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THIS BLOG IS DEDICATED to one of the chief passions of my life and ministry, The Epistle of Paul to the Ephesians. I believe this epistle is at the very core of the Christian life. I spent years in the study of it and then three and one half years expositing it from my pulpit. I hope this blog will be a blessing to you as I share that exposition. I also hope you will tell others about this blog. Please check for new posts each Monday .

Monday, July 18, 2011

True Riches (2)

Ephesians 1:3—Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ—contains the first of five occurrences of the term in the heavenlies (literal translation), which we mentioned in an earlier installment. And what a beautiful term it is! Its meaning is obvious. Many Greek authorities agree that it refers to “the abode of God.” So, then, where are these spiritual blessings? They come from heaven. Why? Because they come from God Who is the source and Who dwells in heaven. But what is the significance of all this right now?

First, many spiritual riches that are found in heaven have been given to us here and now. Just one example of many is that we have been adopt­ed into God’s family (v. 6). God is the Father, He is in heaven, and our family membership is, therefore, in heaven. But also notice 2:6: “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together [in the heavenlies] in Christ Jesus.” So, the truth is that even though we are physically situated on earth, we are still spiritually seated in heaven.

Second, we are to live for what is heavenly, not earthly. Since God has heaped upon us spiri­tual blessings in the heavenlies, we should now live accordingly. There is nothing wrong with possessions, but we must not “live to have things.”

Peter exhorts in I Peter 2:11: “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.” Tragically, many Christians today act like earth is their home. But Peter declares that we are pilgrims who are just passing through this world on our way to heaven. We see this vividly in the nation of Israel. God promised them a land, and they, therefore, were (and are today) strangers anywhere else. Likewise, the Christian belongs nowhere else but heaven. Our true citizenship is in heaven. All that we do on earth is to prepare us for heaven. May the words of Paul in Colossians 3:2 ever ring in our ears: “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”

Ponder something else, however. How is such spiritual wealth acquired? The answer is in Christ. Without Christ as the means of bestowing these riches, they can­not possibly be ours. It’s interesting that the riches of verses 4‑14 are not found in the Old Testament because they come only in Christ. It’s true that all men enjoy God’s blessings to a limited extent, what theologians call “common grace.” For example, God “maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matt. 5:45). But only to the true Christian does He bestow His special grace and spiritual wealth.

Oh, how hard men try to be rich, but the best they will ever do is produce “counterfeit riches.” And, to take the analogy one step further, as one who produces coun­terfeit currency will get caught and go to jail, those who are not in Christ will end up in hell; their counterfeit riches will lead them to destruction (Rev. 21:8; etc).

As I share this truth, I am reminded of the terrorists who, on September 11, 2001, flew airplanes into The World Trade Center and the Pentagon. They were told a lie that by doing so they would receive 72 virgins and unimaginable spiritual blessings. Without doubt they soon realized the error. Many others in the world believe and teach that there are “many ways to God” and many ways to “be spiritual.” A common phrase is, “I’m not really religious, but I feel like I’m spiritual.” What a deadly deception! The Biblical truth is that that spiritual riches, and spirituality itself, are found and bestowed only in Christ. As Jesus Himself said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Oh, what riches, what wealth, we have in Christ!

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