When Yeshua, our Saviour said that He had come that we may have life, and have it in its fullest measure (Jn. 10:10), He did not elaborate the details then. It is only later, through the Apostles that He reveals the fullness of blessings that is released in the life of the one who believes in Him. One place we read of this is when Paul wrote briefly how God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Eph. 1:3). My intent is to list some of these out in this writing in the hope that we will not just read it but reflect on it and glorify our Father in heaven and Yeshua, His beloved Son.
One word that we find mentioned repeatedly is ‘Chosen’. This word brings out an amazing truth; if only we were to spend time to consider how great a privilege is bestowed on us. ‘The elect’ is another term that has been used by our Messiah to convey the same meaning. Just imagine! Of all the billions and billions of people on the earth, I have been chosen by the Almighty, Eternal Creator through personal selection—that too before even I came into existence. Lavished with mercy and favour, by the personal choosing of Yahweh, I have been set apart for Himself.
This term, ’set apart’ or ‘holy’ highlights a great calling and brings upon us a grave responsibility—one of exclusivity for the One who has chosen us. Another reason for being chosen is also revealed to us—chosen to be without blame in His presence (Eph. 1:4). If you are reading this, convicted of the great grace shown to us, you will immediately recognize that this calling is ‘selective’ and not to be taken casually; for many are called but few are chosen (Mt. 22:14).
The second blessing that has been granted to us in our Messiah, Yeshua is ‘Adoption’. This word is loaded with the goodness of God. Lost, orphaned and without hope from eternity’s perspective; in love, overflowing with favour toward me, Yahweh predestined beforehand to adopt me as His son (Eph. 1:5-6). He made known His kind intention from the beginning and backed it up by gladly and willingly making me His own; giving me the right to be called a, “child of God” (Jn. 1:12).
How sad when a blessing freely bestowed on us in Yeshua is taken for granted because of familiarity. There are many effects to this adoption as a child of the Most High—privileges so great that our hearts will not be able to comprehend what Yahweh has prepared for those who love Him (1Cor. 2:9). Let us therefore live worthy of the calling as a child of the Most High. I ask that neither I nor all of God’s chosen ones will treat lightly this high calling.
There is a third blessing and it’s called, ‘Redeemed’ (Eph. 1:7). Lavishing grace over grace, and favour over favour, Yahweh delivered us from the kingdom of darkness and brought us out with a mighty hand into the kingdom of His beloved Son (Col. 1:13). Though I was in bondage to sin, My Saviour forgave and cleansed me and purchased me with a price too costly to be paid for by any other perishable thing—the price of His own blood—so that I would no longer be a slave to sin but His own possession.
One truth that has recently come strongly to my heart is found in Hebrews 10:14-18. In this passage the author tells us that by one offering, Yeshua, has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. It struck me that my Saviour has offered a one-time sacrifice that covered all my actions not just of the past but until my last breath on earth. It was at this point that I was convicted of how careful I must be not to treat lightly this blood that was shed to keep me pure and sanctified. This same sentiment was echoed by the author further down the passage when he wrote, “If we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain terrifying judgment…” (Heb. 10:26-27).
I struggle ever so often with temptation after temptation and have always had to, and still, cry for grace and help so that I do not go on presenting the members of my body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness (Rom. 6:13) but as one alive from the dead, offering my members as a living and holy sacrifice which is pleasing to Yahweh (Rom. 12:1). I am often reminded by the Holy Spirit that it is no longer I who lives but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live, I need to live by faith in Yeshua (Gal. 2:20)—a life lived no longer for myself but for Him who died and rose again on my behalf (2Cor. 5:15). I earnestly pray that neither I nor any of Yahweh’s elect will take lightly this blessing of being redeemed but we would pursue the reason for our choosing—to be blameless.
There is still another blessing—an ‘inheritor’ (Eph. 1:11). With great kindness, Yahweh has purposed and predestined beforehand that at the appointed time, I should receive an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away; reserved in heaven for me (1Pet. 1:4). To consolidate His purpose and promise, He went one step further and stamped with a seal the promised Holy Spirit as a guarantee of my inheritance until the redemption of God’s own is complete (Eph. 1:13-14). And though there is a waiting until I receive the inheritance that He has prepared, I cling with eager expectation to the hope that He who has promised will come, and will not delay (Heb. 10:37).
What I and each of us need to constantly remind ourselves is that the inheritance that is prepared for us is real; it is too great to be compared to anything on earth; and it is lasting. It is no wonder that we are exhorted to set our minds on the things that are above where Christ is seated (Col. 3:1) and be imitators of those who have gone before us knowing that there is a better country, a heavenly one. Yahweh then is not ashamed to be called our God for He has prepared a city for us (Heb. 11:16).
There is another blessing that is spoken of; a blessing where, in the Messiah, we are ‘spiritually exalted’. Though spiritually dead and separated from Him because of the rebellion and sins in which I once walked, through His immeasurable and surpassing riches of grace, He made me alive together with Christ and seated me with Christ in the heavenly places (Eph. 2:5-6).
I am hid in Him who is seated at the right hand of the Most High, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion. (Hallelujah!) I have been made alive together with Him who is given a name that is far higher than every other name not only in this age and world but also in the world to come. I am hid in Him who is the head of that body of which I am a part of; His fullness filling and completing everything (Eph. 1:20-23).
Now I confess that while I intellectually understand this great blessing, I am still to fully comprehend with an experiential revelation what this great privilege means. I know that when Christ who is our life is revealed, I too who am hid in Him will be revealed with Him in glory (Col. 3:3-4). I know that He will transform the body of this humble state into conformity with His glory by the exertion of His great power (Php. 3:21); yet to live on earth as one who is seated with the exalted Christ in heavenly places is something I am still to understand. I know that it is a blessing too great for me to ignore or bypass. I therefore seek God’s face that He opens my eyes to comprehend what this means for me.
Then there is the blessing of being ‘reconciled’ (Eph. 2:13). If all these blessings were not enough already, my Saviour reconciled me to Himself. Though I was separated from Christ and excluded from any relationship with Him; alienated from the commonwealth of Israel; a stranger to the Messianic covenant which Yahweh made long ago with Abraham; having no hope and without God in this world, through Yeshua, my Messiah, I who was far away was brought near (Eph. 2:12). Through this reconciliation, I have now been grafted into the cultivated vine (Rom. 11:17) and considered as “His people” (1Pet. 2:9). Through this reconciliation, I a gentile am now a part of the Israel of God (Gal. 6:16), His Church, being built as a building on the foundation of the Apostles, with Christ Himself as the cornerstone—fitted together and built as a temple for God in the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:19-22).
Though there are many more, I list one more blessing and that is being ‘filled with the fullness of God’. It is a great mystery that I am very, very eager to experience in all its fullness—how an earthen vessel like me can contain the light of Him whose glory shines in the face of Christ (2Cor. 4:6-7). I am extremely zealous that I know Yeshua, the Messiah and be filled with the righteousness that comes from God through faith (Php. 3:9) so that Christ can be seen in me (Col. 1:27). To comprehend the height and depth and length of His love; to experience His resurrection power; to radiate His life; and to be filled with His fullness (Eph. 3:18-19)—Oh how eager I am that these be in me. I am convinced that if I have these increasingly in me, I will be experiencing the fullness of the gospel.
“I came that they may have life, and might have it abundantly,” said our good Shepherd (Jn. 10:10). His sheep hear His voice; they recognize it; and then follow Him because they know that voice (Jn. 10:4). I ask that in doing so we “shall go in and out, and find pasture;” for with such there will be no lack (Psa. 23:1).
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