The Believer’s Unfathomable Riches in Christ

Introduction
When anyone accepts Jesus Christ as their personal Savior they are instantaneously enriched with every spiritual blessing in Christ (Eph. 1:3) and declared to be complete in Christ (Col. 2:10). In fact, the Apostle Paul refers to these blessings as “the unfathomable riches of Christ” in Ephesians 3:8. “Unfathomable” is the Greek anexichniastos which means “past finding out, unsearchable, not to be tracked out.” The idea is that the believer’s blessings in Christ are “too deep to be measured.” Many of these blessings, however, are clearly defined for us in the Bible. When you receive Jesus Christ by faith, at least the following 34 things are unconditionally promised to you as a member of the body of Christ, the Church, as stated in God’s holy Word.

However, if you never receive Jesus Christ by faith as the only begotten Son of God who died on the cross in your place to pay the penalty for your sins, and rose again to ever reign with God the Father, then you will forfeit these awesome blessings.

The Position and Possessions of the Believer

1. In the Eternal Plan of God
a. Foreknown: Romans 8:29; 1 Peter 1:2
b. Elect of God: 1 Thessalonians 1:4; 1 Peter 1:2, Romans 8:33, Colossians 3:12,Titus 1:1
c. Predestined: Ephesians 1:11, Romans 8:29-30, Ephesians 1:5
d. Chosen: Matthew 22:14; 1 Peter 2:4
e. Called: 1 Thessalonians 5:24

2. Reconciled
a. Reconciled by God: 2 Corinthians 5:18-19, Colossians 1:20
b. Reconciled to God: Romans 5:10; 2 Corinthians 5:20

3. Redeemed: Colossians 1:14; 1 Peter 1:18, Romans 3:24

4. No Condemnation: Romans 8:1, John 5:24; 1 Corinthians 11:32, John 3:18

5. Related to God Through Propitiation (the satisfaction of God’s holiness):
Romans 3:24-26; 1 John 2:2

6. All Sins Removed by His Efficacious Blood: 1 Peter 2:24, Romans 4:25

7. Vitally Joined together with Christ for Judgment of the Old Self “Unto a New Walk”
a. Crucified with Christ: Romans 6:6
b. Dead with Christ: Romans 6:8; 1 Peter 2:24
c. Buried with Christ: Romans 6:4, Colossians 2:12
d. Raised with Christ to Walk By a New Life Principle: Romans 6:4, Colossians 3:1

8. Free from the Law
a. Dead to the Law: Romans 7:4
b. Delivered from the Law: Romans 7:6, Galatians 3:25, Romans 6:14; 2 Corinthians 3:11

9. Children of God
a. Born Again: John 3:7, John 1:12; 1 Peter 1:23
b. Quickened: Ephesians 2:1, Colossians 2:13,
c. Children of God: 1 John 3:2; 2 Corinthians 6:18, Galatians 3:26
d. A New Creation: 2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 6:15, Ephesians 2:10
e. Regeneration: Titus 3:5, John 13:10; 1 Corinthians 6:11

10. Adopted (placed as adult sons): Romans 8:15, 23; Galatians 4:5-7

11. Acceptable to God by Jesus Christ
a. Made the Righteousness of God in Christ: Romans 3:22; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21, Philippians 3:9
b. Sanctified Positionally (Positionally set apart in Christ): 1 Corinthians 1:30, 6:11
(not experiential sanctification per John 17:17 or the final perfection of the believer per Ephesians 5:27 and 1 John 3:3.)
c. Perfected Forever: Hebrews 10:14
d. Made Accepted in the Beloved: Ephesians 1:6; 1 Peter 2:5
e. Made Qualified: Colossians 1:12

12. Justified: Romans 5:1. Romans 3:24, Romans 8:30; 1 Corinthians 6:11, Titus 3:7

13. Forgiven all Trespass: Colossians 1:14, Colossians 2:13, 3:13, Ephesians 1:7, 4:32 (A distinction is necessary here, between the complete and abiding judicial forgiveness and the oft-repeated forgiveness within the family of God. See 1 John 1:9)

14. Made Close: Ephesians 2:13 (There is a corresponding experience, see James 4:8 and Hebrews 10:22.)

15. Delivered From the Powers of Darkness: Colossians 1:13, 2:13-15

16. Translated into the Kingdom: Colossians 1:13

17. On the Rock, Christ Jesus: 1 Corinthians 3:11, Ephesians 2:20; 2 Corinthians 1:21

18. A Gift from God the Father to Christ: John 17:6, 11-12, 20; John 10:29

19. Circumcised in Christ: Colossians 2:11, Philippians 3:3, Romans 2:29

20. Partakers of the Holy and Royal Priesthood
a. Holy Priesthood: 1 Peter 2:5
b. Royal Priesthood: 1 Peter 2:9, Revelation 1:6

21. Chosen Generation, A Holy Nation, and a People of God’s Own Possession
1 Peter 2:9, Titus 2:14

22. Having Access to God: Ephesians 2:18, Romans 5:2, Hebrews 4:14-16, 10:19-20

23. Within the “Much More” Care of God: Romans 5:9-10
a. Objects of His Love: Ephesians 2:4, 5:2
b. Objects of His Grace: (1) For Salvation: Ephesians 2:8 (2) For security: Romans 5:2; 1 Peter 1:5 (3) For service: Ephesians 2:7 (4) For instruction: Titus 2:12-13
c. Objects of His Power: Ephesians 1:19, Philippians 2:13
d. Objects of His Faithfulness: Hebrews 13:5
e. Objects of His Peace: Philippians 4:6-7, Colossians 3:15
f. Objects Of His Comfort: 2 Thessalonians 2:16
h. Objects of His Personal Care: 1 Peter 5:7
i. Objects of His Intercession: Hebrews 7:25, Romans 8:34, Hebrews 9:24

24. His Inheritance: Ephesians 1:18

25. Our Inheritance: 1 Peter 1:4, Ephesians 1:14, Colossians 3:24, Hebrews 9:15

26. A Heavenly Association: Ephesians 2:6
a. Partners with Christ in Life: Colossians 3:4; 1 John 5:11-12
b. Partners with Christ in Position: Ephesians 2:6
c. Partners with Christ in Service: 1 Corinthians 1:9, 3:9; 2 Corinthians 3:6, 5:20, 6:4
d. Partners with Christ in Suffering: 2 Timothy 2:12, Philippians 1:29; 1 Peter 2:20, 4:12-13; 1 Thessalonians 3:3, Romans 8:18, Colossians 1:24

27. Heavenly Citizens: Philippians 3:20, Ephesians 2:19, Hebrews 12:22, Luke 10:20

28. Of the Family and Household of God: Ephesians 2:19, 3:6, Galatians 6:10

29. Light in the Lord: Ephesians 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:4-5

30. Vitally United to the Father, Son and Spirit
a. In God: 1 Thessalonians 1:1, Ephesians 4:6
b. In Christ: John 14:20, Colossians 1:27 (1) A member in His Body: 1 Corinthians 12:13, (2) A branch in the Vine: John 15:5, (3) A stone in the Building: Ephesians 2:19-22, (4) A sheep in the Flock: John 10:27-29, (5) A part of His Bride: Ephesians 5:25-27, (6) A priest of the kingdom of priests: 1 Peter 1:5-9, (7) A saint of the “new generation”: 1 Peter 2:9
c. In the Spirit: Romans 8:9; Compare “the Spirit in you”: 1 Corinthians 2:12

31. Blessed with the “First-Fruits” and the “Earnest” of the Spirit
a. Born of the Spirit: John 3:6
b. Baptized by Means of the Spirit: 1 Corinthians 12:13
c. Indwelt by the Spirit: 1 Corinthians 6:19, 2:12, John 7:39, Romans 5:5, 8:9; 2 Corinthians 1:21, Galatians 4:6; 1 John 3:24
d. Sealed with the Spirit: Ephesians 1:13, 4:30; 2 Corinthians 1:22
e. Anointed with the Spirit: 2 Corinthians 1:21; 1 John 2:20

32. Glorified: Romans 8:30

33. Complete in Him: Colossians 2:10

34. Possessing Every Spiritual Blessing: Ephesians 1:3

Adapted from Systematic Theology, Volume III, Soteriology, pp. 234-266, by Lewis Sperry Chafer, Dallas Seminary Press by J. Hampton Keathley III, a 1966 graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary and former pastor of 28 years. He wrote for the foundation and taught Greek at Moody Northwest (an extension of Moody Bible Institute) in Spokane, Washington. ©1996 Hampton Keathley III, http://www.bible.org. Anyone is free to reproduce this material and distribute it, but it may not be sold under any circumstances whatsoever without the author’s consent. Verse text removed for brevity.