. We need to be careful that the place where we attend and assemble teaches and practices that which is found in the NT, its worship (Jn 4:24), its work (Eph 4:12), its organization (1 Tim 3; Tit 1), and its designations (1 Pet 4:11), in fact anything we do, is to by the authority of Christ, for it is written (Col 3:17a) . . .
Col 3:17a And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,
f. Therefore it’s clearly seen Who is the Bestower of these spiritual blessings in our text, it is God the Father, through our Lord (Master) Jesus Christ.
II. IDENTIFICATION OF THESE SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS: (Eph 1:3b)
Eph 1:3b who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places
A. The words “blessed” and “blessing” here are similar to the first word we seen earlier in this verse, they are “eulogeo” and “eulogia” this passage could be more clearly translated as “Who has “prospered” us with every spiritual “benefit” in the heavenly places.
1. Yet there is a big difference between when God “blesses” and when man “blesses” (speaks well of).
a. We verbally exalt the Most High God for He is worthy, for there is none like Him, but still the words of man are just that, “words.”
b. But the words of God contain “power” for He (Rom 4:17b) . . .
Rom 4:17b . . . calls into existence the things that do not exist.
c. When God speaks POWER! is manifested, in the creation account in Gen 1 “God said” and it “was”, you, I, and the whole creation are proof of the power of God’s word, it is written (Heb 11:3) . . .
Heb 11:3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared (framed; i.e. created) by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. (NASB; In other words they were made out of nothing, He just spoke them into existence.)
d. The miracles which God has manifested throughout time in order to bring about His eternal purpose concerning mankind, and also God’s natural laws that are in place, both take place by that same powerful word (Mt 8:8; Col 1:17b; Heb 1:3b).
Mat 8:8 But the centurion replied, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed.
Col 1:17b and in him all things hold together.
Heb 1:3b he upholds the universe by the word of his power . . .
e. Therefore it should be considered that the blessings of God are limitless, as is His power, for with God “all things are possible” (Mt 19:26).
B. As we have seen, the Bestower of the spiritual blessings under contemplation is God the Father. But just what do these blessings consist of?
1. When we look at this passage we see that the “spiritual blessings” under contemplation here are those that are in “the heavenly places,” not on earth.
a. While there are spiritual blessings on earth which are available to each and every human being, even to those who hate God.
1) For example a Christian wife could be a spiritual blessing to a non-Christian man as seen in 1 Pet 3:1-2 . . .
1Pe 3:1 Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives,
1Pe 3:2 when they see your respectful and pure conduct.
2) Jesus’ words are spiritual blessings that are available to anyone with a Bible, He himself said (Jn 6:63) . . .
Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, and are life.
And Peter said (Jn 6:68) . . .
Joh 6:68 Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,
3) The Grace of God (Jesus Christ and His gospel; Tit 2:11) are available to all, through preaching and teaching, as it is written (Tit 2:11) . . .
Tit 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,
4) These spiritual blessings are available to all, whoever wills can drink of the water of life freely (Rev 22:17).
2. But the spiritual blessings described here are those in the “heavenly places”, literally “in the heavenlies.”
a. This would include heaven itself, the place where God Himself actually dwells (Mt 6:9).
Mat 6:9 Pray then like this: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
b. It would also include the “many mansions” (lit. “many abiding places” ASV margin) in heaven which Jesus talks about in Jn 14:2.
Joh 14:2 In my Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. (NASB)
c. This would include the hadean realm which is revealed in Lk 16:19-31 before the cross, where we see two basic compartments with a “great gulf fixed” between the two. One side is a blessing, the other a curse (Luke 16:22-26).
Luk 16:22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried,
Luk 16:23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.
Luk 16:24 And he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.'
Luk 16:25 But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.
Luk 16:26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm (gulf) has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.'
d. Also we have a picture of God’s throne room after the cross, in the 3rd heaven (Rev 7:9-12).
Rev 7:9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
Rev 7:10 and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"
Rev 7:11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,
Rev 7:12 saying, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen."
e. And this would also include any other heavenly abode not revealed in the Bible (Deut 29:29),
Deu 29:29 The secret things belong unto Jehovah our God; but the things that are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.
f. There are quite a few places described in some of the other holy writings, such as the book of Enoch.
3. These blessings within the heavenlies (heavenly places) would also include . . .
a. The Holy Spirit, Who comes from heaven and dwells within us at the point of belief (Eph 1:13).
Eph 1:13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
Eph 1:14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
b. Our redemption through the blood of Jesus Christ (the forgiveness of sins; Eph 1:7) which takes place in the mind of God (Who is in heaven) when man accesses His grace, through faith, by means of the gospel (Rom 5:2).
Rom 5:2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
c. There is the writing of our names in the book of life (Phili 4:3; Rev 20:15), which actually took place before the foundation of the world (Rev 13:8), according to the foreknowledge of God (1 Pet 1:1-2).
Rev 13:8 and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.
d. There is the ability to pray to God in heaven as His children (Eph 1:5), as His priests (1 Pet 2:5, 9), through that one Mediator (1 Tim 2:5), our High Priest Jesus Christ, Who entered into heaven as our Forerunner (Heb 6:20), and sat down at the right hand of God (Heb 8:1), He is our access to the Father (John 14:6).
Joh 14:6 Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one comes to the Father, except through me.
e. There is the having of the privilege to lay up treasures in heaven, which no one can take away, by doing good works in the name of Christ (Mt 6:20).
Mat 6:20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
f. There is the blessing of being near to God (Eph 2:13; 6), Who is Spirit (John 4:24), Whose very nature transcends (includes, yet goes beyond) this realm into the heavenlies, thus He is always available in times of need (Heb 4:16).
Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Eph 2:6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
Heb 4:16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
g. And there is God's special providence (the working of the angels; Heb 1:14) which come from heaven and work for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose (Rom 8:28), and answer that call through the obedience of faith unto God through the gospel (2 Thess 2:14; Heb 5:9).
Heb 1:14 Are they (angels) not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?
Rom 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
h. And when we experience physical death we have the hope of being in comforts in the Hadean realm enjoying our Sabbath rest (Heb 3:18-4:11), while we await the Last Day and the New Creation, which has been appointed by God, and will come to past (Acts 17:31; 2 Pet 3:10, 13),
Act 17:31 because he has fixed (appointed) a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead."
2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up. (ASV)
2Pe 3:13 But according to his promise we are waiting (looking) for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
i. While those not redeemed will be in Hades in torments, knowing their end, and awaiting their part in the lake of fire (Mt 25:46; Rev 20:15).
Mat 25:46 And these shall go away into eternal punishment: but the righteous into eternal life.
Rev 20:15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
j. And lastly we have the hope of a incorruptible, bodily resurrection (1 Thess 4:16-17), which in fact will happen to all (Jn 5:28-29; Acts 24:15), but only the redeemed will be like Jesus’ resurrection and will enter into eternal life in Heaven and reign forever and ever (Mt 7:23; 25:21, 46; Heb 6:20; Rev1:5; 22:1-5).
Rev 1:18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
Joh 5:28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice
Joh 5:29 and come out (forth), those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
Rev 22:1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
Rev 22:2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Rev 22:3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.
Rev 22:4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
Rev 22:5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
k. These are some of the spiritual blessings that are in the “heavenly places.” I am relatively sure that there will be many more that we will ultimately learn of and partake of (Eph 2:7) . . .
Eph 2:7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
III. IDENTIFICATION OF THE LOCATION WHERE THESE SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS ARE ACCESSED, (Eph 1:3c)
Eph 1:3c in Christ:
A. The text plainly states that location as being “in Christ,” and the Bible teaches plainly on this subject, while men in their wisdom, which is foolishness to God, have concocted plans based upon their traditions, and their twisted theologies, which they do to their own destruction (2 Pet 3:16).
1. These traditions and theologies cannot save, and every individual is responsible for themselves to God (Rom 14:12), God's word exposes their errors, and God holds each one of us accountable for understanding and obeying His revealed will, and those that follow these doctrines of men will have the same end result as the teachers which they follow, as our Lord states (Mt 15:14).
Mat 15:14 Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit."
a. Some sprinkle sinless, non-believing infants, some tell you to ask Jesus into your heart, others say to have faith only, and yet others trust in God's grace only, but none of these precepts of men are found in the Bible, thus they cannot be God’s plan.
b. For all things that pertain to life and godliness are contained in God's word (2 Pet 1:3), all Scripture is inspired of God and gives us everything we need to be complete in God's eyes (2 Tim 3:16-17), that includes “being saved” (Lk 13:23; Acts 2:47; 1 Cor 1:18; 15:2; 2 Cor 2:15).
c. In fact, who in their right mind would believe that the Most High God would give us a book on the redemption of mankind, and then make the plan so obscure and complex that the common person would not be able to understand nor obey it.
d. That assertion calls into question the wisdom of God, by assuming His word falls short, it cannot do what He purposed it to do, instead of being all sufficient, as it plainly states (2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Pet 1:3).
2Ti 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
2Ti 3:17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
2Pe 1:3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,
2. God’s plan is simple, and is seen a multiple number of times in the book of Acts.
a. In fact we have 9 specific conversion examples in the book of Acts, and Paul’s conversion is even brought forth 3 times.
b. There was no sprinkling or pouring, no praying Jesus into one’s heart, no believing only, or no other “works of men,” “traditions of men” it is written concerning the traditions of men (Col 2:8) . . .
Col 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
B. The Bible asserts that there is one faith (Eph 4:5), one gospel (Gal 1:6-9), which brings a person into the one body (Eph 4:4), which is Christ’s blood bought church (Acts 20:28).
1. However they were saved in the 1st century, we in like manner we will be saved in the 21st century.
a. God did not authorize nor give authority for any to change His commands concerning this. The faith, the gospel, and its salvation plan, were “once for all time delivered” unto the saints in the 1st century (Jude 3).
Jud 1:3 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
b. And if anyone attempts to change the faith, the gospel, they come under the curses of God (Gal 1:8-9)
Gal 1:8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.
Gal 1:9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
C. And that plan is . . .
1. One is to hear the Word of God which gives one faith (Rom 10:17; Acts 2:37) it is the seed of the kingdom (Lk 8:11), which is planted in one’s heart (Ja 1:21).
2. Faith is to lead one to believe that Jesus is the resurrected Christ, the Divine Son of God (John 8:24; Acts 8:37), Who died for our sins, Who was raised from the dead (1 Cor 15:1-4), Who ascended into heaven (Mk 16:19; Lk 24:51; Acts 1:9-11), Whom we follow (Jn 14:6), He is our Forerunner (Heb 6:20), our Living Hope (1 Pet 1:3-4), faith is the crossover point wherein one enters into the process of “being saved” (Lk 13:23; Acts 2:47; 1 Cor 1:18; 15:2; 2 Cor 2:15), Jesus put it this way in Jn 5:24 . . .
Joh 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
a. He also stated in Jn 3:16 (LITV)
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that everyone believing INTO Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (LITV)
b. Yet the scriptures teach that man is not saved by faith alone (Ja 2:17, 24, 26), God desires that a person continues in the process of “being saved” (Lk 13:23; Acts 2:47; 1 Cor 1:18; 15:2; 2 Cor 2:15).
3. A person is to repent, to turn away from their old life, and turn to God and live a life according to His Divine directives, Thy will, not mine, is to be done (Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 17:30)
4. Confession of Jesus as the Christ is to be given (Rom 10:9; Acts 8:37), it promotes God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven and keeps one always abounding in the work of the Lord (1 Cor 15:58).
5. Baptism (immersion) for the remission of, to wash away sins is that final act of initial obedience (Acts 2:38; 22:16).
6. That also puts one “in Christ”(as does Jn 3:16; LITV) where “every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies” are located, it is written (Rom 6:3; Gal 3:27) . . .
Rom 6:3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
Gal 3:27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
7. These two scriptures in the bible seem to tell us how one gets “into Christ”, yet if we dig a little deeper we see that even getting into Christ is a process, its starts with belief (faith; Jn 3:16 LITV) . . .
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that everyone believing INTO Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (LITV)
a. And baptism (Rom 6:3; Gal 3:27),
b. And we are to grow up in “all things” that God instructs us in, to grow deeper and deeper “INTO Christ” (Eph 4:15) . . .
Eph 4:15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way (in all things) INTO him who is the head, INTO Christ,
8. And only therein “In Christ” can one have . . .
a. Redemption through the blood of Jesus Christ (the forgiveness of sins)
b. The Holy Spirit, Who comes from heaven and dwells within us.
c. The ability to pray to God as His children, as His priests.
d. The laying up of treasures in heaven.
e. The assurance of always being near to God.
f. God's special providence (the angels) working for our ultimate good.
g. The hope of being in comfort in Paradise.
h. Looking forward to the incorruptible bodily resurrection unto everlasting life, and entrance into Heaven to be forever with God Himself and the heavenly host.
D. While those outside of Christ, though they may have access to some of God's spiritual blessings on earth, they cannot have the ones which exist in the heavenly places (the heavenlies) eternally,thus they are without God, and without hope in the world (Eph 2:12), for Jesus said (Luke 11:28b) . . .
Luk 11:28b blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
Conclusion,
1. We have identified the Bestower of these spiritual blessings, it is God the Father.
2. We have also specifically identified what these blessings are, they are those that transcend this physical realm, in other words there are ramifications of them in this physical realm, faith, hope, love, peace, and assurance, yet they actually exist in the heavenly realms.
3. We have also identified the location as “in Christ,” in the church, in the one body, in the kingdom, as the only place where all these blessings can be accessed,
4. And we have identified how they are accessed, through the one gospel of Jesus Christ, which is plainly revealed in the New Testament of the Bible, and nowhere else.