“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly realms in Christ,” the apostle Paul said in his introduction to the epistle to the church at Ephesus (Eph. 1:3). We would have adequate motivation to move in that path even if we had no other passage of scripture that linked any desirable end consequence to entering into Christ than this one verse. Although this phrase states that “all” spiritual blessings are “in Christ,” there are several verses that list one or more specific blessings that can be found there. We'll take notice of a handful of them.
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However, before getting into the many benefits found in Christ, we would be remiss if we did not state up front exactly what one must do to get there. Only two verses directly indicate how we can enter Christ, while one verse depicts the same thing from a different perspective. “Know ye not that so many of us who were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?” Paul asked the Roman Christians. (Romans 6:3) “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ,” he wrote to the Galatians (Gal. 3:27). I Corinthians 12:13, which indicates that we are baptized into His body, is the third passage mentioned. Being baptized into Christ is the only way to enter the kingdom of God. To misunderstand that, you'll need assistance.
When it comes to knowing where one has to go in order to be saved, one must first know what he needs to be saved from. The ark that Noah built was the best location to be if you wanted to be saved from the flood of Noah's day. By being in that area, eight souls were saved (I Pet. 3:20). If one wishes to be redeemed from the wages of sin (Rom. 6:23), or from eternal destruction, one must be in Christ Jesus, who is the source of all spiritual blessings. “I endured all things for the elect's sakes,” Paul informed Timothy, “so they may also get the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory” (II Tim. 2:10). “And this is the record,” said the apostle John, “that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son” (I John 5:11). The text we mentioned from the book of Romans also reveals that our salvation is in Christ, but the words are not spoken. “Therefore, we are buried with him by baptism into death,” Paul said, “that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also might live in newness of life” (Rom. 6:3-4). Take note of when the newness of life began, at the time of baptism into Christ. “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new,” Paul told the Corinthians (II Cor. 5:17). It is self-evident that one must be baptized into Christ in order to be saved, for salvation is found there. And, once again, one would need assistance to misunderstand that. However, we must recognize that there is a lot of assistance accessible in the area of misunderstanding.
Now, let's look at some of the other benefits that can be found “in” Christ Jesus. We might easily fill the rest of our space with specific blessings that the exact words used to describe them are employed to describe. Following the assertion that “all spiritual blessings in heavenly regions” are in Christ (Eph. 1:3), Paul wrote in the book of Ephesians that we are chosen in Him (Eph. 1:4), that we have redemption via His blood (Eph. 1:7), and that we have forgiveness of sins (Eph. 1:8). (Eph. 1:7). He also remarked that we have received an inheritance via Christ (Eph. 1:11). It would take all of our room and more to go through the New Testament and list all of the blessings we have “in Christ.”
With the remaining space, let us focus on one particular blessing that is frequently missed by the world at large. People who profess to be Christians but have never been baptized into Christ can be found all around our country. Many people have been baptized, but not in the way that the baptism that brings us into Christ requires. To be baptized into Christ for the remission of sins, one must believe the gospel, repent of their sins, confess Christ as the Son of God, and confess Christ as the Son of God. The Lord then accepts that person into His body, the church (Acts 2:41, 47). Many people who haven't done so still pray to God with their heads bowed. Prayer is a blessing that is conferred upon people who are in Christ Jesus, dear friends and brethren. Those who accept Christ have the ability to become God's sons (John 1:12). This demonstrates that mankind as a whole is not God's child. Paul declared to the Philippians that they were God's sons (Phil. 2:15). We can't pray to God as “our Father” because God isn't our Father. “God heareth not sinners,” the previously blind man said (John 9:31), yet he was not an inspired speaker. “For the Lord's eyes are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers,” Peter wrote, “but the Lord's face is against those who do evil” (I Pet. 3:12). The blessing of prayer is one of the many magnificent blessings that God has bestowed upon us via His precious Son. Thank God for that, since it is your birthright.
What are the spiritual gifts of the spirit?
A spiritual gift, also known as a charism (plural: charisms or charismata; Greek singular: charisma, plural: charismata), is a supernatural ability bestowed by the Holy Spirit. Followers think that these are supernatural graces that individual Christians require (and that were required in the days of the Apostles) in order to fulfill the Church's mission. In the strictest sense, it is a theological word for the special graces bestowed on individual Christians for the benefit of others, as opposed to personal sanctification graces such as the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit and the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
The word of knowledge, enhanced faith, healing gifts, miraculous gifts, prophecy, spirit discernment, various kinds of tongues, and tongue interpretation are examples of these skills, which are often referred to as “charismatic gifts.” The gifts of apostles, prophets, teachers, aids (associated with service to the destitute and sick), and governments (or leadership abilities) are also associated with various Church ministries. Individuals are given these gifts by the Holy Spirit, but their mission is to build up the entire Church. They're mentioned in the New Testament, namely in 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, and Ephesians 4. Spiritual gifts are also mentioned in 1 Peter 4.
The gifts are tied to both “natural” and “miraculous” abilities, both of which are empowered by the Holy Spirit. The two primary theological viewpoints on their nature are that they have long since ceased or that they continue (Cessationism versus Continuationism).
What is the great blessing of God?
‘The Lord bless you and give you peace.' The third level of blessings focuses on man's spirit and concludes with the greatest boon of all: peace. Peace is referred to as shalom, which literally means wholeness or completion.
What is the meaning of 2nd Peter 1 3?
I enjoy working with tools. Please double-check that. I enjoy having a large number of tools at my disposal. When I was a teenager working weekends at a service station, I acquired my first toolbox, which contained wrenches, ratchets, pliers, and screwdrivers. (Before it became a convenience shop with fuel pumps in front, a gas station was known as such.) Later in our marriage, my wife surprised me with a whole new (even bigger) toolbox full of tools on Christmas Day. Is it true that I've gotten rid of my old toolbox and tools? Are you serious? Obviously not. Instead, I was ecstatic that I now possessed a plethora of 9/16th-inch wrenches, Phillips-head screwdrivers, and other tools. Later, I expanded my tool collection to include metric tools, as most contemporary autos and appliances required them. There aren't many circumstances these days when I don't have the tools I need to complete the task.
While we're on the subject of tools and life, here are some questions that sprang to mind as I read 2 Peter 1:3-11:
- Is it possible for me to live the mature, holy life that Christ desires?
- Is it possible for me to be the kind of husband, parent, coworker, churchgoer, and neighbor that pleases Christ in how I interact with others?
- Can I rise to the occasion and assist in instances when spiritual “repairs” are required, owing to the spiritual instruments I possess and am familiar with?
With these questions on my mind, I can't express how happy I was when I came upon these words in Scripture:
Through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness, His divine power has given us all we need for life and godliness. 2 Peter 1:3 (NIV)
Consider what Peter said in this passage for a moment. We have everything we need for life and godliness as believers. Everything. There is nothing missing. The toolbox is stocked and ready to use! The Holy Spirit, who lives within us, provides us with all of the spiritual resources we require to live the holy, mature lives that Christ demands. Furthermore, we have the instruments to restore relationships that are starting to sputter or simply require some upkeep.
Isn't it true that tools that sit in the toolbox or go misplaced aren't very useful? That is why Peter exhorted believers to “make every effort” (1:5) to employ and build up the spiritual resources Christ provides when we place our faith in Him. In fact, the list of resources outlined by Peter in verses 5-7 resembles Paul's description of the fruit of the Spirit (see Gal. 5:22-23). Faith, goodness, wisdom, self-control, endurance, holiness, brotherly affection, and love are some of these resources. “If these traits are yours and are expanding,” Peter says, “they will safeguard you from being worthless or unfruitful in our Lord Jesus Christ's knowledge” (2 Pet. 1:8).
What does it mean to you as a Christian that Christ has provided you with all you need to live a godly life?
What can you do right now to put one or more of your spiritual instruments to work in a “healing” situation?
What are the seven blessings of God?
K'samechacha yetzircha b'Gan Eden mi-kedem, sameach te-samach re'im ahuvim, k'samechacha yetzircha b'Gan Eden mi-kedem. Mesame'ach chatan v'kalah, Baruch Atah Adonai.
- Blessed are You, Adonai, our God, Creator of all things, Ruler of the Universe, Who gave us joy and gladness, loving couples, merriment, joyous music, pleasure, delight, love, loving communities, peace, and fellowship. Adonai, our God, make the sound of joy and gladness, the voice of the loving couple, the sound of their jubilation from their canopies, and the sound of the youths from their song-filled feasts, soon be heard in the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem. Blessed are You who bring joy to the pair, one to the other.
What are the types of blessings?
Food, clothing, and shelter are examples of physical benefits that God provides for our bodily well-being. Internal spiritual blessings are frequently given by God in order for us to love, forgive, and have compassion.
When God bestows bodily blessings, He is not counted among them. When God bestows spiritual blessings on you, He does so with Himself in mind. He wants you to have both Him and the things He can offer you in your life.
What are the 3 realms of heaven?
There are three degrees of glory (alternatively, kingdoms of glory) in Mormon theology and cosmology, which are the final, eternal resting place for practically all who lived on earth once they are raised from the spirit realm.
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), the biggest denomination in the Latter-day Saint movement, believe that the apostle Paul briefly outlined these degrees of glory in 1 Corinthians 15:40-42 and 2 Corinthians 12:2. Joseph Smith elaborated on Paul's descriptions, based mostly on a vision he had with Sidney Rigdon in 1832, which is recorded in D&C Section 76. According to this vision, everyone will be resurrected and allocated to one of three degrees of splendor at the Final Judgment: heavenly, terrestrial, or telestial kingdoms. A small number of people who commit the unpardonable sin will be sent to outer darkness with Satan, where they will be called “sons of Perdition,” rather than receiving a kingdom of glory.