GRACE BEAMS OUT OF THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS: AN EXEGESIS Part 2
Ephesians 1 (KJV)
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:
Today, we continue with our insights into God's grace in the epistle of Paul to the Ephesian church.
Just the second phrase.
Ephesians 1 (KJV)
1 ... to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
TO THE SAINTS ?
In our previous exposition, we established that Paul is very qualified to speak on the TRUE GOSPEL. So, if Paul called a people SAINTS, he must know what he is saying.
QUICK DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SAINT AND A SINNER
A SINNER is CONDEMNED.
A SAINT is REDEEMED.
CHRIST IS THE ULTIMATE SEPARATOR BETWEEN THE TWO.
John 3:
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
DICTIONARY DEFINITION OF A SAINT
a person acknowledged as holy or virtuous and regarded in Christian faith as being in heaven after death.
In some Christian civilizations, there is a rigourous process called 'canonization' before a person can be officially named a saint - after the person dies.
IN OTHER WORDS, NO ONE SHOULD HASTILY CALL SOMEONE A SAINT. Looks like what Paul did in all of his epistles to the churches.
For instance,
The Church in Rome
Rom 1:
6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:
7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, CALLED TO BE SAINTS: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Church in Corinth
1 Cor 1:
2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, CALLED TO BE SAINTS, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their's and our's
The Churches around Corinth
2 Cor 1(KJV)
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with ALL THE SAINTS which are in all Achaia
The Church in Philippi
Philippians 1 (KJV)
1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to ALL THE SAINTS in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
The Church in Colosse
Col 1:
2 TO THE SAINTS and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Okay.
It is clear now that it was not a one-off, slip-of-the-tongue statement.
PAUL CALLED BELIEVERS IN CHRIST JESUS 'SAINTS' !
BELIEVERS IN CHRIST JESUS ARE SAINTS ! ! !
BORN AGAIN CHRISTIANS ARE SAINTS ! ! !
CHILDREN OF GOD ARE SAINTS ! ! !
How else will it be clearer ?
THE DICTIONARY SAYS NO ONE IS A SAINT UNTIL HE GETS TO HEAVEN.
HERE WE ARE STILL ON EARTH, GOD CALLS US SAINTS !
In most of the apostles' letters to the churches, they established this. THE IRREVOCABLE REDEMPTION OF THE BELIEVER IN CHRIST JESUS.
NOW, DO SAINTS SIN ? ( Please refer to the post : JESUS AND THE SIN QUESTION ANSWERED for a more comprehensive answer)
This is important.
Because, many times after Paul called his audience 'Saints', he would go ahead to deal with issues in particular that make you wonder if they were still saints.
For instance, in the Corinthian Church, we find a scenerio...
1 Corinthians 5 (KJV)
1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.
Oh no! SAINTS ?
LET US GO INTO THE OLD TESTAMENT FOR ANOTHER VIEW.
The Isrealites (especially as they left Egypt) are a picture of the OLD COVENANT SAINTS.
1. They were called THE CHURCH IN THE WILDERNESS.
Acts 7:38
This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:
THE CHURCH IS COLLECTIVE NAME FOR THE SAINTS.
2. They were GOD'S ANOINTED.
1 Chronicles 16:19-22 (KJV)
19 When ye were but few, even a few, and strangers in it.
20 And when they went from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people;
21 He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes,
22 Saying, Touch not MINE ANOINTED, and do my prophets no harm
CHRIST MEANS 'THE ANOINTED ONE'
CHRISTIANS MEANS 'THE ANOINTED ONES'
THE ANOINTED ONES ARE THE SAINTS.
But, were they people who did not sin ?
YOU KNOW THE STORY OF THE ISRAELITES' MANY FAILINGS
WHAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW IS THIS: THEIR FAILINGS DID NOT ALTER THEIR SAINTHOOD.
Galatians 2:15
We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
THE GENTILES WERE SINNERS.
THE JEWS WERE SAINTS.
UNDER THE LAW, THAT HAPPENED.
BELIEVERS IN CHRIST ARE SAINTS.
UNBELIEVERS ARE SINNERS.
UNDER GRACE, THIS HAPPENED.
PROVE IT.
IN THE DISPENSATION OF THE LAW, NONE OF THEM KEPT THE LAW. REMEMBER THE LAW IS SUCH THAT IF YOU FAIL ONE, YOU FAIL ALL.
Read these scriptures.
Rom 9:
31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
Acts 13:39
And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
James 2:10-11
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
So, no one of them kept the law. (Remember that even Moses' body was contested by the devil at his death).
Yet God regarded them as His people- His saints.
AND WAIT FOR THIS !
ALL THE JEWS UNDER THE LAW SHALL BE SAVED !
REASON: GOD MADE A COVENANT WITH THEIR FATHERS TO SAVE THEM SAME WAY HE MADE WITH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST TO SAVE US.
THIS IS ONE OF THE MYSTERIES OF GOD REVEALED IN SCRIPTURES.
Read this.
Rom 11:
25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of THIS MYSTERY lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
26 AND SO ALL ISRAEL SHALL BE SAVED: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away THEIR sins.
28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: BUT AS TOUCHING THE ELECTION, THEY ARE BELOVED FOR THE FATHER'S SAKES.
29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
THIS IS THE STORY OF THE JEWS UNDER THE LAW.
THE IRREVOCABLENESS OF THEIR SAINTHOOD.
HOW MUCH MORE THE SAINTS UNDER GRACE, SAVED BY CHRIST HIMSELF ! ! !
HAVE I SAID HERE THAT THE SAINTS CAN SIN BECAUSE HE COULD NOT LOSE HIS SAINTHOOD?
NOT AT ALL.
I AM SAYING WHILE GOD WORKS OUT HIS SALVATION IN HIM, DO NOT CONDEMN WHOM THE LORD HAS REDEEMED.
DO NOT CALL A SINNER WHOM GOD CALLS A SAINT.
DON'T DARE IT !
- Adeolu O. V.
#stilleternallysecure
#thesaintisredeemed
#donotcondemnwhoChristredeems
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