We could fill many pages meditating on the blessings that are described in this precious portion, but we will give a brief summary here. Before Paul mentions specific blessings, he raises his voice in praise to God the Father in verse 3 for ALL the blessings we have in Christ, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.” Notice, the Father is the SOURCE of these blessings; Christ is the CHANNEL through which they come; they are SPIRITUAL in nature (in contrast to “material” blessings we may receive); and they are in HEAVENLY PLACES where our blessed Lord and Savior sits at the right Hand of God. The SEVEN blessings we will look at are all “blessings of God’s grace,” for we don’t deserve them and we surely didn’t earn them.

1) We were CHOSEN in Christ. Verse 4 reads, “…He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world.” Before God spoke the worlds into existence, He chose us to salvation! This blessed truth is seen also in 2 Thessalonians 2:13, “But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation…”

2) We have been PREDESTINATED to adoption as SONS. Verse 5 says, “He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ” (NASB). The “Son of God” has made us “sons” through His death on the cross.

3) We are now ACCEPTED by God in Christ. Verse 6 assures us that God “made us accepted in the Beloved” (NKJV). Believers are seen in a new position before God. 2 Corinthians 5:17 puts it this way, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” The Father now looks at us in all the value and worth of His beloved Son!

4 & 5) We have REDEMPTION and FORGIVENESS through Christ’s shed blood. Verse 7 states, “In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” REDEMPTION means we’ve been “set free” from the slave market of sin and FORGIVENESS declares that “all of our sins are gone” before the holy throne of God. Both required nothing less than the precious blood of Christ to satisfy the claims of a righteous and sin-hating God.

6) We have an eternal INHERITANCE. Verse 11 promises us, “In Whom also we have obtained an inheritance.” The apostle Peter wrote of this in 1 Peter 1:4, “…an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.” We are RICH indeed!

7) WE are SEALED by the Holy Spirit. Verse 13 guarantees us, “In Him you also trusted, after you heard that word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in Whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.” A “seal” speaks of “ownership” AND “safety.” A believer receives the Spirit as a sign that he BELONGS TO GOD and that he will be KEPT SAFELY until he goes to heaven. Ephesians 4:30 reads, “…you were sealed for the day of redemption” (NKJV).

How blessed we are, dear fellow-believer! And these are just a few of the blessings we have “in Christ.” Let us never forget that God the Father is the One Who planned these blessings for us, and that it cost the Lord Jesus His life to procure them for us. Verse 5 tells us they are “according to the good pleasure of His will” and verse 7 says they are “according to the riches of His grace.” (156.7) (DO)