There are so many distractions claiming our attention and consuming our thoughts. And there are even religious things that distract us and take our eyes off of Jesus Christ. What ceremony or tradition pulls you away from our Lord? What teaching is it that directs you to a process or procedure rather than to the Person of Christ?  Would you see Jesus?

Look upon Jesus today. Think on Him and dwell on Him as you go off to bed tonight. Awake to His presence as you start a new day. Walk with Him. Think on Christ. When you read your Bible, see Jesus. When you pray, listen and speak with Jesus. He will become your very life. As He does you’ll long for nothing else. Jesus will fill your heart, satisfy your thoughts, and flavor your words with grace and truth.

The life of Christ—His compassion, His miracles, His power, His love, His grace, His truth, and His divinity all give us valid reasons to believe in Him. That’s what the end of the book of John declares. “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”

Read the wonderful gospel of John again with this truth as your foundation. These things are written that you might believe. Bask in the all sufficiency of Christ. Walk with Him and fully embrace Him. Seek to know Him as He is revealed in this great book of the Bible. Allow the Father in Heaven to use the written word to draw you to Christ. All who will believe are given to Christ and then sealed for all eternity. Receive His gift and live. It’s yours!

But there is much more, dear friend. There is joy and peace. There is freedom, liberty, and victory. There is forgiveness and reconciliation beyond our initial salvation. Condemnation is gone. Judgment is gone. There is grace to follow our Lord without fear. Grace to live the way He has called us to live. And grace to receive and understand all He gives to us in Christ.

“But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” (John 20:31). Believe and receive life. Life abundant and life victorious. Are you weary and heavy laden? Are you defeated and discouraged? Are you sour and grumpy? Joyless and sad? Turn to Jesus!

Here’s something most of us can improve on. Let our speech be always with grace—seasoned with salt. In other words, allow the wonderful impact of God’s immeasurable grace in our lives to reflect in our speech. Let us be gracious, loving, kind, and encouraging with our words. Let’s be slow to speak and slow to wrath.

I think of all the times Jesus spoke with “sinners” and if He chose, could have really hammered them with His words—and rightly so. If you think about it though, the ones He spoke sternly with were the pious religious zealots who had a form of Godliness but denied the power thereof; the spiritually dead who hid behind the mask of traditionalism, ceremonialism, and ritualism. The Pharisees and Sadducees rejected Jesus Christ and would not believe in Him. Furthermore, with their cunning words and beguiling speech they actually directed people away from Christ. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves” (Matthew 23:15).

Salt is a preserver, a healing resource, and provides flavor. May our speech be always with grace and seasoned with salt. May we preserve relationships, heal wounds, and flavor the lives of others with speech full of grace and truth. And may we always remember that the one who is full of grace and truth abides in us. Have a Christ-directed day, my friend.

Here is the heart, mind, and sovereign will of our Creator—that all men come unto the knowledge of the truth. Jesus Christ gave Himself a ransom for all—a ransom to be testified in due time. The word “all” means all. It means all, any, every, the whole, whatsoever, and whosoever. There is no twisting this word in order to make it include only the chosen, elect, or ordained. The “redemption” price for “all” has been paid in full! What a great gift. What undeserved mercy and kindness. What amazing grace this is—God offering to all men what we do not deserve; unmerited favor and unearned eternal life. All may come.

And what does this truth do for those of us who have already believed? I cannot speak for you but through the years I’ve known more of His kindness, forgiveness, and grace. My love and appreciation for Christ has grown. My awe and reverence for Christ has increased. Knowing and understanding His grace has changed my life. Am I some type of super-saint? Am I claiming spiritual superiority? God forbid! “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief” (1 Timothy 1:15).

Personally, I believe in Christ and Christ alone for His great gift and provision for eternal salvation. I praise Him for the continued grace that allows me to follow Him. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee” (Titus 2:11-15).

Read it once more, dear friend. Let these promises be yours. Consider what He says. Bask in its life changing truth. Find rest in its power and strength. Stand on its unmovable foundation. Believe in it with your whole heart and mind. Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free and do not be entangled again in the lifeless law and yoke of bondage.

What a wonderful spiritual blessing is ours in Christ Jesus! “…redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins ….” A “ransom” or “deliverance” has been paid and provided in full on the cross of Christ for all who believe. “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2). He died for the whole world. He died for all. And all may come! Do you believe?

Jesus became our sacrificial lamb. Forgiveness is given to those who believe. His forgiveness is so sufficient and so thorough that it’s as if you have never sinned. Think of that! His precious blood is so powerful and so affective that it continually cleanses us from all sin in our past, present, and future. Do you think of this great spiritual blessing that is ours to the full in Christ? Are you rejoicing in and praising the Lord Jesus Christ for His everlasting gift of mercy and grace? We do not deserve it, you know. But it’s ours.

At the annual atonement thousands of gallons of blood were sprinkled on the mercy seat by the Levitical priests but could never permanently atone for the sin of the people of Israel—once and for all time. “And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:” (Hebrews 10:11). Every year the Israelites made the journey to have the priest’s offer sacrifice for their sins. And every year the offering could never take away their sins once and for all. This foreshadowed a better way. Jesus has come. He has bore the iniquities of us all. He has completely satisfied the just and holy requirement of God toward sin. In Christ you are sanctified once and for all! “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified” (Hebrews 10:12-14).

What will you do with this great gift of grace? Will you float through this life lacking love for Christ? I am not asking us to devote ourselves to more holy standards, righteous disciplines, or godly rules. I am not encouraging us to “turn a new leaf” or make new resolutions. I am exhorting us to turn fully to Christ. Turn your heart to Him. Not religion. Not ceremony. Not sacrifice. To Jesus Christ! Believer, may our love for the Lord Jesus Christ constrain us to follow Him. May we long to know Him intimately, love Him sincerely, and follow Him faithfully.

I began this study in Ephesians 1 with verse 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:” (Ephesians 1:3). Have you noticed and observed the repeated connection between Christ and all spiritual gifts in Heavenly places?

Now we come to verse 6. Here it is once again. God has made us accepted in the beloved (Jesus Christ). And once more I remind us that our union with Christ is through the God given gifts of grace and faith. Believing with our God given free will is the only way to be made accepted in the beloved. But you must believe.

Before believing in Christ there was nothing acceptable to God. There was no God-ward goodness in any of us before receiving Christ in faith. Our attempt at prayer brought no pleasure to Him. Our self-sacrifices made no appeasement. Our pure thoughts, kind words, or noble deeds did not earn us a spot in Heaven. But “in Christ” we who were once in darkness have become the righteousness of God. God is pleased. God is satisfied. Sin is atoned for by Christ. The Light of the world is now in us. Has the great gift of His grace become yours? Have you believed? Are you in Christ today?

If so, you are accepted. God has highly favored you because you are in Christ. Let no one condemn you—He doesn’t. Rejoice in Him, believer. You are accepted in the beloved!

Adoption is another spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ. Remember, our Heavenly Father has “…blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:” (Ephesians 1:3). Apart from Christ, none of the spiritual blessings are ours. But in Christ they are ours to the full.

This is the mercy of God. This is the grace of God. This is the kindness of God. This is the love of God. We must read Ephesians 1:5 with that understanding in order to avoid the development of wrong doctrine. And we must remember that our sovereign God has given to all human beings the free will to either believe in Christ or to reject Him in unbelief. God does not determine for us either eternal life in the glory of Heaven or eternal damnation in the torment of Hell by annihilating the free will of man with His own. When our belief is placed in Christ we are then fully endowed with and blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places. It’s yours! What a wonderful time we live in. Jesus is offering eternal life and the forgiveness of sin to all who believe.

We, who believe, were predestined to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ. Our adoption is not by our good deeds. Our adoption is not by our faithful attendance to church. Our adoption is not by our diligent Bible study. Our adoption is not by our living the best life we can. Our adoption is not by our obedience to His commandments. According to the scripture, our adoption is “…by Jesus Christ….”

What a great gift! Do you hear, understand, and receive this great truth, believer? By Jesus Christ you have become the child of God. This plan of redemption through belief in Christ was predetermined in eternity past. Amazing! “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father” (Galatians 4:6). In Christ, I am adopted. God is my Father!

I’ve had individuals quote this verse to me like this. No kidding. “He hath chosen us before the foundation of the world.” But that is not what the verse says.

We are entering into teaching that stands on a truth that is set forth in verse 3. It is crucial for us to understand that the entire book of Ephesians and its teaching rests on this central truth. “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 will see key words in the verses to follow. Words like in Christ, in him, by Jesus Christ, in the beloved, in whom, and in himself. God’s spiritual blessings are each realized to the full in Christ Jesus. And belief in the Lord Jesus Christ makes these spiritual blessings a reality. This is the plan of God before the foundation of the world. If you believe in Jesus Christ, how that He died on the cross for your sins, was buried, and rose again from the grave on the third day with your God given free will, then His spiritual blessings in heavenly places are yours. If you do not believe in Jesus Christ, how that He died on the cross for your sins, was buried, and rose again from the grave on the third day with your God given free will, then His spiritual blessings in heavenly places are not yours.

Avoid allowing the word “chosen” to confuse you. But don’t avoid this Biblical word either. It’s true; we are chosen or selected. But what does the Holy Scripture say? Words matter, especially when they are God’s! Here’s a careful breakdown of this verse.

He (God the Father) has chosen us in Him (Jesus Christ the Son) before the foundation of the world (before you and the world even existed) that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love. Observe that the Bible does not say in this verse that we are chosen before the foundation of the world to receive eternal life. It does not say we are chosen to be in Christ. But the Bible does say that in Him (Christ) we are chosen to be holy and without blame before Him in love.

“Holy and without blame” is clearly not speaking of “holy” behavior in your mortal life. Do you honestly believe you could ever behave holy before Him in love all the time? And do you honestly think it’s even possible to be without blame before Him in love? God requires perfection. And in Christ, you have it! God chose us (who are in Christ by faith) before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.

I say to you, believer, that in Christ you have become the very righteousness of God! God has chosen for this to be the case for all believers. Rejoice in the glory and the power of Christ. Thank Him. Worship Him. And praise Him!

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.

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!