One of the most interesting verses when it comes to understanding spiritual blessings is a study of Ephesians 1:3.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ…”

This verse is the first of four verses which comprise a single sentence which sets the stage for Paul’s teaching to the Ephesians on our spiritual gifts and redemption in Christ. See Ephesians 1:3-6,

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ; ⁴ according as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, ⁵ having predestined us to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, ⁶ to the praise of the glory of His grace, in which He has made us accepted in the One having been loved.”

There are nine spiritual gifts which immediately follow from Ephesians 1:3 as follows:

1. He BLESSED us. vv3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ..”
2. He CHOSE us. vv4 “according as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love…”
3. He PREDESTINED us. vv5 & 11 “having predestined us to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will…,” …. ” in whom also we have been chosen to an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His own will…”
4. He made us ACCEPTED. vv6 “to the praise of the glory of His grace, in which He has made us accepted in the One having been loved…”
5. He REDEEMED us. vv7 “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace…”
6. He ABOUNDED towards us. vv8 “which He caused to abound toward us in all wisdom and understanding…”
7. He MADE KNOWN to us. vv9 “having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself…”
8. He gave us an INHERITANCE. vv11 & 14 “ in whom also we have been chosen to an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His own will…” … “who is the earnest of our inheritance, to the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory…”
9. He SEALED us. vv13 “in whom also you, hearing the Word of Truth, the gospel of our salvation, in whom also believing, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise…”

What makes this Ephesians 1:3 verse to interesting to me is the repetition of “IN.” For the spiritual blessing are in the heavenlies in Christ…

Reading later in Paul’s letter he gives us a rich understanding on more “Ins” as if to emphasise to us the range of choices available to the Lord as well as the importance of the Lord Jesus Christ.

1. In Jesus Christ.
   1. vv1 “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus…”
   2. vv3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ…”
   3. vv4 “according as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love…”
   4. vv6 “to the praise of the glory of His grace, in which He has made us accepted in the One having been loved…”
   5. vv7 “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace…”
   6. vv10 “for an administration of the fullness of times, to head up all things in Christ, both the things in Heaven, and the things on earth, even in Him…”
   7. vv11 “in whom also we have been chosen to an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His own will…”
   8. vv13 “in whom also you, hearing the Word of Truth, the gospel of our salvation, in whom also believing, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise…”
   9. vv15 “Therefore I also, hearing of your faith in the Lord Jesus and love to all the saints…”
   10. vv20 “which He worked in Christ in raising Him from the dead, and He seated Him at His right hand in the heavenlies…”
   11. 2 Corinthians 5:17 “So that if anyone is in Christ, that one is a new creature; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new…”
2. In HEAVENLY PLACESIn LOVE vv4 “according as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love…”
   1. vv3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ…”
   2. vv20 “which He worked in Christ in raising Him from the dead, and He seated Him at His right hand in the heavenlies…”
   3. vv2:6 “and has raised us up together and made us sit together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus…”
3. In all WISDOM and UNDERSTANDING vv8 “which He caused to abound toward us in all wisdom and understanding…”
4. In ONE vv10 “That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him…”
5. In HEAVEN vv10 “That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him…”
6. In MY PRAYERS vv11 “Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers…”
7. In the KNOWLEDGE OF HIM vv17 “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him…”
8. In THE SAINTS vv18 “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints…”
9. In THIS WORLD vv21 “Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come…”
10. In the WORLD TO COME vv21 “Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come…”
11. In ALL vv23 “…which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all…”

As I was both praying and studying the Bible a few months ago in preparation for a teaching assignment, the Lord showed me that with a little thought, I could recognise around me working examples of all biblical principles in operation today. My understanding from that teaching and this teaching on spiritual blessings, is that examples can be found all around us in our daily lives, if we will but look.

For the teacher with eyes open, our present day life holds unlimited examples which can be used to demonstrate that indeed the Bible is a living document, and as applicable today, as it was when it was written.

The above compilation of scriptures in based on Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible.