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Blessed In The Heavenlies

Bless the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the one blessing us in all, blessed spiritually, in the heavenlies in Christ.*

In this verse we see three words for blessing in Greek, these words are often used interchangeably in translations confusing the meanings. This first word for blessing eulogētos speaks of one worthy of being praised, and the second eulogeō means to give a blessing as an act of kindness, imparting benefits to the one being blessed. From this idea we get the English terms, "eulogize, eulogy" meaning to celebrate by praising, which is often done at funerals. The common words eú means "well, well done, good, rightly" and lógos means "a word, a saying, reasoning expressed by words" properly meaning to speak (reason) which confers benefit; hence, bless.* The idea of logos is more than just saying some words, it constitutes reasoning, or that you have come to reason someone is  worthy of praise, thus you infer praise upon another for their being or character. What good is an eulogy if a person is not of their word or doesn't walk the same as he talks? In fact ētos from eulogētos can mean eternal but also character, so Paul is praising God for who He is and for the eternal spiritual blessings he has bestowed upon us in Christ Jesus.

the one blessing us in all, blessed spiritually in the heavenly places in Christ.*

Notice the -ia in this word for blessed, eulogia, denoting a state or condition. In this case the state or condition is of being "blessed" in the heavenly places or heavenlies in Christ Jesus. Often in this earthly life it is beneficial for us to keep in remembrance and stay focused on the "true" blessings in Christ and to exist in a state of "blessed," both existing blessed and being blessed, giving praise to God and thankful for such eternal blessings and in whom they come. If we were to only experience these blessings in this earthly life, and were to exist here only poor beggars, meagerly existing from an earthly viewpoint here on earth, or even called to literally give our lives for Christ, it would be enough to exist in a state or condition of blessed in Christ. I think as we do not fully comprehend the agape love of God toward us, likewise we do not fully understand what it means to be blessed in Christ Jesus. I am convinced we should, his children need to know these things.

in manner choosing us in Him, in front of the creation of the world, to be holy and in the presence of, in agape love, beforehand choosing us for adoption as His own through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will.*

I love this verse, according to the good pleasure of His will, he adopted, chose us beforehand. One spiritual blessing in the heavenlies is that we have been adopted. In fact, we have great testimony, not a spirit of fear but of a Spirit of adoption, which cries out Abba Father.* That we belong. Adoption is not based upon works, much more like a father walking into an orphanage and knowing nothing about the child but somehow the child finds favor in his eyes. This choosing is not like earthly reasoning which chooses and judges by appearances, God judges the heart. How much more can one be holy than to partake of His divine nature, to exist a child of Him? To come into His presence is to have been blessed in Christ, adopted, forgiven, cleansed by his blood, and as such we can boldly approach His throne of Grace, as his beloved children. This speaks of the new living way Christ opened up for us.* Oh, how our minds struggle to understand the blessing of adoption and the choosing by Grace. It is so wrong to portray our heavenly Father as the God of old, being too holy to approach, this lacks understanding in the new covenant. 

in Him having the redemption through that his blood, the forgiveness of trespasses according to the riches of His grace.* 

In Christ we are blessed, in All the spiritual blessings in the heavenlies. God the Father, "lavished on us in all wisdom and insight, making known to us the mystery of his will, according to His good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ.* One spiritual blessing we have seen is adoption, another blessing is redemption, the forgiveness of sin. In Christ we have testimony of Spirit and of blood, that our sins have been forgiven, and that we have peace before God. Also like adoption in that we are chosen by grace, redemption also comes from the riches of His grace. Redemption is the payment of a ransom, and since only a "kinsman" could redeem someone sold into slavery, Christ became a man, a kinsman, to redeem many into freedom and life. The first man Adam sold mankind into slavery when he sinned, but unlike this first act of sin that caused many to die, many will live by one righteous act of the second man, in that he, Christ, lived as a man, a righteous life and gave his blood as a ransom for many from the wage of sin. In Him we are blessed, we are redeemed from slavery and we are forgiven; sin is no longer counted against us!

justifying freely that his grace, through the redemption that in Christ Jesus, whom God put forth as an atoning sacrifice in his blood, through faith. That to demonstrate his righteousness through passing over previous sins.*

No man will be justified by works of the Law.* "We are justified in his blood..."* We are "justified from faith, having peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we also have access to faith into this grace in which we now stand..."* Justifying freely that his grace, through the redemption that in Christ Jesus. Yes, I am blessed! This word for freely means free of charge, without payment; gratuitously, undeservedly, without cause. The Passover in the old was a foreshadow of the new covenant in Christ, in that the Lamb of God would take away the sin of the world, thus God would pass over the sin of those "marked" or redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. What spiritual blessings we have in Christ! From the good pleasure of his will, from his manifold wisdom, the riches of his grace and glory, the spiritual blessings come to us; adoption, redemption, the forgiveness of sin. So we bless, we say good things, say eulogy, spread good news, praise God the Father of Jesus the one whom bestowed upon us this state of being "blessed" in all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus. 

yea, you exist of Him in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and both, righteousness, and sanctification and redemption.*

Counting Every Blessing



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