Spiritual Blessings In Jesus Christ


3 How we praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every (spiritual) blessing in heaven because we belong to (united or in) Christ. 4 Long ago, even before He (God) made the world, God chose (elected and loved) us to be His very own through what Christ would do for us; He decided then to make us holy in His eyes, without a single fault—we who stand before Him covered with His love. 5 His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His own family by sending Jesus Christ to die for us. And He did this because He wanted to! 6 Now all praise to God (praise God) for His wonderful kindness to us and His favor that He has poured out upon us because we belong to His dearly loved Son (Jesus Christ). 7 So overflowing is His kindness toward us that He took away all our sins through the blood of His Son, by whom we are saved; 8 and He has showered down upon us the richness of His grace—for how well He understands us and knows what is best for us at all times. 9 God has told us His secret reason for sending Christ, a plan He decided on in mercy long ago; 10 and this was His purpose: that when the time is ripe He will gather us all together from wherever we are—in heaven or on earth—to be with Him in Christ forever. 11 Moreover, because of what Christ has done, we have become gifts to God that He delights in, for as part of God’s sovereign plan we were chosen from the beginning to be His, and all things happen just as he decided long ago. 12 God’s purpose in this was that we should praise God and give glory to Him for doing these mighty things for us, who were the first to trust in Christ. 13 And because of what Christ did, all you others too, who heard the Good News about how to be saved, and trusted Christ, were marked as belonging to Christ by the Holy Spirit, who long ago had been promised to all of us Christians. 14 His (Holy Spirit) presence within us is God’s guarantee that He really will give us all (the inheritance) that He promised; and the Spirit’s seal upon us means that God has already purchased us (to be His own people) and that He guarantees to bring us to Himself. This is just one more reason for us to praise our glorious God (praise and glorify God). Ephesians 1:3-14 (The Living Bible)

Ephesians 1:3-14 praises God for all the spiritual blessings He has graciously given us through Jesus Christ. When we turn from sin and turn to Jesus Christ, God gives us every spiritual blessing now and eternally — salvation, adoption as God’s child, forgiveness of sins, wisdom and insight, the gifts of the Spirit, hope, and power to live. In Jesus Christ, we are holy and without fault in God’s eyes because we trust in Jesus Christ’s atoning sacrifice for our sins on the Cross (see Ephesians 1:7; Ephesians 5:25-27; Colossians 1:22; Titus 3:5-7; Jude 1:24). All we can do in return for God’s kindness is expressing our grateful.

So come to God and become apart of His family and all His spiritual blessings, including becoming heirs along with His dearly loved Son, Jesus Christ (Romans 8:17; Galatians 4:5-7). God will send the Holy Spirit into your heart to guarantee that you will receive all His spiritual blessings. To receive God’s spiritual blessings, confess your sins and acknowledge that you cannot save yourselves and then turn to God through faith in Jesus Christ‘s work on the Cross.

Who is Jesus Christ?

This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.  
Mark 1:1 (NLT)

JESUS CHRIST! The Holy Scriptures call Him many names—the “the Anointed One,” “Messiah,” “Redeemer,” “Teacher,” and “Prophet.” The Gospel writers reveal Jesus Christ as a humbled Servant of God, who suffered, and who will come again. The Apostle Paul addressed Jesus Christ as “the Lord.” Hebrews describes Jesus Christ as God’s great and final High Priest, who makes the sacrifice and is the Sacrifice. Most important, Jesus Christ is the Word of God, God in the flesh, and the Son of the living God (Mark 1:1; John 20:30-31). He is best known as the Savior of the World (Matthew 1:21).

Jesus Christ is part of the Trinity. God is Creator and Ruler of the universe who exists externally as a Trinity of three persons—the God the Father, the God the Son (Jesus Christ), and the God the Holy Spirit. God the Father is the first person of the Trinity, who controls all things according to His will and perfect purpose. The Holy Spirit gives the power and guidance for right living, convicting humankind of sins and their need for Jesus Christ. The Trinity is a picture of the unique relationship of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and is one of the most important ideas of the Christian faith. The Holy Scriptures affirm the existence of the Trinity, including Jesus Christ’s final words in Matthew 28:19 (see also, e.g., Genesis 1:26; Genesis 3:22; Isaiah 6:8).

The Gospel writers reveal and prove that Jesus Christ is both fully human and fully God, who has existed before the creation of the world. The Holy Scriptures reveal that Jesus Christ came down from God the Father, emptied Himself, and became like a human to save all people from their sins. He was with God in the beginning as Creator and Sustainer of all things (Genesis 1:1; John 1:1). The New Testament writers Matthew and Luke established Jesus Christ as a descendant to King David, to Moses, to Abraham, and to Adam (Matthew 1:1-17; Matthew 2:1-6; Luke 3:34, 38).

Yet, Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry began humbly with His birth in Bethlehem, the “city of David.” Two Gospels, Matthew and Luke, tell of His mother Mary’s miraculous, virgin conception through the Holy Spirit. His coming was announced by angels. Shepherds heard, came, and wondered, and Magi came later to bring gifts. Seldom, if ever, did Jesus Christ apply to Himself the customary terms “Messiah” or “Son of God.”

Jesus Christ was the “Good Shepherd” (John 10:11-16) “who went about doing good” (Acts 10:38). He was filled with love, gentleness, encouragement, justice, and truth (Isaiah 42:1-4; Matthew 12:18-21). During His earthly ministry, He healed all kinds of people, raised some from the dead, cast out evil spirits, and calmed a raging storm. Jesus Christ kept company with sinners, prostitutes, and tax collectors (Mark 2:17). His strength was shown by humility, suffering, and mercy.
 
Moreover, Jesus Christ taught on the importance of the absolute obedience, faithfulness, and love for God and the Kingdom of God. He taught people were to live on earth by His teachings on the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) and walk in love for God and our neighbors (Matthew 22:34-40; John 14-16). To help people understand heavenly things, Jesus Christ often spoke in parables about the Kingdom of God.

Most important, Jesus Christ lived a sinless life. He willingly gave His life as a sacrifice for humankinds’ sin by dying on the Cross at Calvary. On the Cross, Jesus Christ carried humankind’s sins, weaknesses, sickness, disease, and sorrows. He was pierced, crushed, beaten, and whipped so that humanity can be whole and healthy in all aspects of life (see also Isaiah 57:18).

The Apostle Paul connected Jesus Christ’s death to the sacrificial system of the Old Testament. In the Old Testament, people offered animals as sacrifices for their sins to obtain forgiveness. Jesus Christ became humankind’s final Sacrifice as the sinless and spotless Lamb to eliminate sins of all people for those who believe (Isaiah 53:7; John 1:29; Revelation 5:6-14).

Come Back to God

 
In 2 Corinthians 5:11-21, the Apostle Paul provides the fullest explanation on the meaning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His saving act on the Cross at Calvary.
 
Because we [the Apostle Paul and his companions] understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too. Are we commending ourselves to you again? No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart. If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that [Jesus] Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He [Jesus Christ] died for everyone so that those who receive His new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of [Jesus] Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know Him now! This means that anyone who belongs to [Jesus Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to Himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to Him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And He gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making His appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. —2 Corinthians 5:11-21 (NLT)

In 2 Corinthians 5:11-21, the Apostle Paul explains that God was in Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry (2 Corinthians 5:19) to plead to the world to “Come back to God!” God was in Jesus Christ to reconcile and bring humankind back to Him and cancel any and all sins of people. The Apostle Paul taught that Jesus Christ has commissioned all believers as ambassadors to continue His job of reconciling people to God (2 Corinthians 5:20). Jesus Christ makes His appeal and pleads through His followers to “Come back to God!”

Trust In Jesus Christ

But now God has shown us a different way to heaven —not by "being good enough" and trying to keep His laws, but by a new way (though not new, really, for the Scriptures told about it long ago). Now God says He will accept and acquit us—declare us "not guilty"—if we trust Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, by coming to Christ, no matter who we are or what we have been like. Yes, all have sinned (all of us — Jews, pagan Gentiles, humanitarians, and religious people); all fall short of God’s glorious ideal; yet now God declares us "not guilty" of offending Him if we trust in Jesus Christ, who in His kindness freely takes away our sins. For God sent Christ Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to end all God’s anger against us. He used [Jesus] Christ’s blood and our faith as the means of saving us from His wrath (literally means to be a propitiation). In this way He was being entirely fair, even though He did not punish those who sinned in former times. For He was looking forward to the time when [Jesus] Christ would come and take away those sins. And now in these days also He can receive sinners in this same way because Jesus took away their sins. But isn’t this unfair for God to let criminals go free, and say that they are innocent? No, for He does it on the basis of their trust in Jesus [Christ]  who took away their sins. Then what can we boast about doing to earn our salvation? Nothing at all. Why? Because our acquittal is not based on our good deeds; it is based on what [Jesus] Christ has done and our faith in Him. So it is that we are saved (justified and made right) by faith in [Jesus] Christ and not by the good things we do. And does God save only the Jews in this way? No, the Gentiles, too, may come to Him in this same manner. God treats us ALL the same; ALL, whether Jews or Gentiles, are acquitted if they have faith. Well then, if we are saved by faith, does this mean that we no longer need obey God’s laws? Just the opposite! In fact, only when we trust Jesus [Christ] can we truly obey Him. Romans 3:21-31 (The Living Bible).

In Romans 3, the apostle Paul teaches that everyone stands guilty before God. The apostle Paul declares universal and equal sinfulness by everyone --- Gentiles (Romans 1:18-32) and Jews (Romans 2:1–3:8).  No one can find acceptance with God by any action or work on his or her own (Romans 3:9-20).  The apostle Paul states no one will be exempt from God's judgment on sin. Every person must accept his or her guilt of sin before God. The only way to escape God’s judgment is faith (trust) in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  God offers Jesus Christ as His wonderful gift of salvation to all who believe in Jesus Christ.  We receive God’s salvation not through following the Ten Commandments, works or the Old Testament Law but through faith (trust) in Jesus Christ. Once we accept God’s salvation through Jesus Christ, God the Holy Spirit comes into our lives so we are now empowered to obey the Ten Commandments, do good works and obey the Law.  

Please accept God’s gift of Jesus Christ today through faith.  All you need to do is wholeheartedly and genuinely turn to God through faith in Jesus Christ and away from sin.  God by the power of the Holy Spirit will do the rest!

JESUS IS ALIVE! He Has Risen From the Dead. Jesus lives!
Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-9

Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint. Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as He said would happen. Come, see where His body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead, and He is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see Him there. Remember what I have told you.” The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message. And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to Him, grasped His feet, and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell My brothers (disciples) to leave for Galilee, and they will see Me there.” Matthew 28:1-10 (NLT).

The Good News of Jesus’ resurrection is an amazing story of God.  Like Mary Magdalene, the other women and the disciples, no one believed in Jesus’ resurrection until they encountered the living Jesus personally (John 20:6). When Jesus’ followers encountered Jesus, they were able to accept the fact of His resurrection from complete death (John 20:16).

Jesus' resurrection from the death is the central and unique fact to the Christian faith.  Only the Christian faith has Jesus as God who became human, died for His people, and was raised again from death by God’s Holy Spirit. During Jesus’ time on earth, He told His disciples He would rise from the dead. Jesus' bodily resurrection proved that He is not a false prophet, a legend, a human leader or imposter, but the Son of the Living God. In the resurrection, Jesus “was shown to be the Son of God when He was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 1:4). The Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is available to everyone that accepts wholeheartedly by faith Jesus’ resurrection.  The Holy Spirit reigns in the hearts of Christians everyday to help them live life completely. 

The Holy Bible unanimously describes the resurrection of Jesus from complete death by the Holy Spirit.  The evidence of Jesus’ resurrection is supported by (1) the empty tomb; (2) the accounts of Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances; and (3) the transformation of His followers into world missionaries. As followers of Jesus, we must tell everyone of the Good News of Jesus’ resurrection (Matthew 28:18-20).

After Jesus’ resurrection, He made a number of appearances to different people. Jesus appeared to:

(1) Mary Magdalene and some other women at the tomb on Sunday morning (Matthew 28:8–10; Mark 16:9–11; John 20:11–18);
(2) Peter in Jerusalem on Sunday (Luke 24:34; 1 Corinthians 15:5);
(3) Disciples on the Emmaus Road on Sunday (Mark 16:12-13; Luke 24:13–35);
(4) Disciples in Jerusalem, except Thomas, in the upper room on Sunday (Mark 16:14; Luke 24:36–43; John 20:19–25);
(5) Disciples in Jerusalem, including Thomas, on the next Sunday night (John 20:26–31; 1 Corinthians 15:5);
(6) Disciples beside the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1–25);
(7) 500 people at one time (1 Corinthians 15:6);
(8) James, the brother of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:7);
(9) The disciples who witnessed the ascension of Jesus to heaven (Matthew 28:18–20; Mark 16:15–19; Luke 24:44–53; Acts 1:3–12);

(For more on the importance of the resurrection, see 1 Corinthians 15:12-58.)
 

Friday: The Last Week of Jesus’ Life Before the Crucifixion (Passion Week)

In the last week of Jesus’ human life before on earth, He commenced the redemptive work to accomplish salvation for all humanity of their sins.  Jesus’ love, suffering and resurrection established salvation for everyone through faith (John 3:16; Romans 5:8-9).

Sunday, Jesus’ Messianic and Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12-19

Monday, Jesus curses the fig tree, Monday
Matthew 21:18-22; Mark 11:12-14, Mark 11:20-26

Monday, Jesus clears the Temple
Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-19; Luke 19:45-46; cp. John 2:13-16

Tuesday, Jewish religious leaders questions Jesus' authority
Matthew 21:23-27; Mark 11:27-33; Luke 20:1-8

Tuesday, Jesus teaches in the Temple
Matthew 21:28-23:39; Mark 12:1-44; Luke 20:9-21:4

Tuesday, Jesus anointed at Bethany
Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:2-11

Wednesday, The plot against Jesus
Matthew 26:14-16; Mark 14:10-11; Luke 22:3-6

Thursday, The Last Supper
Matthew 26:17-29; Mark 14:12-26; Luke 22:7-20; John 13:1-38

Thursday, Jesus comforts His disciples
John 14:1-16:33

Thursday, Gethsemane
Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:39-46

Thursday night and Friday, Jesus’ arrest and trial
Matthew 26:47-27:26; Mark 14:43-15:15; Luke 22:47-23:25; John 18:2-19:16

Friday, Jesus’ crucifixion and death at Golgotha
Matthew 27:27-56; Mark 15:16-41; Luke 23:26-49; John 19:17-30

Friday, The burial of Jesus in Joseph’s Tomb
Matthew 27:57-66; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:31-42

Forgiveness and Love!

When they came to the place called the Skull (Calvary), there they crucified Him, along with the criminals --- one on His right, the other on His left. Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." Luke 23:33-34 (NIV).

He (Jesus) told them (His disciples), "This is what is written: The Christ (Messiah) will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in His Name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Luke 24:46-47 (NIV).

Late Thursday night, the betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot was now in place. Soldiers and guards came to arrest Jesus, including His own disciple and one of the Twelve apostles, Judas Iscariot.  Judas Iscariot kissed Jesus as the ultimate act of deceit.  Even facing betrayal, Jesus showed loved to His enemies by healing one of the soldiers’ ears (Luke 22:51). At this moment, all of Jesus’ followers and disciples deserted Him and He was arrested as a criminal. Throughout His public ministry, large crowds followed Jesus as He taught, performed healing miracles and preached (Matthew 4:23-25).  On this Thursday night, Jesus the Messiah (also mean “Christ”) was lead away to face His eternal destiny to atone for our sins on the Cross.

Into Friday morning, Jesus faced false trials, denials by Peter, condemnation by His once cheering crowds, beatings, and mockery.  Finally, Jesus was given a Cross to carry to the Place of the Skull (Golgotha) where He was crucified with two criminals.  On the Cross, Jesus forgave His enemies even as His enemies insulted, nailed and murdered Him on the Cross (Luke 23:34). Now, that is love!

Jesus was innocent and committed NO sins.  He was perfect and became our Perfect and Spotless Lamb as the final Sacrifice for all humankind sins. From 12:00 noon until 3:00 p.m. Friday, complete darkness filled the earth while Jesus suffered on the Cross.  Then Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, My God, why have You abandoned Me?” (Mark 15:34 (NLT) (see also Psalm 22:1 describing the cry of a righteous man).  At that moment, Jesus bore the sins of the world!  Then, the curtain in the Sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.  The tearing of the curtain indicated that Jesus entered heaven for humankind so that we to may now enter God’s presence (see Hebrews 9:8-12; Hebrews 10:19-20). 

Jesus’ body was placed in Joseph of Arimathea’s new tomb before 6:00 p.m. Friday night, when the Jewish Sabbath began and all worked stopped.  From 6:00 p.m. Friday night throughout the Jewish Sabbath (Saturday), Jesus laid in the tomb.

Question:  What will be your response to Jesus’ death?  Jesus dead the absolute worse death possible of all human suffering to save you.  What will you do? Read Romans 3 for the answer. 

Thursday:  The Last Week of Jesus’ Life Before the Crucifixion (Passion Week)

In the last week of Jesus’ human life before on earth, He commenced the redemptive work to accomplish salvation for all humanity of their sins.  Jesus’ love, suffering and resurrection established salvation for everyone through faith (John 3:16; Romans 5:8-9).

Sunday, Jesus’ Messianic and Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12-19

Monday, Jesus curses the fig tree, Monday
Matthew 21:18-22; Mark 11:12-14, Mark 11:20-26

Monday, Jesus clears the Temple
Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-19; Luke 19:45-46; cp. John 2:13-16

Tuesday, Jewish religious leaders questions Jesus' authority
Matthew 21:23-27; Mark 11:27-33; Luke 20:1-8

Tuesday, Jesus teaches in the Temple
Matthew 21:28-23:39; Mark 12:1-44; Luke 20:9-21:4

Tuesday, Jesus anointed at Bethany
Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:2-11

Wednesday, The plot against Jesus
Matthew 26:14-16; Mark 14:10-11; Luke 22:3-6

Thursday, The Last Supper
Matthew 26:17-29; Mark 14:12-26; Luke 22:7-20; John 13:1-38

Thursday, Jesus comforts His disciples
John 14:1-16:33

Thursday, Gethsemane
Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:39-46

Jesus and the disciples ate the traditional Passover meal in an Upper Room as Jesus gave His final farewell and instructions to His disciples. The Passover celebrated Israel's escape from Egypt when the blood of a lamb painted on their door frames saved their firstborn sons from death. This experience predicted Jesus' future work on the Cross. Jesus is our Passover Lamb (John 1:29; Revelation 5:1–14). His blood saves all people from the penalty of death from sin.

Thursday records the Lord's Supper, also called Communion or Eucharist (Thanksgiving) in the Upper Room (see also 1 Corinthians 11:23-29). Jesus and His disciples ate the Passover meal, sang Psalms, read Scripture, and prayed. The Psalms they sang were most likely taken from Psalms 115 — 118, traditionally sung at the Passover meal. Then, Jesus took the bread and the wine and gave them new meaning as symbols of His body and blood. The Lord‘s Supper is still celebrated in church services today.

After eating the Lord’s Supper, Jesus and His disciples went to the Mount of Olives into a garden called Gethsemane. At this garden, Jesus prayed for to God for the strength to carry the sins of all humankind on the Cross.
 
Thursday night and Friday, Jesus’ arrest and trial
Matthew 26:47-27:26; Mark 14:43-15:15; Luke 22:47-23:25; John 18:2-19:16

Friday, Jesus’ crucifixion and death at Golgotha
Matthew 27:27-56; Mark 15:16-41; Luke 23:26-49; John 19:17-30

Friday, The burial of Jesus in Joseph’s Tomb
Matthew 27:57-66; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:31-42