Blessed in the Heavenly Places

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places....” Verses 1-3.

We are blessed in the heavenly places; it doesn’t say “on the earth.” Being blessed in the heavenly places involves an entirely different kind of blessing than being blessed on earth. Israel of old had earthly promises, but ours are heavenly ones. We are blessed in and with Christ. Outside of Him there is no blessing. The earthly blessings are by Him, but the heavenly ones are in Him. The earthly glory is a glory by the body; the heavenly glory is the glory in the body.

The glory by Him is for those who are earthly, whereas the glory in Him is for those who are heavenly. The earthly glory has no share in the glory that is in Him; rather, it shares the glory that radiates from Him. Those who are partakers of the glory that is in Him are already in possession of the glory that radiates from Him. Therefore, the heavenly glory encompasses the earthly glory, but the earthly glory does not share the glory that is in Him. Those who are earthly are like the moon, which reflects—but does not possess—the sun’s light.