First part in a series on Ephesians chapter 1. New posts on Mondays and Wednesdays. View Series
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are 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 in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,
Ephesians 1:1-3
Paul begins by praising and proclaiming a blessing upon God, because God has blessed us. This is exactly what God’s blessings are meant to do. God blesses us, and in turn we rightfully ought to praise and bring blessings to Him, this is the intended and only proper response to God’s blessings. So Paul begins by demonstrating what we ought to do as believers, and then goes on to point out why every believer ought to join Him in praising God.
If there were one word to sum up the reason we ought to praise God, it is “grace.” When we deserved God’s anger and punishment, He instead showered upon us love and blessing. We are blessed in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. It is in Christ and through Christ that these blessings are given. Those who are not in Christ do not receive these blessings. Those of the world indeed receive some blessings from God, for He is the giver of all good things, yet the lavish and comprehensive blessings spoken of here are reserved only for those who are in Christ. We who are in Christ are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.