Spiritual Blessings in Christ

Richard Thetford

The apostle wrote, “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” (Ephesians 1:3). When one hears the word of God, believes, repents from sin, confesses Jesus, and is immersed in water (baptized), then all their sins are forgiven. One is now a Christian! They now will be able to enjoy every spiritual blessing by being in Christ. Only Christians are blessed with this privilege. Christians have so much to be thankful for and so very much to look forward to. The apostle Paul serves as a great inspiration to all Christians. He said “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14). After his conversion to Christ, Paul lived his life for Christ, longing for the prize that would be awaiting him at the end of his life. He understood that he did things in his past that were contrary to the will of God, but after his conversion he knew that he was forgiven and now enjoyed every spiritual blessing in Christ. That helped him get through every day and it should also help us get through every day. After all, when all is said and done in our life, all that really matters is whether we are going to be able to be in heaven with our Lord for eternity. Christians who live their life fully dedicated to Christ know and understand that day will be a reality. We can have confidence in that by the very words of Paul. He said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8). Paul assures us that if we too will live our life for Christ to the very end, keeping the faith, having loved His appearing, that there will be a crown of righteousness waiting for us. Eternity with Christ is the absolute greatest blessing that we will have by being in Christ. No matter what has happened in our past we can have great confidence that if we will just be obedient, faithful, loving, and loyal to Jesus, that we will one day be with those “few” who have submitted to His authority (Matthew 7:13-14; 28:18-20).