“Who has blessed us in the heavenly realms
with every spiritual blessing in Christ”
(Ephesians 1:3)
Reflection:
The blessings that God has conferred upon us are inextricably linked to Jesus Christ – as Paul makes clear in these first verses. His letter is addressed to the ‘saints .. the faithful in Christ.’ Formerly we were ‘in Adam’ and belonging to the old and fallen humanity. Now we are ‘in Christ’ and belong to the new and redeemed humanity.
He then goes on to emphasise the importance of the relationship.
- ‘in Christ’ – God has blessed us in time and chosen us in eternity (v3-4)
- ‘in the One He loves’ – God has bestowed on us His grace (v6)
- ‘in Him’ – we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins (v7)
- ‘in Him’ – the first Jewish believers became God’s people (v11-12)
- ‘In Him’ – Gentile believers were sealed as belonging to God (v13-14)
- ‘in Christ’ – God set forth His plan to unite all things under the headship of Christ (v9-10)
To be ‘in Christ’ is to be personally and vitally united to Christ just as branches are to the vine (John 15) and members to the body (Romans 12).
To be a part of the body of Christ is to be related to both the Head and all the members.
Therefore to be a Christian is in essence to be ‘in Christ’ – one with Him and with His people.
It is in the context of this living and believing relationship that the blessings of God find their fullest expression and His will and purpose become more of a visible reality. For here the body loves and honours the Head and is in submission to Him. Here also the body loves and honours the body itself with all its individual members.
Response:
I matter. You matter. We matter.
Prayer:
Lord You have opened Your heart and hands to us – help us not to close ours to You and to others. Amen.
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Softly, Spoke the River 