To The Saints And To The Faithful

Ephesians 1:1-3 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ

The Apostle Paul wrote the Book of Ephesians during his first Roman imprisonment (AD 62). Though Paul wasn’t chained at this time, he was under house arrest, with a Roman guard ever present. The reason God had Paul write Ephesians was to focus on the mystery and the power of the Church.

Throughout this Book the Church is presented as the living Body of Christ on the earth. The Church was in God’s mind before He ever created the earth. The power of the Church is only evident when it is in one accord, loving and glorifying God, and caring for one another.

The Church Described

Ephesians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the SAINTS which are at Ephesus, and to the FAITHFUL in Christ Jesus

When the Apostle addresses the Church, he does not refer to the clerical roll. The early Church, persecuted for its faith, did not have a membership roll with names on it. The early Church did keep records of numbers of those baptized, such as in …

Acts 2:41 … they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

The Church kept records of widows (1 Timothy 5:3-16), and cared for those who were unable to care for themselves. Though names were partially given (Romans 16), no specifics were written down lest authorities get hold of the rosters and do harm to the Church. So, how were Christians identified? Paul gives us two markers that shows us what a Christian is:

to the SAINTS {hagios} which are at Ephesus

The Catholic Church tells it’s faithful members to pray to the saints. Interestingly, when our Lord Jesus told us to pray, it was NOT to the saints, nor to the Holy Spirit or even to Himself. Jesus said:

Matthew 6:9-13 (KJV) After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as [it is] in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Word Study: Prayer is TO THE FATHER, in the Name or Authority of the Son, and in the power of the Holy Spirit. We do not pray to the “saints”. Beloved, WE ARE THE SAINTS. The word translated “SAINTS” is the Greek hagios, which means those who are blameless or consecrated, whose lives honor God. The Christian is a “saint”. The same Greek word hagios is used in the title of the Third Person of the Trinity, the Holy {hagios} Spirit. When a person becomes a Christian, it is not through OUR power that it occurs, but through the Holy {hagios} Spirit of God.

When a person hears the Gospel of Jesus Christ and is awakened to their sinful state by God:

John 16:8 (ESV) When [the Spirit] comes, He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment

The person is left in a place of choice. Will they choose to do as God says,

Mark 1:15 (NKJV) The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.

Acts 2:38 (NKJV) Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Repentance is not a human work, but a human anti-work. It is where you acknowledge YOU are a SINNER, and YOU need the Savior. Like Israel in Egypt, you cry out to God for salvation. You believe on Jesus. You cast your life down at His feet! When you do, you have the promise of God:

John 10:9 (KJV) {Jesus said} I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

Acts 2:21 (KJV) And it shall come to pass, [that] whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

When you are saved, God the Holy Spirit comes to you and changes your life.

The Holy Spirit makes you “spiritually born again” (John 3:1-21).
The Holy Spirit indwells you (John 14:17).
The Holy Spirit fills or empowers you (Ephesians 5:15-20).
The Holy Spirit changes you into a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17)

You are different from what you were before. Because of God you are saints. Saints are different from the world. Saints walk with God, not in the flesh.

There are two type of people in every local Church meeting: The SAINTS and the AINTS.

I’m not talking about being self righteous. Do saints mess up? King David messed up. Elijah messed up. Peter messed up. The Apostles messed up. We all mess up. The Bible talks about saints in:

1 John 1:6-10 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we WALK IN THE LIGHT, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that WE HAVE NO SIN, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we CONFESS OUR SINS, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

Are you a SAINT or an AINT? If you say “I HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH JESUS, but WALK IN DARKNESS just like the world”, then you are lying to yourself. You are an AINT. The SAINT “WALKS IN THE LIGHT WITH GOD – AS HE IS IN THE LIGHT”. The SAINT lives to please the Lord Who save us. The SAINTS, if they sin (and you will, dear ones), will “CONFESS OUR SINS TO GOD”. When we confess our sins, HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE US OUR SINS. Why? Because we who are SAINTS run to Jesus with our sins. Those who are AINTS make excuses, try to fix it themselves, but never go to God in Christ.

A good example of this is Judas Iscariot. Though called by Jesus to be an Apostle, Judas was an AINT, not a SAINT. Jesus called Judas a “son of perdition”, which means “a son of destruction”, a phrase used for the future coming Antichrist (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). When Judas betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, what did he do?

Matthew 27:3-5 (NASB20) Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What [is that] to us? You shall see [to it] yourself!” 5 And he threw the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and left; and he went away and hanged himself.

Judas did not go to God repenting, confessing his sin. He went back to those who bribed him, and tried to get them to take the money back. They refused, for it was blood money. So Judas “went away and hanged himself”. He punished himself. But he never sought the Cross of Christ. The AINT, when that person sins, will try and “make it better”, do good to somehow make it up to God. Beloved, the only thing you can do with sin is take it to God in Christ. Only then is it forgiven.

The second way the Christian is defined is:

to the SAINTS {hagios} which are at Ephesus, and to the FAITHFUL {pistos} in Christ Jesus

Word Study: The Christian is a SAINT because he or she is a work of the Holy Spirit. The Christian is also FAITHFUL. We are not perfect, but liked Abraham we cling to the God Who saved us:

Galatians 3:6-9 (KJV)Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, [saying], In thee shall all nations be blessed. 9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

Our faith is not in ourselves, but “IN CHRIST JESUS”. We are saved by repenting, and turning to God through Christ Jesus. The AINTS believe in their ability, in their own inherent goodness to get peace with God.

The SAINTS believe in the Lord Jesus Christ – and the works of their life reflect that belief.

John 3:36 He that BELIEVETH {pisteuō, Present Active Participle} on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that BELIEVETH NOT {apeitheō, Present Active Participle} the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Word Study: The word rendered “BELIEVETH NOT” is the Greek apeitheō, which means “to refuse faith AND OBEDIENCE”. The same word is used in:

Romans 2:8-9 (KJV)But unto them that are contentious, and DO NOT OBEY {apeitheō} the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;

The SAINT will cling to Jesus. The AINT will cling to unrighteousness, and self rule. Beloved, Christians are “New Creatures IN CHRIST: old things are passed away; behold, ALL THINGS are BECOME NEW.

Some people find their affirmation as a believer IN their denomination, or IN their works and human good, or IN the Church they attend. But the SAINTS find their affirmation as believers IN CHRIST JESUS. The Apostle Paul uses the phrase “IN CHRIST” nine times in verses 1-14 of this chapter, and 27 times throughout the Book of Ephesians.

Beloved, are you “IN CHRIST”?

The Church Assembled

Ephesians 1:2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Christian becomes a Christ by Grace. Grace is not something that you work for, but it is a free gift from God. People think that Grace is just a New Testament concept. That’s not true. God has always saved people BY GRACE. When God looked at the earth and found sin to be out of control, He planned on punishing humanity by a Great Flood. And yet, the Bible says:

Genesis 6:8 (KJV) … Noah found GRACE {ḥēn} in the eyes of the LORD.

Sadly, only eight souls got on the Ark that God had Noah make. Had humanity repented and got on the Ark, more would have been saved. GRACE OBEYS GOD. Grace surrenders to God.

Psalm 84:11 (KJV) For the LORD God [is] a sun and shield: the LORD will give GRACE {ḥēn} and glory: no good [thing] will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

Proverbs 3:34 (KJV)Surely He scorneth the scorners: but {God} giveth GRACE {ḥēn} unto the lowly.

To those who surrender to God, who will heed His Gospel and run to His arms, to these He will give Grace. God will not give Grace to the arrogant, the self righteous, the in your face person who thinks they are always right. God gives Grace as a free gift to those who humble themselves before Him. The Scripture says:

Romans 3:24-28 (KJV) Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth [to be] a propitiation {hilastērion, a covering for sin} through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, [I say], at this time his righteousness: that He might be just, and the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 27 Where [is] boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

It is GOD Who JUSTIFIES us, Who declares us righteous IN HIS EYES when we come to Him in the name of Jesus. Repenting of our self sufficiency and our sins, we throw ourselves on the mercy of His Grace – and GOD does the work!

What does Grace bring you? What do you find in a Grace oriented Church?

Ephesians 1:2 Grace be to you, and PEACE (Greek eirēnē) , from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace brings you PEACE (Greek eirēnē). Not peace with the world. When you become a Christian, you will walk at odds with the world. Jesus said:

Matthew 10:34-39 (KJV) Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man’s foes [shall be] they of his own household. 37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

The lost follow the darkness. The lost serve themselves. The lost satisfy themselves. The lost care little or nothing about God and Christ. But the saved walk with Jesus. The saved love Jesus more than their own family. The saved embrace the Cross of Christ as their own. The saved follow Jesus. The lost waste their lives, trying to live their lives apart from God. But the saved realize that there is NO LIFE WITHOUT JESUS.

Saints are not worried about dying and going to hell. Saints are careful to maintain a daily walk with God in Christ, knowing that – as sheep – we are wolf fodder without our Lord. I want to be where my Good Shepherd is. Always. Period.

Ephesians 1:2 Grace be to you, and PEACE (Greek eirēnē) , from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Church is a family. God is our Father. One of the most heinous things I have ever heard is when people say, “God is the Father of everyone”. No, that’s not true. God is the Father of all Christians, saved by Grace through faith in Christ. The Bible says:

Ephesians 4:4-6 There is one Body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

God is equally the Father of every Christian saved by faith. If you are BORN AGAIN, then God is your Father. But God is NOT the Father of those who do not love Jesus. Our Lord Jesus said:

John 8:42-47 (ESV)Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”

There are two categories of people in the world. There are the “children of God”, also called “the SAINTS and the FAITHFUL”, and there are the “children of the devil”, also called “the AINTS and the self seeking”. Those who are SAINTS have peace with God. Those who are SAINTS have God as their Father. Those who are SAINTS heed and love the LORD Jesus Christ.

Are You Under Grace? Are You Saved?

Ephesians 1:3-6 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

If you’re saved, you are blessed. God has given you “all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ”. You are part of Christ’s Church. The Church is PREDESTINED to the adoption of Children. Jesus has prepared a place for you, dear Church, in glory. We are in a right relationship with God because “he hath made us accepted in the beloved”. We heard the Gospel of salvation, that Jesus died for our sins. We believe that He paid the penalty for our sins in full, and rose from the Grave to sit at the right hand of God the Father. We heed His Word. He is our Lord. We are “ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED”, without blame in God’s eyes, because we love Jesus and follow Him.

My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand:
all other ground is sinking sand;
all other ground is sinking sand.

Where is your hope? Where is your life. Get to the Grace of God right now. Don’t delay. Repent, and turn to the Lord Jesus Christ right NOW. Amen!