Ephesians 1:3
3. The doxologies in almost all the Epistles imply the real sense of grace experienced by the writers and their readers (1Pe 1:3). Ep 1:3-14 sets forth summarily the Gospel of the grace of God: the Father's work of love, Ep 1:3 (choosing us to holiness, Ep 1:4; to sonship, Ep 1:5; to acceptance, Ep 1:6): the Son's, Ep 1:7 (redemption, Ep 1:7; knowledge of the mystery of His will, Ep 1:9; an inheritance, Ep 1:11); the Holy Spirit's, Ep 1:13 (sealing, Ep 1:13; giving an earnest of the inheritance, Ep 1:14). the God and Father of ... Christ--and so the God and Father of us who are in Him (Joh 20:17). God is "the God" of the man Jesus, and "the Father" of the Divine Word. The Greek is, "Blessed us," not "hath blessed us"; referring to the past original counsel of God. As in creation (Ge 1:22) so in redemption (Ge 12:3; Mt 5:3-11; 25:34) God "blesses" His children; and that not in mere words, but in acts. us--all Christians. blessings--Greek, "blessing." "All," that is, "every possible blessing for time and eternity, which the Spirit has to bestow" (so "spiritual" means; not "spiritual," as the term is now used, as opposed to bodily). in heavenly places--a phrase five times found in this Epistle, and not elsewhere (Ep 1:20; Ep 2:6; 3:10; 6:12); Greek, "in the heavenly places." Christ's ascension is the means of introducing us into the heavenly places, which by our sin were barred against us. Compare the change made by Christ (Col 1:20; Ep 1:20). While Christ in the flesh was in the form of a servant, God's people could not realize fully their heavenly privileges as sons. Now "our citizenship (Greek) is in heaven" (Php 3:20), where our High Priest is ever "blessing" us. Our "treasures" are there (Mt 6:20, 21); our aims and affections (Col 3:1, 2); our hope (Col 1:5; Tit 2:13); our inheritance (1Pe 1:4). The gift of the Spirit itself, the source of the "spiritual blessing," is by virtue of Jesus having ascended thither (Ep 4:8). in Christ--the center and source of all blessing to us.
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