FRIDAY April 23, 2021

In the Heavenly Places

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

Paul spoke about the Trinity––the Godhead––Three in One. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit––the Triune God. When Paul used the titles, Lord Jesus Christ, these were not is not Jesus’ first, middle and last names.

The title Lord in the Greek language is Kurios. It is a title in reference to His Lordship; His supreme authority. Jesus is our Lord, and we are to be in submission to Him. Understand, Christians have a love relationship with Christ. They are not religious. In love, a believer submits every area of their life to Him. He becomes a Christian’s Chief Commander.

The name Jesus in the Hebrew language is Y’shua. It means “to deliver, rescue or God is salvation.” It is the name of the Messiah, and when it is properly used, it is Jesus the Christ––the Anointed One of God. This is His human name, as the incarnate, eternal Son of God. This speaks of Christ’s mission. He came to save souls: “...for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). He is the Savior of the world.

Consider Jesus’ names and what we have received from Him. Paul uses the past tense. God has blessed us. He is the source of our blessings–– spiritual, physical and material. Paul was specifically speaking of the scope of our spiritual blessings. The sphere is in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. These blessings consist of our salvation, forgiveness, regeneration and sonship.

Other blessings to be received will be our glorification and our eternal inheritance: to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you (1 Peter 1:4).

What immense spiritual wealth is ours in Christ! Some to experience today and some tomorrow. Some which is ours because of spiritual birth as a child of God. Some to be experienced only by deliberate faith appropriation.
~A.W. Tozer~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!