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Ephesians 1:3

[3] Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

Notes:

Scripture: Ephesians 1.3

Subject: Our spiritual union with Christ is our inseparable uniting or joining us to Christ through the new birth. It is a spiritual fusion uniting us eternally with Christ. Our union defines who we are, our spiritual position and our standing with God.

The Bible illustrates our union with Christ several ways. One is in the allegory of The Vine and the Branches in John 15.4-5. Jesus said, “I am the Vine and you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”

To be in Christ is our SPIRITUAL POSITION.

Substance: What Does Our Union with Christ Mean?

1. It Means A New Transformation That Secures Us:

         A. Change Takes Place:

            - Change in Salvation.

            - Change in Growth.

            - Change at the 2nd Coming.

         B. Deliverance Takes Place:

            “There is therefore NOW NO CONDEMNATION for those who are ‘In Christ.’ For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, GOD DID” (Romans 8.1-3).  

            1.) Delivered from the penalty of sin. The good news of the Gospel—no condemnation!

            2.) “Now” means present tense or immediately!

            3.) “Freed” Christ freed us one time once and for all. Set “YOU” free from the bondage of sin.

            4.) Keeping the law couldn’t save or forgive you. But GOD DID by sending Christ to fulfill the requirements of the Law in our behalf.

2. It Means A New Relationship That Insures Us:

            A. Our new relationship means a mystical or personal union by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

            B. Our new relationship means Christ is in you.

            C. Our new relationship with Christ is described with the unique phrase “Heavenly Places.”

            D. Our new relationship is illustrated by Marriage 

3. It Means a New Responsibility That Matures Us:

            “Therefore I, as the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called” (Ephesians 4.1).

            A. This is our SPIRITUAL PRACTICE           

            B. Illustrated by Baptism: “Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6.4).

Today you are either “in Christ” or not. By placing personal faith in Christ as your Saviour you will be welcomed immediately into the Family of God.