“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,” Ephesians 1:3.
The spiritual blessings referred to in Ephesians 1:3 are given to Christians who have consecrated their lives to God through His Son, Jesus Christ. These spiritual blessings, as opposed to material blessings, such as prosperity in this life, begin with knowledge of the creator Father and a recognition of Jesus as mankind’s Savior.
After one understands that God’s Son, Jesus, paid the price for his sin, repents and devotes his life to following God’s will, he receives the blessing of the holy spirit. God’s spirit works powerfully to transform them into the character likeness of Christ. (Romans 12:1,2) As Christians walk in obedience to God’s will, they receive the blessing of peace with God. (See Romans 5:1, Ephesians 1:2.)
Christians are also blessed because the Lord Jesus Christ is their advocate (see 1 John 2:1) with the Father. These have the great, necessary privilege of prayer, asking and receiving the blessing of forgiveness of sins through the merit of their Lord Jesus Christ.
Furthermore, Christians desire to study and understand the Bible. God, through the holy spirit, opens our hearts and minds to understand His magnificent plans and purposes. (See John 16:13, John 6:63, John 17:17) “He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention…” Ephesians 1:9 (NASB). This clearer knowledge of God’s righteous, loving character, and of His comprehensive plan for all, are spiritual blessings (see 1 Corinthians 2:9, 10).
“This is why only someone who has God’s Spirit can understand spiritual blessings. Anyone who doesn’t have God’s Spirit thinks these blessings are foolish,” 1 Corinthians 2:14 (CEV).
