Blessed In Christ
Updated: Feb 10, 2021
Have you considered how blessed we are in Christ?
Ephesians 1: 1-14 World English Bible [1]
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus, and the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus 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, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without defect before him in love, having predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire, to the praise of the glory of his grace, by which he freely gave us favor in the Beloved, in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him to an administration of the fullness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens and the things on the earth, in him. We were also assigned an inheritance in him, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who does all things after the counsel of his will, to the end that we should be to the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ. In him you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Good News of your salvation—in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is a pledge of our inheritance, to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of his glory.”
From Ephesians 1:3 to Ephesians 1:14, Paul, in the Greek text, uses one long and continuous sentence.[2] He begins this letter by praising God for the abundant blessings which are in Christ. As Christians, we have much for which to be thankful. In addition to the rich and full blessings found in Christ, Christians also have become members of God's family. As members of His family, Christians are sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, a guarantee of our inheritance. Considering this passage, I would invite you to consider the rich and full blessings we share in Christ.
notes:
1. The World English Bible is in the Public Domain. That means that it is not copyrighted. However, "World English Bible" is a Trademark.
2. Barry, John D. et al. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016. Print.