Blessings in Christ Ephesians 1:3 If you are “in Christ” you are on the way. Title Page Below are some simple instructions on how to use this template: 1. You can change the text in the graphical screen above or in the outline area to the left. 2. There is one default background that is indicated by “--------” .This slide acts as a space or a blank screen, use to clear or blank the screen. If you have a large graphic such as a map you could also use this screen. If you insert a new slide you will get this default background. 3. The first five slides have the other backgrounds for the set. To use more than one of these background types in your presentation highlight the one you wish to use and choose copy from the edit menu. Paste this slide where you want it to appear in your presentation, then change the text on this new slide. By copy/pasting the slide in this manor you will keep the background, text formatting and the customized animation from that slide. By using the copy/paste method you find it saves you time and keeps a consistent look through out your presentation. 4.There are a few additional notes written in the slide text wording that may be helpful. Please visit blog.imagevine.com for more information.

Ephesians 1:3-6 3 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, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved. Sample Verse Layout Type 1

Blessed Blessed – (Greek eulogeo) – to bestow a favor, provide with benefits, the act of benefit or blessing Blessings – come full circle They begin with God They bless us We bless God in return God blesses – just because He wants to And we bless back – because we are thankful Sample Verse Layout Type 1

NOTICE: They are spiritual blessings We are prone to think in physical terms – house, car, money, health, children These blessings are not physical or material Spiritual blessings = salvation, adoption, redemption, forgiveness, grace, mercy, love (and many more) Sample Verse Layout Type 1

NOTICE: They are available in the spiritual realm “In heavenly places” - not in earthly places Greek word can refer to: 1 – Sky, clouds, where birds fly 2 – Heavenly bodies, stars and planets, sun, moon 3 – The location of transcendent things, the dwelling place of God Sample Verse Layout Type 1

In Christ Ephesians is full of this concept 11 times in the first 14 verses Every spiritual blessing IN CHRIST – 3 Chose us IN HIM – 4 Made us accepted IN THE BELOVED – 6 IN HIM we have redemption – 7 Which He purposed IN HIMSELF – 9 Sample Verse Layout Type 1

In Christ Ephesians is full of this concept 11 times in the first 14 verses Gather together in one all things IN CHRIST – 10 IN HIM we have obtained an inheritance – 11 We who first trusted IN CHRIST – 12 IN HIM you also trusted – 13a IN WHOM also, having believed, you were sealed – 13b Sample Verse Layout Type 1

In Christ Ephesians is full of this concept Similar phrases are found in the rest of Ephesians. 1:20 2:6-7, 10, 13 3:6, 11, 21 4:32 Sample Verse Layout Type 1

The uses of “IN” “IN” has two uses in the NT Locative - “IN” describes the location “I put the ball in the box.” Notice “in” tells the location Instrumental - “IN” introducting the means, by means of “Dr. Salk was important in finding a cure for polio.” Notice here “in” is not a location but a means Sample Verse Layout Type 1

These verses tell us the location “IN” is describing the location of these blessings Other phrases support this view: TOGETHER WITH CHRIST – 2:5 RAISE UP TOGETHER – 2:6 SIT TOGETHER – 2:6 BROUGHT NEAR BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST – 2:13 Sample Verse Layout Type 1

The Primary Idea in Ephesians The primary idea in Ephesians is not that Christ is the means by whom these blessings come. Of course, He is the means (but that is not the emphasis here). The primary idea is where these spiritual blessings are located. Our whole life must be located “in Christ” Sample Verse Layout Type 1

Romans 6:3-5 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, Sample Verse Layout Type 1

Galatians 3:26-28 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Sample Verse Layout Type 1

Questions Are you “in Christ”? Have you been baptized “into Christ”? All the spiritual blessings available are “in Christ.” Are you in the location where all these blessings are available to you? Sample Verse Layout Type 1