There are three verses taken from three different Epistles that are wonderfully linked together. These three verses relate to the past, present, and future, to the God who has blessed us, comforts us, and who has given us a living hope (Eph. 1:3; 2 Cor. 1:3; 1 Pet. 1:3). You will notice that each of these begins by blessing, or praising, or giving thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is not a coincidence that each verse is found in the beginning of each Epistle in which it is found.

The above verse is the first one. How fitting, how appropriate, that He be praised as we consider the blessings which He, out of the abundance of His heart, has poured out abundantly upon us! These blessings are in contrast to Israel’s earthly blessings, which were conditional upon their obedience. A sample is given us in the following words: “Then it shall come to pass, because you listen to these judgments, and keep and do them … He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your land, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flock … You shall be blessed above all peoples” (Dt. 7:12–14).

However, our blessings are unmerited, and unconditional, and are according to the riches of His grace. No wonder Paul writes, “Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more” (Rom. 5:20). The prodigal son comes to mind as illustrating this abounding grace. The best robe, the ring on his finger, and the shoes on his feet were all undeserved, and is a picture of the lavishness of the blessings that are ours in Christ. Notice that these blessings are in the past tense: “Who has blessed us.” We are not waiting for a “second blessing,” as some are. We are “blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in Christ.”