"Spiritual Blessings in the Heavenly Places"

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, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love, 5 He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.” (Ephesians 1:3-6 ESV)

In the Epistle to the Ephesians, Paul opens his letter with what is essentially a call to worship. This might seem a little odd, given that he is writing to the Gentiles who do not know the Lord, yet he asks them to worship what they do not fully understand. The sovereignty of God is something we usually learn about after we have some understanding of God.

However, Paul is overwhelmed by salvation through the blood of Christ and proclaims it up front to the Ephesians. In verse three, Paul calls to worship God, who has blessed us with spiritual blessings in heavenly places. Paul is talking about salvation, but more importantly, he is discussing election, or predestination.

You see, predestination or unconditional election is the first spiritual blessing, not a worldly blessing, that provides for all other blessings from God. This is a highly contested doctrine, yet one would wonder why, as it is written here, in Revelation and other verses in the Bible. It should not be contested because it is all about the sovereignty of God. He chooses. He is in control. It establishes that we cannot save ourselves but require a Savior.

Verse four establishes that God chose His elect before the foundation of the world. This was a promise God made. In His sovereignty, He selected those who would be made His children. Who did he promise it to? No one existed. The promise was made to the Son and or the Holy Spirit.

Many argue against the concept of election because, to them, it means that some will not be saved. It makes Christianity appear exclusive, which it is, but at the same time, it is all-inclusive, barring no one based on race, creed, or any other human identifier. Those who argue against unconditional election are essentially arguing against God’s sovereignty.

This is similar to the secular stance on abortion, the “ my body, my choice” mentality. I say no, God made your body, and it belongs to Him. As the creator, God has authority over what happens to His creation. Unconditional election is the same. God said I created this one and I chose them, and conversely, I created this one and I do not choose her.

Continuing in verse five, Paul uses the word 'predestined,' and through predestination, we are adopted into the family of God. Why did God decide this? He decided it just as Paul wrote, in love. It is God's unconditional love through which we were elected, not clairvoyance or foreknowledge, but love. It is God's sovereign love to choose those, by name, He would make His child. To forgive them, and to bring them into salvation. That is why God is to be worshiped and glorified. It is thus the choice that those elected would make up the church. They make up the church that would be the bride of Christ. God created with a plan, not in an abstract way. It is His sovereignty that allows Him to know the end before the beginning. He is the master of time and space, of creation, and the created. He did this for 'the purpose of His will,' of His sovereignty.

We see this in Matthew 25:32-34, where Jesus said: “Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.’” The king is Jesus, and “the final judgment” is where those who will inherit the kingdom that God had prepared for them before the beginning of the world. 

There are many objections to all of this. Those who hold to open theology, where God is not omnipotent, He must read the news like us to figure out what is going on in creation. The annihilationists who believe all sinners are destroyed in the end, and there is no hell. Even the universal salvationists who believe that eventually everyone gets saved all disagree on predestination and, subsequently, the sovereignty of God. Frankly, none of these ideas make sense to me when scripture is specific on unconditional election, and the human inability to save oneself from their sins.

If you do not know Christ as your Savior and are reading this, one must assume that, in God’s sovereignty, He brought you here. He brought you here to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Remember, salvation is available to all through the finished work of Christ on the cross. Ask Him to be your Savior. Believe He is the risen Son of God and defeated sin and death. Repent of your sins, and ask the Lord for your salvation. He is waiting.

If you have questions about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, reach out to us here at In Messiah. We can show you the scriptures that God gave humans to awaken them to their sin and lead them to salvation by the blood of Christ.

Grace and Peace.