Ephesians 1:3: Blessed and Blessed, Heaven vs. Heavenlies

Unpacking Ephesians 1:3: A Deep Dive into Spiritual BlessingsEphesians 1:3 – "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." This seemingly simple verse holds a wealth of theological richness, as explored in a recent Reformed Rookie Podcast discussion. This blog post unpacks the key themes and insights from that engaging conversation.The Methodology: A Perfect Bible Study**The podcast began with a practical approach to Bible study, using a method outlined in a handout titled "Perfect Bible Study" (P-method). This involved:Perusing: A quick overview of the passage.Prayerful Reading: Engaging with the text in prayer, seeking God's guidance.Pointing Out/Probing: Identifying key words and phrases.Asking Questions: Formulating questions to deepen understanding.This framework guided the discussion of Ephesians 1:1-14, focusing particularly on verse 3.Delving into "Blessed Be the God...The discussion immediately tackled crucial questions:What are the "heavenly places"?** This led to a fascinating exploration of the distinction between "heaven" (God's dwelling place) and "heavenlies" (*aporanos* in Greek), a term unique to Ephesians. The "heavenlies" represent a present spiritual realm, a dimension overlapping with earth, where spiritual battles are waged. It's not the ultimate heaven, but a broader spiritual domain where God's power and influence are active. This contrasts with the future, ultimate heaven, a place devoid of darkness and sin.What are spiritual blessings? The discussion unpacked the meaning of "blessed" differentiating its application to God (inherent worthiness of praise) and humans (favorably acted upon by God). Spiritual blessings were identified as benefits, often supernatural, including: Adoption as sons: Predestined to become God's children. Redemption through blood: Purchased back from sin's dominion. Forgiveness of sins: Received through God's undeserved grace. Sealing with the Holy Spirit: Confirmed as heirs of God's promises.The parallel passage in 1 Peter 1:3 further reinforced the concept of blessings and inheritance."In Christ": The Heart of the MatterThe phrase "in Christ" proved central to understanding the blessings. It signifies a covenantal and spiritual union, a marital union even, resulting in: A new identity: Becoming a child of God. Changed priorities: Aligning one's life with God's purposes. Eternal life as destiny: Knowing God intimately.This union is not merely individual but corporate, challenging the American emphasis on individualism. Fellowship with other believers is essential for experiencing the fullness of this union.Spiritual Warfare and the "Already/Not Yet" RealityThe discussion highlighted the reality of spiritual warfare, emphasizing that believers are seated with Christ in the heavenly places, empowered to overcome evil forces. However, this victory is not yet fully realized; we live in an "already/not yet" reality, experiencing the blessings of salvation now while anticipating the fullness of God's kingdom in the future.Podcast: www.ReformedRookie.comPodcast: https://anchor.fm/reformedrookieFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheReformedRookie Twitter: https://twitter.com/NYapologistSemper Reformanda!Podcast: www.ReformedRookie.comPodcast: https://anchor.fm/reformedrookieFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheReformedRookie Twitter: https://twitter.com/NYapologistSemper Reformanda!