SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS

 Earlier, we had mentioned some of the spiritual blessings we find “in Christ.”  Paul, in fact, lists some of them in the following verses of his statement in Ephesians 1:3.  He says we are “chosen”  or “elect” in Christ (v. 4). He also says we are made “holy” and “blameless” in Him (v. 4). We become “sons” of God through Christ (v. 5). We are told that we have “redemption” and “forgiveness” in Christ through His blood (v. 7). We have obtained an “inheritance” in Him (v. 10,11) as well as our “hope” (vs. 12).  Finally, the passage says we are sealed in Him with the “Holy Spirit” (v. 13).

      If we desire to receive these spiritual blessings from God, then we must be “in Christ.” The Bible says we are “baptized into Christ.”  So, apart from being baptized into Christ, we cannot have any of these blessings!

BEING IN CHRIST

   "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...” (Ephesians 1:3).  The Scriptures plainly show that every spiritual blessing available to us from God our Father is found “in Christ.”  But what does it mean to be “in Christ”? We are so in need of all these spiritual blessings (blessings such as forgiveness, intercession, mercy, fellowship, salvation, hope, peace, victory).

      First of all, being “in Christ” does not refer to being at a specific physical place, like “in the house” or “in the yard.”  Rather, the phrase refers to being in a certain position or relationship with respect to the Savior. It would be more similar to the phrase “in the family”  which describes relationship, not physical location.

      Hopefully this helps us to understand the importance of being “in Christ” a little more clearly. We are talking about fellowship, or sharing, in the good things of God which He says are found “in” His Son.