The Treasures of Heaven

Ephesians Series: Ephesians 1:1-23

Discovering God’s riches that you can access today

We have looked at Ephesians 1 in prior posts (Verses 1-6, 7-14, 15-23). Now we look at the whole chapter from a different perspective. It really is true that each read of a passage can bring out a new facet!

Scriptures offer some very clear promises of what we can expect when we get to Heaven, with abundant references to treasures! Let’s discover what is in store even now for us who have claimed Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Read the following and discern the person(s) being referenced by the pronouns. It can get rather confusing. This chart will help clarify the various characters.

If you wish to have a hard copy to mark up, a suggestion is draw a triangle around the name and pronoun references to the Trinity and add a dot to one of the angles to indicate the person involved–a dot at the top = the Father, right corner = Jesus, and left corner = the Holy Spirit.

(See bottom for a printable download of this study.)

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus:

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.

In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He lavished on us.

In all wisdom and insight 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him 10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth.

In Him 11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.

13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.
15 For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers;

17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.

18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.

These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Ephesians 1:1-23

Perks of the Kingdom

Notice the phrases in Christ, in Him, in the Beloved, etc. What do you think this means? Might Jesus Himself be the greatest treasure of all?

Look up the noun and verb definitions of Treasure in an English dictionary or here. What are some key words that you find?
Key Scripture words for treasure include: riches, gifts, reward, crowns, honor, glory, praise, blessing, and inheritance.
Look back at the text and let’s go treasure hunting! Mark up the hard copy to show words that indicate God’s Kingdom benefits for you. Make note of phrases that indicate a time frame. What do you observe?
What is your first response to this bounty?
Here are some additional verses for further study: I Corinthians 13:12; Ephesians 2:14; 4:23-24; Titus 1:1-2; Revelation 2:17
Write a summary statement describing the reality of your treasures here and now and what will be yours at your death and forever.

The Promises of Heavenly treasure

Read verses 13-14 from the text. How do we know we have treasures in Heaven?

What keeps them safe?
Additional verses: Psalm 121:7, 2 Peter 3:13, Revelation 3:8, 10

The Power in the Reward

What do verses 19-21 tell us about how God is able to provide these rewards?

Additional verses: Romans 8:11; Colossians 1:9-11, 13, 16-17; Ephesians 3:16

The Position of the Rewardee

What does God say is true about who we are in the following verses from the text:

Verse 1:
Verse 3:
Verse 5:
Verses 11-12:
Verse 18:
Additional verses: Revelation 20:6; Isaiah 61:10

The Prerogative of the Lamb

Read Revelation 5:11-14.

Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels and living creatures and elders encircling the throne, and their number was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands. In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever!” And the four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Revelation 5:11-14

What are the treasures the Lamb will receive? On what basis?
What makes Him worthy?
In this lesson, which of these gifts are also given to us?
How is it possible for you to share the blessings of Jesus? How do you feel when you think about this?

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

Let truth Permeate your heart

Read the following passage aloud three times slowly.

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21

What words has the Holy Spirit given you which are meaningful for your life in the present?
Ponder this week’s lesson. Take some time, settle yourself, and reflect on what you have learned.
Write out any questions you have or struggles you experience in believing all of this.

Teach me Your way, O LORD, that I may walk in Your truth.
Give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name.
I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart;
I will glorify Your name forever.
For great is Your loving devotion to me; You have delivered me from the depths of Sheol.
Psalm 86:11-13