II. The author of these blessings (v.3): "the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."

1. Because He is God, He is able to bless. The God of our Lord Jesus Christ is therefore able to perform what the world's gods and idols cannot do. As for their gods, they are purely imaginary, and imaginary gods give only imaginary blessings. As for their idols, they are helpless to bless even themselves. The ability of God to bless, and the inability of idols to do so, is graphically portrayed in Psalm 115:3-7, 14f: "But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases [cp. Isaiah 59:1]. Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they do not speak; eyes they have, but they do not see; they have ears, but they do not hear; noses they have, but they do not smell; they have hands, but they do not handle; feet they have, but they do not walk; nor do they mutter through their throat. ... May the LORD give you increase more and more, you and your children. May you be blessed by the LORD, who made heaven and earth."

2. Because He is the Father, He is willing to bless (Psalm 103:13f): "As a father pities his children, so the LORD pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust." We therefore have the confidence expressed by Christ in Matthew 7:11: "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!"

III. The recipients of these blessings (v.3): they identify themselves as "us." But who is this "us"?

1. These recipients are not inclusive of everyone. God is benevolent to the just and the unjust alike, and both therefore receive His providential benefits (Matthew 5:45). But the unjust are not the recipients of these blessings of salvation.

2. Rather, these recipients are "saints" and "faithful in Christ Jesus" (v.1), whether "in Ephesus" or elsewhere. Such "saints" are a people set apart from the world and consecrated to the Lord - "a holy generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, ... who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy" (1 Peter 2:9f). And such "faithful in Christ Jesus" are believers. The "faithful" are quite simply full of faith toward God, wholeheartedly believing and trusting in Jesus Christ as their only hope for salvation, as was the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:37). They are "faithful in Christ Jesus," which denotes that every aspect of their lives is Christ-centered.

IV. The inclusiveness of these blessings (v.3): "He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing."

1. Their number is inclusive because of the perfect nature of the Triune Godhead. They therefore include all that the Father can bestow, all that the Son can provide, and all that the Holy Spirit can apply.

2. Their number is inclusive with regard to their eternity. They include all that God has decreed in the past (vv.4-6), and is applying in the present (vv.7-12), and has reserved for the future (v.13).

3. Their number is inclusive to every recipient. "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32). He who has been blessed with one of these spiritual blessings must of necessity be blessed with all of them. And, he who has been blessed with all these blessings will never lose even one of them. God's chain of "every spiritual blessing" will never miss a link!

V. The realm of these blessings (v.3): "in the heavenly places in Christ."

1. This realm is supernatural and spiritual, not natural and physical. This we know because of what Paul the apostle says of it elsewhere in this epistle: Christ is enthroned there (1:20); Christians are seated with Him there (2:6); the manifold wisdom of God is known there (3:10); it is "in Christ" (1:3).

2. This realm is occupied by Christians even as they live on this earth. This we know because Paul also says the saint on earth wrestles against spiritual hosts in this realm (6:12). He is therefore in the world, but not of it (John 17:14-16). He is a citizen of heaven while on earth a pilgrim (Philippians 3:20; Hebrews 11:13). And, God's blessings in heaven are reserved for only those who are heavenly citizens while on this earth and in this present life.

VI. An enumeration of these blessings (vv.4-14):

1. eternal election to salvation in Christ (v.4): "He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love" (cp. 2 Thessalonians 2:13).

2. predestination unto adoption as sons by Christ (vv.5, 11): "having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself. ... being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will" (cp. Romans 8:28-30).

3. eternal acceptance in Christ the Beloved (v.6): "He has made us accepted in the Beloved" - not made merely acceptable.

4. redemption through Christ's blood (v.7): "In Him we have redemption through His blood" (cp. 1 Peter 1:18-21).

5. forgiveness of sins (v.7): "In Him we have ... the forgiveness of sins" (cp. Hebrews 10:17f).

6. revelation of God's will in Christ (v.9): "having made known to us the mystery of His will" (contrast 1 Corinthians 2:14).

7. final unity and ultimate fellowship in Christ (v.10): "in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth - in Him" - for God loses none of His people.

8. inheritance in Christ (v.11): "In Him also we have obtained an inheritance" (cp. Romans 8:16f; 1 Peter 1:3-5).

9. hearing and believing the gospel of Christ (v.13): "In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation" - for even believing in Christ is of grace (2:8f).

10. sealing in Christ of all things by the Holy Spirit (vv.13f): "in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession."

VII. The governance of these blessings:

1. "according to the good pleasure of His will" (v.5), which is the rule of all God's actions (Psalm 135:6);

2. "according to the riches of His grace" (v.7), which riches are "exceeding" (2:7; Romans 5:20) and "unsearchable" (3:8);

3. "according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself" (v.9), fulfilling His predestination (Isaiah 14:24; 27);

4. "according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will" (v. 11), and for the good of His people (Romans 8:28ff);

5. "to the praise of His glory" (vv.12, 14), which is the end and purpose of all that God does (1 Peter 4:11);

6. "to the praise of the glory of His grace" (v.6).

VIII. The response of the recipients of these blessings (v.3): "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." God blesses His people, and His people bless Him in return. There is, however, a vast difference in His blessing and ours.

1. He blesses us in deeds of bestowal; we bless Him in words of praise (Psalm 34:1; 103:1f).

2. In blessing us, He bestows "every spiritual blessing"; in blessing Him, we add nothing to Him, because He is already fully blessed in Himself (Psalm 24:21).

3. And, we do not bless Him in order to merely receive blessings; rather, we bless Him because He has already blessed us.

"What shall I render to the LORD for all His benefits toward me? I will take up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD" (Psalm 116:12f). Is this yourresponse?

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