SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS IN CHRIST JESUS 

            Many people in this world view Jesus as merely an historical figure—perhaps nothing more than a great teacher, a worthy example, or an unfortunate martyr.  Others acknowledge that Jesus was the Son of God and our Savior—but they fail to recognize the full richness of His nature and character. 

            God wants us to see the Lord Jesus in all of His wonder, greatness, and glory.  One of the ways to grow in our appreciation of Christ is to examine the divine gifts that He offers to us when we come to Him in repentant faith.  Paul says that God has “blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3).  What are these spiritual blessings, gifts, or benefits that are ours in Jesus Christ? 

            Notice the following list of many of these spiritual blessings that God graciously gives to the follower of Christ.  I encourage you to read the scriptures that are cited for each point.  You will find this to be a rich and rewarding exercise! 

Spiritual Blessings 

(1)   Eternal life (John 3:15-16, 36; Romans 6:23; 1 John 5:11-13).

(2)   Forgiveness of sin (Colossians 1:14; Ephesians 1:7; 4:32).

(3)   Reconciliation to God (2 Corinthians 5:18-20; Romans 5:8-11).

(4)   Justification, declared righteous (Romans 5:9; 2 Corinthians 5:21).

(5)   No condemnation by God (Romans 8:1, 33-34; 5:16).

(6)   Salvation (2 Timothy 2:10; 1 Timothy 1:15; Matthew 1:21).

(7)   Redemption (Ephesians 1:7; Romans 3:24; Colossians 1:14).

(8)   Spiritual refreshment (John 7:37-39; Acts 3:19; Matthew 11:28).

(9)   Victory (1 Corinthians 15:57).

(10)           The grace of God (Ephesians 1:6; 2 Timothy 1:9; 2:1).

(11)           The love of God (Romans 8:39; 1 John 3:1-2; 4:9-10, 16).

(12)           The love of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:14; Ephesians 3:19).

(13)           Spiritual security (John 10:27-28; Romans 8:37-39).

(14)           Deliverance from darkness (Colossians 1:13; Acts 26:18).

(15)           Light from God (John 1:4; 3:21; 8:12; 1 John 1:5-7).

(16)           Death to sin (Romans 6:1-11; 1 Peter 2:24).

(17)           Resurrection to life (Colossians 2:12-13; Romans 6:3-11).

(18)           The Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 3:14; 4:6).

(19)           Fellowship with God (1 Corinthians 1:9; 1 John 1:3).

(20)           Inheritance in heaven (Ephesians 1:11, 14; Romans 8:17).

(21)           Adoption into God’s family (Ephesians 1:5; Romans 8:14-17).

(22)           Spiritual birth (1 Peter 1:3, 23; 1 John 5:1).

(23)           Promise of glorification (Romans 8:17-18; Colossians 3:4).

(24)           Access to God in prayer (John 16:23-24; Ephesians 2:18).

(25)           Cure for anxiety (John 14:1; Philippians 4:6-7).

(26)           New creation (2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:10).

(27)           Choice of God (Ephesians 1:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:13).

(28)           Fruitfulness (John 15:4-8; Philippians 1:11; Colossians 1:10).

(29)           Blessing of Abraham (Galatians 3:14, 29).

(30)           Righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:9).

(31)           Dwelling of God (John 14:23; Ephesians 2:21-22).

(32)           Eternal riches (Ephesians 2:7; cf. 2 Corinthians 8:9).

(33)           Set apart to God (1 Corinthians 6:11; Hebrews 10:10; 13:12).

(34)           Spiritual power and strength (Romans 15:13; Ephesians 3:16).

(35)           Fellowship with believers (1 John 1:7; Romans 12:4-5).

(36)           Deliverance from God’s present wrath (John 3:36).

(37)           Rescue from God’s future wrath (1 Thessalonians 1:10; 5:9).

(38)           More than conquerors (Romans 8:37).

(39)           Joy (John 15:11; 17:13; 1 Peter 1:8; Philippians 4:4).

(40)           Hope (Colossians 1:27; 1 Timothy 1:1; Titus 2:13).

(41)           Peace with God (Romans 5:1; Colossians 1:20).

(42)           Peace of God (John 14:27; 16:33; Philippians 4:7).

(43)           Peace with believers (Ephesians 2:14-18; Colossians 3:15?).

(44)           Overcome the world (1 John 5:4-5).

(45)           God’s wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:24-25, 30; Ephesians 1:17).

(46)           God’s truth (John 14:6; Ephesians 4:21).

(47)           Resurrection from the dead (John 5:28-29; 6:39, 40; 11:25).

(48)           Home in heaven (John 14:1-3; Philippians 3:20-21).

(49)           Kingdom of God (Colossians 1:13; 2 Peter 1:11).

(50)           Promises of God (2 Corinthians 1:20; 2 Peter 1:4).

(51)           Cleansing from sin (1 John 1:7).

(52)           Washed/released from sin (1 Corinthians 6:11;Revelation 1:5).

(53)           God will not forsake us (Hebrews 13:5-6).

(54)           Christ will forever be with us (Matthew 28:20).

(55)           Knowledge of God (John 17:3; 1 John 5:20).

(56)           Knowledge of Christ (Philippians 3:10; 2 Peter 1:8).

(57)           Deliverance from the world (Galatians 1:4; 2 Peter 1:4).

(58)           Protection from Satan (1 John 5:18; John 17:12).

(59)           Protection from stumbling (Jude 24; cf. 1 Peter 1:5).

(60)           Deliverance from fear of death(Hebrews 2:15; John 11:25-26).

(61)           Christ’s heavenly intercession (Hebrews 7:25; Romans 8:34).

(62)           Intercession of the Spirit (Romans 8:26-27).

(63)           Name written in heaven (Revelation 13:8; 20:15; Luke 10:20).

(64)           Christ is in us (John 14:23; Colossians 1:27; Romans 8:10).

(65)           Ability to overcome sin (Romans 6:14, 17-18, 22; 8:13).

(66)           Ability to do God’s will (Philippians 2:12-13; 4:13).

(67)           Immortality (2 Timothy 1:9-10; 1 Corinthians 15:53).

(68)           Our life and labor not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58).

(69)           Belong to Christ (1 Corinthians 3:23; Galatians 3:29; 5:24).

(70)           Spiritual power (Ephesians 3:20; Romans 15:13).

(71)           Freedom from sin and the Law (John 8:34-36; Galatians 5:1).

(72)           A place in Paradise (Revelation 2:7; 2 Corinthians 12:4).

(73)           Spiritual rest in Christ Jesus (Matthew 11:28-30).

(74)           Future rest in heaven (Revelation 14:13; Hebrews 4:1, 11).

(75)           Will receive mercy from God (Matthew 5:7; Jude 21).

(76)           Reward in heaven (Matthew 5:12; Revelation 22:12).

(77)           God’s Word (John 12:48-49; 17:8; Hebrews 1:1-2).

(78)           The New Covenant (Matthew 26:28; Hebrews 8:6-13). 

These are some of the leading blessings and gifts that are ours in and through Christ Jesus our Lord.  Perhaps you can discover more as you read and study God’s marvelous Word, the Bible.  Let us rejoice in these spiritual benefits and let us give thanks to God for them!  The psalmist of old encourages us in Psalm 103:1-2: 

Bless the LORD, O my soul,

And all that is within me, bless His holy name.

Bless the LORD, O my soul,

And forget none of His benefits.

             As we learn of these marvelous benefits and gifts of God’s grace, our hearts should be filled with praise, glory, and joyful thanksgiving!  We are indeed richly blessed through Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord!

As you can see now, God loves us so much and wishes to pour out the riches of heaven into our heart and life.  He commands us to turn from our sins to the Savior.  He calls on us to come to Him with a humble and repentant heart, with sincere faith in Christ, His beloved Son.  All spiritual blessings in Christ may be ours! 

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxRichard Hollerman