Every Blessing in Christ

You may have seen a certain enigmatic character around blogdom. He calls himself “Dyspraxic Fundamentalist.” This character first came across my path on my second or third post after I started my blog, I think. I am not sure I remember how he happened upon my blog, but it has been interesting. From the beginning, he would leave a comment on just about every post of mine. I did not go to his blog but maybe once or twice, for the first couple of months. I would read his comments every day I posted. I must be dense or something, because I did not even notice the phrase he left at the bottom of every comment until after quite a long time.

Every Blessing in Christ

When I first noticed that this closing remark was on most every comment, on every blog, his own and others', I thought: “how delightful.” It is a very nice reflection to send to other Christians. As the months have gone on, though, my eye has been drawn more and more to this phrase. I believe it is based partly on the passage directly below. This is so full of wonder!

Ephesians 1
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love
5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will -
6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace
8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.
9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,
10 to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment - to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,
12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.
13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,
14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession - to the praise of his glory.
15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,
16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.
17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength,
20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,
21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church,
23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Wow, there is quite a lot in that passage alone! What I love about that passage is the phrase In Christ. I suppose that is what I love about Matthew’s closing. In Christ is where it all lies:

Grace (v. 2)
Peace
Being Holy (v.4)
Being blameless
Adoption (v.5)
glorious grace (v. 6)
redemption (v. 7)
forgiveness
Riches of His grace
Wisdom (v. 8)
Understanding
Knowledge (v. 9)
Being Chosen (v. 11)
Being predestined
Having hope (v. 12)
Being included in Christ (v. 13)
Being marked with a seal
The Holy Spirit
Guarantee of inheritance (v. 14)
Riches of his glorious inheritance (v. 18)
His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms … (v. 19-20)

I feel so amazingly blessed, especially when I think of the last item on that list. Truly, if God is for us, who can be against us? The same power that raised Christ from the dead is on our side! What do we lack? God has provided Himself to us through our wonderful Savior, Jesus.

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. (Galatians 3:13-15)

Christ took up our curse on the cross and redeemed us. Now, we are privy (through faith) to the very life of God. God inwells the believer in Christ. The promise of the Spirit, the indwelling of the life of God, has been realized by the church, who is in Christ. We are fully equipped to have blessed fellowship directly with God. We have no spiritual need that cannot be met … because we have been redeemed … and have received the promise:

Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature … (2 Pet 1:4)

Every Blessing in Christ!

Thank you, Matthew, for reminding us of this in your coments.