In Christ Devotional
Daily Reading: (Ephesians 1:1-3):
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 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.”
Paul will write in the first thirteen verses of Ephesians chapter 1, either “in Him” or “in Christ” nine different times!
Verse 1) To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:
Verse 3) who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
Verse 4) For he chose us in him
Verse 7) In him we have redemption through his blood
Verse 9) made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ
Verse 11) In him we were also chosen, having been predestined…
Verse 12) who were the first to put our hope in Christ
Verse 13) And you also were included in Christ
Verse 13) you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.
I think it is safe to say that Paul wants the church at Ephesus to know above all else that believers are in Jesus and that is a permanent position.
To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:
An egregious error has been made when someone will take this statement and read it as if this is only for those who somehow maintain their club membership status, “the faithful”. The thought is that my holiness is connected to my faithfulness. But remember we are in Christ and so our holiness is connected to Jesus’ faithfulness. That’s why Paul would write to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:13- “if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.” His faithfulness and His righteousness has been given to us.
The New Covenant was struck between God the Father and God the Son and those by faith are beneficiaries of the Will or Testament fulfilled by the finished work of Jesus. We are holy because Jesus the Holy One has made us holy imputing His righteousness to us.
“..who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”
You may know that you are blessed in your new life, but you may not know that all of your blessings come as the result of being one with Christ (Ephesians 1:3). The ultimate purpose of union (of being in Christ) is to share in His life. Why did God make us? It was so we could participate in the abundant and overflowing life found within the Trinity. We were created to love, be loved and to enjoy fellowship with the One who made us.