(Ephesians 1:3) "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:"
This is the only place in the scripture which tells us all spiritual blessings are in Christ.
(John 1:12) "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:"
(Romans 7:4) "Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God."
(Romans 13:14) "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof."
(Ephesians 2:12-14) "That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: {13} But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. {14} For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;"
Without being reconciled to God, there would be no marriage to Christ, nor the provision afforded by him of wearing him as a cloak for warmth and security. As Gentiles, no greater calamity could befall man than to be without God in the world, having no hope, and cut off from the covenants of promise God made to Abraham.
(Romans 8:2) "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."
(1 John 1:7) "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."
(2 Corinthians 4:16) "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day."
One of the original laws of God is that if you sin, you die. Death has passed upon all men because of the sin in the garden; for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Those who are in Christ do sin, but do not practice sin as does the world. The great blessing in Christ is, when we sin, there is the blood of Christ which cleanses that sin on a daily basis. Furthermore, the word of God provides all the necessary ingredients to sustain and maintain a healthy growth development for the child of God.
(1 John 2:1) "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
(1 John 2:2) "And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."
(Romans 8:26-27) "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. {27} And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God."
(Romans 8:34) "Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us."
(Hebrews 7:25) "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them."
An advocate is one who pleads the case of another. A propitiator is one who wins or regains the goodwill, to appease or conciliate. In prayer, Christ and the Holy Spirit intercede for us.
(Ephesians 1:13-14) "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, {14} Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory."
(2 Corinthians 1:22) "Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts."
(2 Corinthians 5:5) "Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit."
(Acts 2:38) "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."
(Romans 8:9) "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."
(Romans 8:16) "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:"
(1 John 3:15) "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him."
(Romans 8:14) "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."
The arm of God which accomplishes everything at his will is his Holy Spirit. His Spirit who dwells within us is the token of eternal things in store for us. Therefore, we have a part of eternal life already abiding within us.
(2 Peter 1:3) "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:"
(Colossians 2:2) "That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;"
(1 Thessalonians 1:5) "For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake."
We have in the word of God all things necessary for our existence. There is nothing more forthcoming, seeing the new testament of Christ is "set in concrete" in heaven.
(Psalms 119:89) "For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven."
Christ gave his word one time and that settles it.
(2 Corinthians 13:14) "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen."
This is the solid foundation of rock which establishes the heart. Our hope is built upon nothing less than the great Creator of the universe, the Word (the Logos) who made all things and without whom nothing was made, and the sweet communion (fellowship) we have with the Holy Spirit of promise.
(Hebrews 6:11) "And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:"
(Hebrews 10:22) "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water."
(Hebrews 2:14-15) "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; {15} And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."
(Hebrews 2:18) "For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted."
(1 Corinthians 10:13) "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."
If the Christian cannot rest easy at night, knowing he has all of these blessings in Christ, he is weak, sickly, and does not understand what being in Christ is all about. If these countless blessings in Christ do not produce happiness within the child of God, there must be a major overhaul of his heart, mind and spirit.
(1 John 2:25) "And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life."
(Romans 8:11) "But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you."
(1 Thessalonians 4:15-18) "For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. {16} For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: {17} Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. {18} Wherefore comfort one another with these words."
The apostle Paul himself said:
(1 Corinthians 15:19-20) "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. {20} But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept."
This is the fear of death to which all of mankind was subject,
being in bondage to it all their lifetime. But, now, Christ is
risen from the dead, the firstfruits of them that slept, and will
raise us up in the last day. There is no greater comfort.
(1 Peter 2:5) "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ."
(Hebrews 6:19-20) "Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; {20} Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec."
(Hebrews 10:19-20) "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, {20} By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;"
The vail of the temple was a restriction for all of Israel except the high priest. With the exception of the high priest, they could not enter into the most holy place. That vail was rent from top to bottom on the day of our Lord's crucifixion and it, along with the law of Moses, was removed. But now, in Christ, we are all spiritual priests to God, and can enter the holiest through the vail, that is, his flesh, because we are in the body of Christ.
(Hebrews 1:13-14) "But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? {14} Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?"
Whether we believe or understand it, the angels of God are ministers to his saints. We are not aware of just how they do it, but they do. It is my belief that many members of the church of our dear Lord really don't want the angels to get to close to them. Truly a great blessing taken for granted.
(James 1:5) "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."
Just ask in great faith and it will be given; no strings attached. Without this great blessing from God, we will be as the apostle Paul said:
(2 Timothy 3:7) "Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."
(Philippians 4:7) "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
No man has ever fought with God and won. However, there are constant battles waged every day between God and those who pervert his holy word. The bottom line is, are we at peace with God, or have we chosen to fight against him?
Never, never, forget to thank God for all of the spiritual blessings
which flow from the bosom of Christ. Amen.
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