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.
Ephesians 1:3
Those spiritual blessings in heavenly places which are ours in Christ may be divided into three classes: The first is those which come to us immediately upon our believing unto salvation, such as forgiveness, justification, regeneration, sonship to God and baptism into the Body of Christ. In Christ we possess these even before we know that they are ours, such knowledge coming to us later through the study of the Holy Scriptures.
The second class is those riches which are ours by inheritance but which we cannot enjoy in actuality until Jesus returns. These include ultimate mental and moral perfection, the glorification of our bodies, the completion of the restoration of the divine image in our redeemed personalities and the admission into the very presence of God to experience Him forever.
These treasures are as surely ours as if we possessed them now, but it would be useless for us to pray for them while we journey here on earth. God has made it very clear that they are reserved for the time of the manifestation of the sons of God (Rom. 8:18-25).
The third class of blessing consists of spiritual treasures which are ours by blood atonement but which will not come to us unless we make a determined effort to possess them. These are deliverance from the habitual sins, victory over self, the constant flow of the Holy Spirit through our personalities, fruitfulness in service God, awareness of the presence of God, growth in grace, and an unbroken spirit of worship.
These do not come to us automatically nor must we wait to claim them at the day of Christ's coming. They are to us what the Promised Land was to Israel, to be entered into as our faith and courage arise.
What immense spiritual wealth is ours in Christ! Some to experience today and some tomorrow. Some which is ours because of spiritual birth as a child of God. Some to be experienced only by exercising deliberate faith.
The second class is those riches which are ours by inheritance but which we cannot enjoy in actuality until Jesus returns. These include ultimate mental and moral perfection, the glorification of our bodies, the completion of the restoration of the divine image in our redeemed personalities and the admission into the very presence of God to experience Him forever.
These treasures are as surely ours as if we possessed them now, but it would be useless for us to pray for them while we journey here on earth. God has made it very clear that they are reserved for the time of the manifestation of the sons of God (Rom. 8:18-25).
The third class of blessing consists of spiritual treasures which are ours by blood atonement but which will not come to us unless we make a determined effort to possess them. These are deliverance from the habitual sins, victory over self, the constant flow of the Holy Spirit through our personalities, fruitfulness in service God, awareness of the presence of God, growth in grace, and an unbroken spirit of worship.
These do not come to us automatically nor must we wait to claim them at the day of Christ's coming. They are to us what the Promised Land was to Israel, to be entered into as our faith and courage arise.
What immense spiritual wealth is ours in Christ! Some to experience today and some tomorrow. Some which is ours because of spiritual birth as a child of God. Some to be experienced only by exercising deliberate faith.
A Prayer for Today
Forgive me, Father, for living in spiritual poverty when You have provided such blessings. I want to experience them all that I may be what You desire me to be.
