3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
in the heavenly places
The Holy Spirit used the phrase “in the heavenly places” five times, and exclusively in Ephesians (1:3, 20; 2:6; 3:10; 6:12). God blesses believers “in the heavenly” domain, not the earthly sphere. Thus, these blessings are spiritual, not material and eternal, and not temporal. God brings them to us in time. They are a present reality because Christ has already provided them for us. These blessings include salvation, adoption, redemption, and many other spiritual provisions.
Co 3: 1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
“Heavenly places” describes the sphere where God’s blessings operate. They are present in the believer’s spiritual life.
in Christ,
God gave these blessings through Christ or in the sphere of Christ. This is an eternally existing condition of those born again. God always looks at us as if we are “in Christ.” Note that the preposition is “in” Christ, not “through” Christ. Neither does this say “with” Christ. We have everything “in Christ.”
Variations of “in Christ” occur 11 times in this chapter. The idea permeates this epistle. This idea includes our position or standing that exists before God forever.
PRINCIPLE:
God expects us to rise to what He gave us in Christ.
APPLICATION:
Jesus Christ is the center and source of all our blessings. Whereas we are on earth, yet we can operate with Christ in the heavens. We are where He is now. This is a bank of much greater reserves than the bank in the temple of Diana in Ephesus.
If you wish to study your positional standing before God further, go to this study: http://versebyversecommentary.com/articles/thrity-three-things-accomplished-at-the-point-of-salvation/
The Lord taught about what it meant to be in Him in John 14 and in his final prayer in John 17.