Eph 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:
The Apostle Paul, and the Holy Spirit (as the author of Scripture) makes a simple but profound declaration at the opening of the letter to the church in Ephesus.
He greets those in Ephesus as "saints." What a simple but epic salutation!
We need to apply the biblical principle that while the apostolic letters addressed specific issues in doctrine and behavior to specific churches, the doctrines declared and the commandments issued apply to all churches and all Christians everywhere, for all time!
Consequently, when Paul writes to the "saints," he is writing to you and to me as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ! We are "saints" by the declaration of the Holy Spirit himself!
What does this term mean?
The word "saint" literally means, "holy one."
From Strong's Concordance - Word: agioj Pronounce: hag'-ee-os Strongs Number: G40
Orig: from hagos (an awful thing) (compare 53, 2282); sacred (physically, pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially, consecrated):--(most) holy (one, thing), saint. G53 Use: TDNT-1:88,14 Adjective Heb Strong: H6944 1) most holy thing, a saint
The Lord is not referring to our behavior in Christ, but instead our position in Christ, our standing in Christ. We are seen as holy before him, as perfect before him, as sinless before him in our standing before him. What an amazing truth and reality! For more on this, go HERE.
We sin and sin and sin away in our behavior, but all the while we are considered "saints" or "holy ones" in his sight.
Why are we seen as holy in his sight? Because the blood of Christ washes away all of our sin. Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
Right before Christ died on the cross, he said, "it is finished," which literally means, "paid in full." Our sin debt was paid in full by his blood.
Why are we seen as holy in his sight? Because Christ's perfect obedience to the law of God is placed on our account. 2 Cor 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Christ obeyed the Father perfectly in his life, and the Father took his obedience and placed it on to us. We should rejoice greatly in this truth. We wear Christ's righteousness like clothes. Isaiah declared, Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
Why are we seen as holy in his sight? Because we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ! Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We are justified, meaning we are legally, forensically and every other way declared and are in fact "guiltless" before him.
Because of Christ, his obedience to the Father and his sacrifice for our sins on the cross, the Father judges us by his holy law and finds us NOT GUILTY!
What amazing grace from our Father in heaven! Because of Christ we now are in fact, holy ones, saints before him. This is our present and permanent standing before God, by virtue of our faith in Christ alone.
Rejoice exceedingly in this good news, and now live your lives for him. Amen.
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