“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:” (Ephesians 1:3).

We are blessed with all “spiritual blessings” in Heavenly places. Spiritual blessings are those blessings which are divine in nature rather than those blessings which are humanly. If we turn our attention to temporal or human blessings we’ll be greatly disappointed and displeased. In other words, spiritual blessings are not referring to health blessings, financial blessings, or circumstance blessings. Spiritual blessings are not carnal or fleshly—they’re spiritual!

The Bible speaks of those spiritual blessings which only come from God above. They are super-natural. They are Heavenly. Therefore, they are unchangeable and nonnegotiable. These blessings are unearned, unmerited, and undeserved. But how do these spiritual blessings become ours?

We’ll see one specific Biblical theme repeated again and again as we address some of our spiritual blessings listed in Ephesians 1:4-7, but verse 3 actually lays the immovable foundation on which we stand. If we fail to grasp it, we’ll fail to understand the rest of the book. Here’s the massive, immovable foundation. It’s the words: “In Christ.” Read it once again.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:” (Ephesians 1:3).

If we desire the spiritual blessings of God we’ll receive them in Christ. In Christ we have “all” spiritual blessings in Heavenly places. We are complete in Christ. We lack nothing and have all things in Christ. Get that.

How are we in Christ? “That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 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,” (Ephesians 1:12-13).

Being in Christ brings to us the power of God and all the spiritual blessings of God. It is fully given to those who simply believe. The Apostle Paul prayed for the saints at Ephesus, that they would know “…what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all” (Ephesians 1:19-23).

To us-ward who believe! All spiritual blessings in Heavenly places are ours in Christ! Stand on this great truth, believer.

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Tags: Bible Study, Christ & Grace, Forrest Wychopen, Jesus, Lord

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).

Words matter. As we consider the “words” of God very carefully, we arrive at the proper message and meaning of Holy Scripture. First, let’s observe what the word DOES NOT say. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto ETERNAL LIFE, which God hath before ordained that we have it.” See what I mean, words matter? What does the Bible actually say then?

We are His workmanship (thing that is made) in Christ Jesus unto good works. God has before ordained that we should walk in them (good works). This was “His design” and “His will” before the foundation of the world—that we who believe in Christ with our God given free will are created unto good works and that we walk in them. He ordained it. (And for those who may have questions about Ephesians 1:3-12, I plan on discussing those verses in forthcoming posts)

Those who are in Christ Jesus are new persons, with new minds, new lives, and are created to do good works. Here’s a question for you to consider. Why is it that we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works and yet still do bad works? If God ordained that we walk in good works, why do we not walk in good works 100 percent of the time? Can you answer that? We’re back to that God given free will again. Here’s why we so often make wrong choices. It’s our mortality. We are still humans in case no one has informed you. And we make wrong choices, have wrong thoughts, and do wrong deeds as a result of our failure to appropriate the realities of who we are in Christ by faith.

As we take the whole of scripture we clearly see that the ordained workmanship of God to walk in good works takes place when and after we first believe. We are only able to walk in good works because of the indwelling Holy Spirit given to every believer.  “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,” (Ephesians 1:13). Yes, we are saved by grace—which is the benefit and favor of God. Yes, we are saved through faith—which is also the gift of God given to all humans. But you have a God given free will to believe or not believe. It was this way before you believed in Christ, at the moment you believed in Christ, and as you continue believing in Christ. You have a free will. This is God’s design.

Our salvation is not acquired by good works, nor is it maintained or preserved by good works, but as believers we are each created in Christ Jesus unto good works. And as we “…grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ… (2 Peter 3:18), we walk in them on a more consistent basis. The Lord Jesus Christ we believe in is the same Lord Jesus Christ who will work in and through us to bring forth fruit, more fruit, and much fruit! Believe!

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Tags: Bible Study, Christ & Grace, Forrest Wychopen, Gospel, Jesus, Lord

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

This is one of the great truths in the Bible. Salvation is given to us by the grace and by the goodness of God. It is not from our attempt at good works or good deeds. Many people today think God requires holy living in order to appease Him. Many erroneously believe certain behaviors satisfy God and other behaviors dissatisfy Him. As a result, many live in fear that they have not met the high standard of God’s righteousness and are in jeopardy of lost salvation and their place in Heaven. Do you not know? Jesus Christ has fully satisfied all that God requires. That’s grace. Grace is God giving to us what we do not deserve and cannot earn. Grace is the unmerited favor of God. Grace abounds at the beginning of our Christian life, during our Christian life, and the end of our Christian life. Jesus alone has met the perfect and just requirements of God toward sin. That’s grace, beloved. God offering to us through faith what we cannot obtain through works.

Is faith a work? No, but faith is an act of our God given will. We have a choice. God gives it to us. God places before all men His grace, mercy, goodness, kindness, and love through Christ and invites all to come! “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18).

Jesus Christ has done for us what we could not do for ourselves. “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14). And who are those that are sanctified? We must deal very carefully with scriptural truth and avoid “single verses” or “parts of single verses” that support our particular viewpoint. None of us have the final say on proper understanding but we each owe it to ourselves to at least read the entire verse and all the surrounding verses in a particular book of the Bible in order to have a hope of getting proper meaning.

Scripture defines itself if we simply allow it to but it requires careful study and careful examination to do so. We cannot hang on the coat tales of others who teach or on the way we’ve always believed something in order to substantiate truth. We must “rightly divide the word of truth” and be open to what God desires to tell us by His Spirit through His word.

To me the Holy Scripture is very clear. “That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 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, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:12-14).

What does the Bible say? “…who first trusted in Christ…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….”

You trusted in Christ after you heard. And after you heard the gospel of your salvation in Christ you believed and were sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise! Now that’s grace!

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Tags: Bible Study, Christ & Grace, Forrest Wychopen, Gospel, Jesus, Lord

“But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (James 4:6).

The Bible does not say God gives more grace to the righteous. It does not say He gives more grace to those who live right and strive for holiness. Nor does it teach that grace is the by product of high standards. It simply says He gives grace to the humble.

Believing in Jesus Christ, how that He died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day according to the scriptures, does not suddenly make us “super saints” who stop sinning. But surely you already knew that. As Bible believing Christians we do not believe in “quietism” which is a form of mysticism that teaches God annihilates our will and leaves us with no choice. God, in His sovereignty, “chose” to give humankind a free will. That’s His doing and His plan. He made us that way. Do you believe that?

I know a lot of folks tag us “free will” believers with the erroneous idea that we think believing is our part and our work. I don’t believe that. The ability to believe is not our work, the ability to believe is His work. God created the first man with a free will—that makes it His work. But in His sovereignty and divine will God has chosen for humankind to have a free will with the ability to either believe or not believe. It’s been that way since the beginning. Eve had a choice. Adam had a choice.

Search the word “believe” in your New Testament and you’ll find this to be the only means of obtaining life in Christ. God reached, God provided, God came, and God said. Will you believe? The “election” that pertains to Christians is based solely on being in Christ through the instrument of belief. Search the words elect, chosen, and ordain and read the chapter and verses around them and you’ll see that belief is always the means. And do not ignore who is being addressed in the chapter. Read the scriptures in context and you’ll always find this to be true; believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. If you are not in Christ by belief in Him—you are not the elect.

But remember, belief is also the gift of God and is therefore not our work. We should each know that He does not impose His perfect will on us. He does not make or force us to believe. But God chose and ordained before the foundation of the world that any man, woman, boy, or girl who believes in Jesus Christ is “in Him” and is therefore justified, forgiven, cleansed, and made the very righteousness of God. Our “election” is contingent on believing the written record with our God-given, God-designed, God-created, free will! The sovereignty of God is connected with the free will of man.

Our entire life, before and after believing in Christ, we’ve used our God given free will to believe or not believe. Think about your own life and how that’s been true. God doesn’t make you believe and obey. But through our entire Christian life there’s been His abounding grace. Abounding grace that is undeserved, unmerited, and unearned. Grace that is still working and providing that eternal liberty in Christ—that liberty from Satan, that liberty from condemnation, that liberty from judgment, and that liberty from His wrath. What this means is that God does not require for us to first “clean-up” and “shape-up” before we can receive His abundant grace. But one thing is clear; He will give grace to the humble and He will resist the proud.

So what does all of this mean? As His children we must live in humility while in the valley of sin and wretchedness as well as when on the mountaintop of spiritual victory. That’s the point. There is never permission to be lifted up with pride based on those times of good lifestyle choices. We must purpose to live in a posture of humility and realize anything we do that is fruitful as born again Christians is a result of our vital connection to the True Vine—Jesus Christ! It’s all by His grace. We can never take any credit.

The Christian life is Christ in you. Remember this great Bible truth and let it motivate you to live a life of humility. “He must increase, and I must decrease.”

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Tags: Bible Study, Christ & Grace, Forrest Wychopen, Gospel, Jesus, Lord

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might” (Ephesians 6:10).

This verse precedes the “Armor of God” section that is so popular among Christians. Ephesian 6:14-18 instucts us to put on the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, have our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, above all, taking the shield of faith, take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Some like to include prayer as part of the armor. The counsel we hear is to girt up, put on the armor, be ready to fight the good fight, and be a good soldier.

Go get-um tiger!

Could I suggest a freeing truth? Will you prayerfully consider a truth that will give you strength and power to live the daily Christian life? The armor of God is Christ Himself. It’s not that we put on all the many truths found in the Bible. It’s not that we faithfully strive for and commit to holy acts of righteousness in our daily lives. Nor is it that we diligently study the gospel message so we will be prepared to witness. It’s not that we purpose each morning to grab our faith shield and put on our salvation helmet before crawling out of bed. We do not achieve victory by memorizing key verses so we can pull out our Sword and do battle. I say again, the armor of God is Christ Himself.

Christ is the essence of all truth. Christ is perfect righteousness. Christ is the gospel of hope. Christ is the object of and personification of perfect faith. Christ is the only salvation available for humankind. Christ is the incarnate Word who became flesh—full of grace and truth. Christ has made it possible for every believer to have direct access to the throne of God. Christ has defeated and destroyed the adversary once and for all.

So be strong in the Lord. Be strong in the power of His might. Purpose to know Him. Purpose to love Him. Purpose to follow Him. Victory is already ours, believer.

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Tags: Bible Study, Forrest Wychopen, Gospel, Grace, Jesus, Lord, Love