Blessed in Christ: The Source of Every Spiritual Blessing
To the Praise of His Glory: Our Identity in Christ
Adopted, Blessed, and Chosen
The Mystery of God’s Love Revealed
Living as God’s Beloved Children
Reflection on Ephesians 1:3-6
Scripture:
“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. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will, to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.” (Ephesians 1:3-6, NIV)
This passage from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians invites us into the heart of God’s eternal purpose—a purpose steeped in love, grace, and spiritual blessing. The opening words direct us to praise, acknowledging that God, through Jesus Christ, has already blessed us with every spiritual blessing. These blessings are not material or fleeting; they are eternal realities in the “heavenly realms”—the unseen sphere of our spiritual lives where we are united with Christ.
Chosen in Christ
Paul emphasizes that we were chosen in Christ before the creation of the world. This truth offers profound comfort: our relationship with God was not an afterthought. Before time began, God purposed to call us into holiness. Being holy and blameless does not imply moral perfection through human effort, but a life transformed by grace through our union with Christ. As C.S. Lewis observed, “The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.”
Adopted in Love
Paul describes God’s action as one of adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ. In Roman culture, adoption was a legal act that bestowed full rights of inheritance on the adopted child. Likewise, God, in love, has legally and irrevocably adopted us into His family. This is not a begrudging acceptance but an act carried out in accordance with His pleasure and will. It delights God to bring us into His family! As Eugene Peterson beautifully paraphrases in The Message, “Long before He laid down earth’s foundations, He had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of His love.”
To the Praise of His Glorious Grace
Ultimately, the purpose of our adoption and blessing is to the praise of His glorious grace. This phrase underscores that God’s work in our lives is entirely an act of grace—freely given, unmerited, and lavish. As John Calvin reflected, “The fountain of all blessings flows from the unmerited love of God.”
This grace, poured out through the One He loves—Jesus Christ—calls us to a life of gratitude and praise. When we grasp the depth of God’s initiative in our salvation, our natural response is awe-filled worship.
Application and Prayer
This passage invites us to live in the reality of who we are in Christ: blessed, chosen, and adopted. We are called to holiness, not to earn God’s favor but because we already have it in Christ. As we reflect on His grace, let us rest in the assurance of our identity as God’s beloved children, knowing that His eternal plan was crafted in love and fulfilled in Jesus.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for choosing us, for blessing us in Christ, and for adopting us into Your family. Help us live in the reality of Your grace, to walk in holiness, and to bring praise to Your glorious name. May we never take for granted the spiritual blessings You have lavished upon us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
