In Him – Ephesians 1
What does it mean to be “in Christ”? Paul opens Ephesians with a breathtaking truth that sets the tone for our entire faith. God has a plan, and it’s centered on Jesus—before the world even began.
Ephesians 1:3 (CSB) “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ.”
This verse is a celebration! God, the source of all blessing, has poured out every spiritual gift upon us—all because we are in Christ. But notice Paul’s language throughout this chapter—he uses “us” and “we” repeatedly. This isn’t about God selecting specific individuals; it’s about God’s plan for all who would be found in Him.
Ephesians 1:4-6 (CSB) “For he chose us in him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved.”
Here’s the heart of God’s eternal plan: He chose in Christ a people to be holy and blameless. Before time began, God determined that anyone found in Him—through faith—would receive adoption, redemption, and every spiritual blessing. The phrase “in Him” appears throughout this passage like a refrain, pointing us to the sphere where all these blessings exist. God’s choice centers on Christ and extends to all who are united to His Son.
Think about the beauty of this: God’s eternal plan wasn’t Plan B after sin entered the world. From eternity, He knew that fallen humanity would need redemption, so He designed salvation to flow through Christ. Anyone who places their faith in Jesus enters this blessed sphere—in Him—and receives every blessing God planned from the beginning.
Ephesians 1:7-12 (CSB) “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he richly provided for us in all wisdom and understanding. He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ as a plan for the right time—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him. In him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will, so that we who had already put our hope in Christ might bring praise to his glory.”
Notice how Paul layers phrase upon phrase—“in him we have redemption,” “he purposed in Christ,” “in him,” “in him we were also chosen.” Every blessing, every purpose, every plan of God centers on Christ. We’re not chosen apart from Christ and then placed into Him—we’re chosen in Him. When we place our faith in Jesus, we discover we’ve entered God’s eternal plan, receiving blessings He designed for all who would be found in His beloved Son.
Ephesians 1:13-14 (CSB) “In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.”
Paul shifts to “you”—addressing the Ephesian believers directly. “In him you also were sealed…when you believed.” The moment they placed their faith in Christ, they entered this sphere of blessing and were sealed by the Holy Spirit. God had predestined—predetermined—that all who would be found in Him through faith would receive this sealing and every spiritual blessing. When they believed, they discovered themselves within God’s eternal plan, recipients of what He had always intended for those united to His Son.
This “in Him” reality transforms everything. We’re not just forgiven; we’re heirs, part of God’s cosmic plan to unite all things under Christ’s headship. Every spiritual blessing—wisdom, strength, love, peace—flows from our union with Christ. It’s not about what we do, but about where we are—in Him.
Paul’s words remind us that our life in Christ is no accident, but it’s also no divine coercion. God’s eternal design was to bless all who would trust His Son. He opened the door wide, planned every blessing, and invites all to enter through faith. Are we living in the joy of these spiritual blessings, resting in Him, and sharing this hope with others as part of His eternal plan?
