In Christ – Ephesians 1:3-6

Over the next few Friday’s posts, I plan on looking at the book of Ephesians. It is a book in the Bible that covers many topics, but I like to look at it as a book of spiritual geography. Paul, the author of Ephesians, talks about many places where believers van find themselves, and that’s how I want to look at it.

To begin the letter to the Ephesians, the apostle Paul introduces himself and who he is writing to, ‘the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ.”

There are a few different ways this could be taken.

1) the letter is written to the saints in Ephesus and anyone faithful in Christ anywhere. This is doubtful, since Paul doesn't address letters to other churches this way.

2) to the Saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful. Indicating there are saints in Ephesus who are not faithful. This is possible, but again, it doesn't fit with Paul's other letters, nor with the rest of this letter.

3) the letter is written to a people in Ephesus and a people who are faithful in Christ, and they are the same people.

I believe the third explanation is by far the best, and you might have figured that out before you even read these three explanations. So why would I take the time to point this out? Paul could have said, “to the faithful Saints in Ephesus,” and on the surface it might sound pretty much the same, but I believe the phrase he chose “are faithful in Christ Jesus” is more a statement of position than behavior. In other words, the words “in Christ Jesus” are more important than the words “are faithful.”

I don't want to downplay our faithfulness, but in light of the rest of the letter, this seems like the best understanding. Paul is not just describing the way these Christians act or think; he is describing them positionally. They are in Ephesus, their geographical location in this world. But, they are also located spiritually in Christ Jesus. Paul is pointing out the dual citizenship of the believers.

We might say we are at work or at home or in the ball field, but if we have put our faith in the work of Christ, we are equally in Christ Jesus. This is a position, a place, as Jesus himself said, “Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me, you can do nothing” John 15:5.

Too often, our focus is on Christ with us - Footprints in the Sand kind of thing - all about the here and now, the physical world. Paul, as we will see, wants us to focus on the spiritual and eternal. He wants us to live in Christ.

Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ…

Paul goes on and describes what being “in Christ” is like. God the father has:

   -Blessed us in Christ

   -choose us in him

   -Predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ

   -Blessed us in the Beloved

In English, it looks like these two words “blessed” are the same word. They are close in Greek, but the first word is always reserved for the Father or Christ. It means to speak well of or to praise. We speak well of the father. We don't do this because we're smart or eloquent speakers. On our own, we are all rebellious to the Father. By our actions and attitudes we cursed him.

So why change from cursing to blessing? Because He blesses us in Christ. He spoke well of us; to as many as received him he gave the right to be called children of God.

In verses 3-6, Paul describes the ways the Father has blessed us. Notice he doesn't talk about health, wealth, old age, new cars, new houses or anything else tied to the stuff in this world. He does tell us that, in Christ, the father has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places.

Spiritual... Heavenly... What about that new job? What about healing my mom? What about health, wealth and happiness?

Father didn't choose to bless us so that we could get what we want here and now. He did choose us before the foundation of the world so that we could be holy and blameless before him, so we would be acceptable for adoption. He blessed us to be in relationship with him. And all of this positioning places us in heavenly places, before him, and his family. It comes by placing us in Christ, in the Beloved.

In the Beloved we have:

   -Redemption through his blood

   -New life

   -The forgiveness of our trespasses by his grace

   -Knowledge of the mystery of his will

   -An inheritance

   -Been sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.

If you have put your faith in the redemption offered through the sacrifice of Jesus, you have been placed in Christ. Remember this as you walk around your physical geography. You are dual citizen of both a heavenly kingdom and an earthly nation. Live your life accordingly.

If you are patriotic to the nation of your birth, how much more should you be to the kingdom, where the King of all kings came down to suffer and die so you could become a part of his kingdom? If you obey the laws of the land, how much more should you obey the commands of the Eternal King? Live a life that reflects the grace of a glorious God who would take you out of your sin and darkness and place you in Christ.