If there’s anything I should be picking up from what Paul is laying down in the opening verses of Ephesians, it’s that those who are blessed by God should be quick to declare, “Blessed be God!”

I never tire of reading this glorious inventory of spiritual blessings possessed by those who are “in Christ.” Blessed with every — not just some, but every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places (1:3). How many can that be? How many spiritual blessings are there in heavenly places? I’m guessing a lot! I never cease to be amazed at who I am and what I possess in Him. No place here for an inferiority complex.

And it is all founded on our “redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses” (1:7a). The forgiveness of sins, that’s the key that unlocks the door to every spiritual blessing in heavenly places. If my sin could not be dealt with, then the storehouse of spiritual blessings would be forever locked. If there were no means for a just God to deal with my iniquities in a just manner, then there’d be no hope of participating in anything sourced in heavenly places. But this morning I sit here redeemed. As I hover over this passage, I wonder afresh that I am forgiven. And that, according to the riches of His grace.

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight.

(Ephesians 1:7-8 ESV)

The price paid for my ransom, the wages tendered for my sin, all according to the riches of His grace.

Our God is rich in grace. Wealthy in unmerited favor. His loving-kindness, His capacity for goodwill, His mercy beyond mercy, overflowing the vaults of heaven with grace because it is sourced in love, and God is love (1Jn. 4:16). Riches beyond measure. Reserves with out limit. Sourced in the very essence of a God who transcends all things. A God who is Himself without limit.

As such, He is able to “lavish” grace upon us. To not only let it flow, but to pour it out so that it overflows. Sufficient not only to save from sin, but to impute righteousness. To not only save from death, the penalty for sin, but to render fit for eternal life.

Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

(Romans 5:20-21 ESV)

Lavished on us. Abounding toward us. Abundant grace poured out in abundant measure. And this, through His beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Redeemed. Forgiven. Blessed with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places. All according to the riches of His grace.

Nope! No place for a spiritual inferiority complex here. Because I’m not resting in my own character or my own capability. But resting only in His grace. His abundant, without measure grace. His lavished upon us grace. His abounding toward us grace. His amazing grace.

Blessed be God!

Because of grace. For His glory.