Blessed in Christ

Ephesians 1:3–6 ESV

3 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, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

The epistle to the Ephesians is the “crown of Paulinism” -C.H. Dodd

“Scholars often debate which theological idea is central in Paul’s thought. Some choose justification by faith, but the verb justify only occurs four times outside Romans and Galatians and not at all in Ephesians. “In Christ” with its 164 occurrences, 36 of which are in Ephesians, is much more likely the central motif, or at least a central motif. Just as redemption is “in Christ” (1:7), so justification and every other act of God take place in Christ”

-Klyne Snodgrass NIVAC

Eph 1:3 “3 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,”

A Hebrew berakkah or “blessing” is a form or prayer regularly used

“The concept of blessing with reference to God is not expressing a wish, ‘blessed be God,’ but rather a declaration, ‘blessed is God.’”

-Hoehner, Harold W.

“Verses 3–4, in which the first participle occurs, function as the thesis of the whole letter; the rest is commentary. That is, this letter is about God’s blessing us in Christ and choosing us so that we might live holy and blameless lives before God.”

“‘Every spiritual blessing’ has been granted to us in Christ (see 2 Peter 1:3). ‘Spiritual’ does not mean these gifts are ‘otherworldly,’ nor does it suggest the spiritual gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12:3–11, 28. Rather, the expression refers to all that God’s Spirit brings to enable life.7 The letter will unfold all these blessings, but the immediate context mentions election, adoption, grace, forgiveness, revelation, the gospel, and the Holy Spirit. As verses 13–14 show, the Spirit is the primary gift and the source of all the others.”

-Klyne Snodgrass NIVAC

“throughout the Bible there is a combination of the one and the many.” Constantine Campbell

Eph 1:4 “4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love”

“The emphasis on adoption in 1:5 shows that the purpose of election is relational.”

-Klyne Snodgrass NIVAC

Eph 1:5 “5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,”

Ephesians Election (1:4–6)

the purpose of God’s electing activity is to reveal his own character as a loving, saving God. When God is revealed—and “glory” is primarily a word about revelation—praise is the inevitable result.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 2. The Basis of Spiritual Blessings (1:4–14)

the selection of the Father (vv. 4–6), the sacrifice of the Son (vv. 7–12), and the seal of the Spirit (vv. 13–14).

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 1:4

Spiritual blessings begin with and are based on election (He chose us), of which God is the subject and believers are the object. Election is God’s sovereign work of choosing some to believe (cf. Rom. 8:30; Eph. 1:11; 1 Thes. 1:4; 2 Thes. 2:13; Titus 1:1). Salvation is God’s doing, not man’s (Eph. 2:8–9). Though it is an act of grace (Rom. 11:5–6; 2 Tim. 1:9), based on His will (Eph. 1:5, 9, 11), a person is responsible to believe (v. 13). “God chose you to be saved … through belief in the truth” (2 Thes. 2:13).

Eph 1:6 “6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.”

Who gets the glory for our salvation and election? God does, not us. You did not choose God, and therefore good on you. You must believe Eph 1:13, and receive Christ John 1:12, but you are not the one who does the work. -PBJ