The Comfortable Lie of Independent Faith (Video)

The Comfortable Lie of Independent Faith: Unpacking the Blessings in Ephesians 1

In the opening chapter of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul greets the Ephesian believers and immediately begins to pronounce powerful blessings upon them. These benedictions, whether we consciously recognize it or not, are profound declarations of God’s goodness, intentionally designed to impact them deeply, even viscerally. Imagine Paul, likely writing from the confines of a prison cell, dictating this impassioned letter with the assistance of young Timothy. Picture Paul pacing within those prison walls as Timothy diligently scribbles down his inspired message for the faithful in Christ Jesus who resided in Ephesus.

A Groundbreaking Declaration of Blessing

In verse 3, we can almost see Paul stop his pacing, lift his hands in praise, and exclaim, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!” While these words resonate with two millennia of church history for us, at the time of Paul’s writing, they were revolutionary. The resurrection of Jesus was still a fresh and scandalous reality for those who had embraced this new and controversial faith. The Jewish authorities had crucified Jesus precisely because he claimed a sonship relationship with God, a claim they deemed blasphemous. Yet, just a few short years later, Paul finds himself overwhelmingly grateful for this very truth. No doubt, his mind flashes back to his transformative encounter on the road to Damascus, where Jesus dramatically pulled him from darkness and launched him into a ministry that would reshape the culture of his time and lay the very foundation for the Christianity we know today.

The “Us” of God’s Blessing: A Corporate Inheritance

What compels Paul to bless the Lord at this pivotal moment? The subsequent part of the verse reveals his reason: it is because Jesus, our Lord Jesus Christ, “has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” Notice first and foremost Paul’s deliberate use of “us,” emphasizing the collective identity of the body of Christ rather than a singular “each of you.” This distinction carries significant weight, particularly in our contemporary context where many Christians advocate a “spiritual but not religious” viewpoint, often at the expense of highlighting the vital importance of the corporate body of Christ, both locally and globally. Jesus did not save you for a solitary spiritual journey encapsulated in the sentiment of “Just Me and Jesus Got Our Own Thing Going…” Rather, you are saved unto Jesus and into the expansive body of Christ.

The Indispensable Nature of Corporate Connection

Why is this emphasis on the corporate body of Christ so crucial in this passage? Because these “all spiritual blessings in Christ” are bestowed as a communal inheritance, an “us” blessing, and not merely an individual “you” blessing. Consequently, if you have distanced yourself from active engagement with the body of Christ, you are, in effect, excluding yourself from a dimension of blessing that Paul specifically references here. Do you truly desire all that God has for you? Are you willing to align your life and position yourself in a way that activates the availability of these “spiritual blessings” in your life? If so, then you must seriously consider the quality of your “us” relationship with the broader body of Christ – both by actively participating in a local expression of the church and by consciously living out your faith within the context of His greater, overarching purposes for that unified corporate entity that Scripture repeatedly emphasizes.

Embracing Unity: The Flow of Divine Blessing

Therefore, metaphorically take my hand and, in the spirit, reach out and grasp the hands of those fellow believers in your vicinity and within your shared faith. Adopt a renewed perspective: we should actively desire to be connected to the “us” dynamic of the Church. This connection is vital for us to appropriate a level of blessing specifically designed to reach and impact our lives within the context of a shared commitment to the larger body of Christ. The Psalmist eloquently underscores this truth in Psalm 133:

[Psa 133:1-3] Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the LORD has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.

Do you grasp the profound message of this verse? There is a divine anointing, an “oil” from God’s very throne, that flows down upon a unified body. It is a precious ointment originating from the head, Christ Jesus, and cascading down the “beard,” the priestly representation of a mature body of Christ. This mature body sets aside independent, self-centered thinking and embraces a level of unity that moves the hand of Divine Providence to entrust them, to entrust you, with a level of blessing inaccessible to the isolated, independent spiritual recluse who mistakenly believes their individual spirituality and supposed maturity exempts them from the vital community of Christ found only within the Church.

The Heavenly Source and Nature of Blessing

Where do these abundant blessings that Christ bestows upon us originate? They reside “in the heavenly places.” How does this benefit us, and how do we gain access to them? Firstly, by recognizing that while we inhabit the earth, our true origin and spiritual citizenship lie in the new birth of heavenly origin. This powerful theme permeates Paul’s teachings throughout the New Testament.

[1 Cor 15:48] As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven.

What does this signify for us? It means that your spiritual citizenship transcends earthly, natural considerations. Your true citizenship, along with all the accompanying spiritual blessings, originates in the heavens, the very source of your birthright as a believer redeemed by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Furthermore, notice that these blessings are not inherently in you but are found in Christ. We must open our hearts and minds to an “in Christ” mentality. Who we are in and of ourselves holds little ultimate significance. Who we are in Christ is absolutely everything! Observe that the blessings in Christ are not limited but are “all spiritual blessings.” Do you truly believe this? If so, then you must also believe that in Christ, not a single blessing is withheld from you on any level. This encompasses the complete inventory of every conceivable blessing, applicable to every facet of your existence. You are not excluded or deemed ineligible in any way to walk in, enjoy, and fully experience all that Christ died to make available to those who are in Him. Deuteronomy 28 foreshadows these all-encompassing blessings, which, while initially directed towards natural Israel, now apply to you and me as well:

[Deu 28:2-13 KJV] And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God. Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store. Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out. The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways. The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways. And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee. And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee. The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them.

These comprehensive blessings are yours and mine in Christ and within the vital context of our corporate connection – not just to Jesus individually, but collectively as His body. Remember, Jesus is the head, and the Church is His body. If we reject the Church through the belief that we are too spiritually advanced for a local expression, or simply through the act of forsaking the local body, we are, in effect, forsaking Him. Your attitude and posture towards the body of Christ directly reflect your attitude and posture towards the head. You cannot genuinely accept the head while rejecting the body. To do so is to estrange ourselves from the very blessings promised to us in Ephesians 1:3. Are you ready to make a course correction? Are you even open to correction? Listen closely: there are profound blessings ahead for you, readily available if you will simply make the necessary adjustments, open your heart, connect with the body of Christ, and move forward together to access, embrace, and even boldly exploit the “All Spiritual Blessings” that Paul declared to the Ephesians and declares to you and me today.

Review and Reflection

Paul’s opening to the Ephesians is not merely a polite greeting; it’s a powerful and intentional declaration of God’s abundant blessings available to believers in Christ. He emphasizes the corporate nature of these blessings, highlighting that our connection to the body of Christ is not an optional extra but a vital conduit for experiencing the fullness of God’s provision. The blessings themselves are not earthly or temporal alone, but “spiritual” and located “in the heavenly places,” accessible through our identity “in Christ.” This passage challenges any notion of isolated spirituality and underscores the profound importance of active participation and unity within the local and global church. It calls us to recognize our heavenly citizenship and to boldly claim the comprehensive blessings that are our inheritance in Christ.

A Five-Part Call to Action

1. Re-evaluate Your Connection: Honestly assess your current level of engagement with the local body of Christ. Are you actively participating and contributing, or are you on the periphery?
2. Embrace Corporate Identity: Consciously shift your mindset to recognize and value your place within the larger “us” of the body of Christ. Understand that you are saved into a community, not just from something.
3. Seek Unity Intentionally: Make a deliberate effort to foster unity and connection with fellow believers. Set aside any independent or isolating tendencies and actively pursue meaningful relationships within the church.
4. Believe in the “All”: Fully embrace the truth that in Christ, you have been blessed with all spiritual blessings. Reject any limiting beliefs that would hinder you from experiencing the fullness of God’s provision in every area of your life.
5. Step into Your Inheritance: Boldly position yourself to receive and walk in these “all spiritual blessings.” This involves active faith, obedience, and a commitment to living out your life in Christ within the context of His body, the Church.