Ephesians 1:3
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
Three things we see right at the beginning of Ephesians:
1. From eternity to eternity God works all things according to His perfect plan. All history, all nations, all that exists in heaven and on earth are included in His purpose.
2. That purpose is fulfilled IN CHRIST. So it is IN HIM that every blessing is found.
3. As far as man is concerned our goal is very practical. It is that we should be “to the praise of His glory”.
There are two spheres in which we are blessed – in heavenly places and the other is in Christ.
IN CHRIST occurs 5 times in Ephesians. It occurs nowhere else in the New Testament.
In Ephesians 1:20
which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
– It is the sphere to which the risen Christ has been exalted and enthroned.
2:6
and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
– It is the reign to which believers have been lifted in fellowship with Christ.
3:10
to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,
– It is where principalities and powers learn of the wisdom of God as shown through His people.
6:12
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
– It is the spiritual battleground where believers confront the forces of wickedness.
The kingdom of the heavens was a term Matthew used. It is established here on earth and is heavenly and NOT of this world.
John 18:36
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”
It is the threshold of the Kingdom of glory and is located wherever God’s grace has freedom.
So, it’s NOT talking about a physical place, it’s SPIRITUAL. It’s a sphere of spiritual activities to which you and I have been lifted in Christ.
It’s NOT the heaven of the future, but the heaven which lies even now within and around the Christian.
We really do belong to two worlds.
Philippians 3:20
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
We are here for a moment. We belong in the heavenly realm.
Thus, we must be “IN CHRIST”. This phrase refers to His redemption, His death, His resurrection and His eternal purpose for man.
So all that has been done by way of spiritual blessing has been done for us IN CHRIST.
“IN CHRIST” is the key to Ephesians. You and I as believers are “in Christ”.
All are members of Christ.
All share in His resurrection and life.
Christ is NOW exalted in the heavenly realm and all who are “IN CHRIST” belong to that heavenly realm.
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
