The Saints and the Faithful - 07/21/2024

Paul, appointed to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, writes a letter to a group of people he identifies as the saints and the faithful (Ephesians 1:1). These two descriptive words, saints and faithful, describe not only the people who make up the church at Ephesus, but also the church Jesus purchased with His blood. It is the church of which Jesus is the head.

It should be noticed that Paul is writing to a living group of people who are called saints. These are people who have been declared sacred by God. They are people whom God has made blameless because they have been forgiven of their sins. They are people set apart from the rest of the world because they are devoting themselves to God.

The saints are also referred to as the “beloved of God” (Romans 1:7). They are sanctified people (1 Corinthians 1:2). They are a group of people referred to in a specific location such as Rome and Corinth, as well as living in a region such as Achaia.

The faithful are people who are loyal to God and are steadfast in their beliefs. They have not wavered in their allegiance to God and the principles God has revealed. Their actions demonstrate how committed they are to the teachings of God and the commandments of God.

In addressing the people in Colossae, Paul uses similar language; he calls them “saints and faithful brethren in Christ” (Colossians 1:2). To the church at Smyrna, John the apostle encourages the brethren to be faithful until death and they will receive a crown (Revelation 2:10).

The church is composed of people who are both saints and faithful. They are Christians either in a local sense such as Ephesus, or they are members of the church from a universal sense. This universal sense includes all of the people who have become Christians from the day of Pentecost until the last day the world is in existence.

People must become saints while they are living. Once they become saints they must remain faithful to God regardless of what might happen to them.

As we contemplate these two descriptive words, let us ponder their significance to the content of this letter. Let us ask ourselves are we saints who are faithfully living out God message in our daily lives?

In most of Paul’s letters, he is revealing God’s information as to how those who are members of the universal church and who want to be saints and faithful to God should be living. By applying this information to their lives, then Christians will be saints and faithful in living God’s way. - cgm

Scriptural quotations from the NASB1995.