by Sean P. Cavender
Synopsis: Sean explores the meaning of this unique phrase that the apostle Paul employs in the Ephesian epistle.
Paul's letter to the Ephesians is a wonderful and encouraging epistle. It explains our fellowship with God through His Son (Eph. 1:3-5), the salvation we enjoy (Eph. 2:8-9), the enlightenment we have through the gospel of our faith (Eph. 1:9, 13, 18), and the riches of God's mercy (Eph. 1:7). It also reveals how we should live in accordance with the grace of God and how to maintain unity in the church, the bride of Christ.
One of the most interesting and unique phrases in Scripture is also found in the book of Ephesians: "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" (Eph. 1:3). Observing how this phrase is used in the epistle, we will be able to appreciate better the blessings we have obtained through Christ, the leadership of our Savior, and the promise of victory in our spiritual warfare.
In Ephesians 4, the apostle describes the unity of the church, and our duty of preserving that unity comes from being a part of the body of Christ (Eph. 4:1-6). Then Paul quotes the 68th Psalm, "When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men" (Eph. 4:8; Ps. 68:18). This verse refers to the victory of God and how a victor of warfare will take of the spoils of his enemy. In the context of the book of Ephesians which shows the blessings and riches we have through our Lord Jesus Christ, we may wonder, from whence did these blessings come? Why have we received such blessings? Are we worthy of or entitled to, this kind of benevolent treatment? No. It is by the measure of God's grace that we receive these good gifts (Eph. 2:4).
In the context of Ephesians and Psalm 68, we see God and Christ as victorious warriors. Christ is the victor, and He has taken the spoils of the spiritual warfare in which He is engaged, and has given them to His church for its own benefit. He has given us the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers who equip the saints for edification (Eph. 4:11-13). The Lord has conquered the evil one, the "prince of the power of the air" (Eph. 2:2). He proved His might against the devil by defeating Satan when sinners were busy serving the devil, fulfilling the lusts and desires of the flesh (Eph. 2:3). "Even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)" (Eph. 2:5). The divine plan of the ages was consummated, the devil was defeated, and Christ was victorious.
This victory did not result in a cruel dictatorship, but in a loving, caring, sacrificing, and benevolent king. Jesus is the head of the church "in the heavenly places" (Eph. 1:20-23). We can read of the extent of Christ's love over His church in Ephesians 5:25-30. Those who were once dead in sin are now made alive to Christ. God has "raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:6). Just as the Lord was victorious over the devil, we have been made victorious over sin, death, and the devil. We enjoy a fruitful fellowship with Christ our Lord and King.
As children of God, we presently enjoy fellowship with Christ "in the heavenly places" through being members of His body, the church (Eph. 5:30). How is the love, mercy, and grace of God (Eph. 1:4-7) manifested and made evident? It is through the church, the bride of Christ. The manifold wisdom of God is now made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places (Eph. 3:10).
The plan of salvation is wonderful and marvelous. Paul stands in awe of the wonder and amazement of this plan in Ephesians 3:17-19. The wisdom of our God is evidenced through the defeat of our adversary. Satan must have been convinced of his victory when we "walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air…" (Eph. 2:2). When it appeared that we were doing Satan's bidding, the Lord extended to us the opportunity of redemption and forgiveness of our sins (Eph. 1:7). Now, we are in fellowship with the Lord and engaged in the spiritual warfare for the One who is certain to be victorious!
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places (Eph. 6:12).
Paul exhorts us to be strong in the Lord and to put on the full armor of God (Eph. 6:10). We must be prepared to fight against the devil and all the agents that he will use and manipulate in a feeble attempt to gain victory. We have been raised up and seated "in the heavenly places" and now our warfare is "in the heavenly places"—we are not engaged in a carnal battle. Our struggle is against the devil and his will. God promises that we will be able to stand firm and resist the devil in this fight (Eph. 6:13).
It is interesting to look at the book of Ephesians and how it ends, showing us that, as the children of God, we are in spiritual warfare. However, it is at the beginning of the epistle that we are made fully aware of the certainty of victory and how we can obtain that victory. "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" (Eph. 1:3). There is no question or doubt regarding who is victorious or how we can become victorious. We must choose Christ! We must seek the redemption that is found in His blood (Eph. 1:7), and we must believe the gospel of salvation (Eph. 1:13)! The salvation of the Lord is given freely by His grace and through our faith (Eph. 2:8-9). We can enjoy the benefits and blessings of being "in the heavenly places" when we trust and obey.
Author Bio: Sean has worked with the Bald Knob Church of Christ for two and a half years in Bald Knob, Arkansas. He and his wife, Kristin, have one son. The church website is diligentlyseekhim.com. He can be reached at spcavender@gmail.com.
