Thank God for Spiritual Blessings! By Babatunde Olugboji

In Ephesians 1:3–14, Paul begins his letter with a lengthy benediction, presenting a continuous sentence in the original Greek text. He exuberantly proclaims the blessings bestowed by God, starting with the declaration, “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” (vs3). The term “every spiritual blessing” encompasses all the gifts of redemption available to Christians through their union with Jesus Christ.

Paul intentionally references the Trinity in this passage, emphasizing that God the Father is the source of these blessings, which are accessible “in Christ.” Our eligibility for these divine gifts is contingent upon our identification with God’s Son, and their essence is spiritual, with the Holy Spirit facilitating the application of Christ’s work in our lives.

Paul further elaborates on these blessings, beginning with the gift of being chosen and predestined “for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 1:4–5). Just as God chose Israel as his treasured possession, he similarly chooses believers to enjoy the honor of becoming his beloved spiritual children through Jesus’ redemptive sacrifice, affirming his profound love for us as expressed in 1 John 3:1

Paul highlights the gift of God’s “glorious grace,” which he has abundantly bestowed upon those who belong to his beloved Son. God’s richness in kindness and grace is evident in how he redeemed us through the blood of his Son, granting us forgiveness for our sins. He has generously shared his kindness with us, along with wisdom and understanding. Our heavenly Father is abundant in grace, kindness, forgiveness, freedom, wisdom, and understanding, and through Christ, his Son, we are enriched in these virtues.

This abundance allows Paul to affirm that God will fulfill all our needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Among the many blessings we receive in Christ is the assurance of redemption through his blood, which brings the forgiveness of sins. The term “redemption” in the original Greek signifies the complete payment made to liberate someone from bondage. By believing in Jesus and accepting him as our Lord and Savior, we receive forgiveness for our sins, which are atoned for by his sacrificial death. This act satisfies God’s requirements, freeing us from sin and its consequent death sentence, and rendering us “holy and blameless in his sight.”

Additionally, a significant spiritual blessing in Christ is God’s revelation of the mystery of his will, which he has chosen to disclose according to his good pleasure. This divine mystery pertains to the New Testament church, previously hidden but now unveiled in Christ. God’s intention is for both Jews and Gentiles to equally partake in the gospel of salvation, forming a unified body in Christ. (Ephesians 1:12–13; 3:3, 5–6, 9).

Every spiritual blessing signifies the reality of our heavenly inheritance, as stated in Ephesians 1:11–14. Currently, we are “sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who serves as the guarantee of our inheritance until we take possession of it, to the praise of his glory” (v13–14). This divine seal, the Holy Spirit, assures us of our spiritual security and ownership, with the full realization of our inheritance awaiting us in eternity.

These spiritual blessings include all gifts bestowed by the Holy Spirit from God the Father to those who have received salvation through Christ. Peter emphasizes that God’s “divine power has granted us everything necessary for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1:3). Therefore, believers have ample reasons to glorify God for the abundant spiritual blessings we receive in Christ.

Have a great 2025.

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