Philip Dampier's Blog

Notice: The text used in this series will be from the ESV rather than the NASB.

Chapter 1, Verse 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.”

Ask the general worded question, “Do you know any saints?” and you might get some unusual answers. This is because the English word has lost its original meaning. We even have a football team named the “Saints.”

The Greek word used by Paul in Ephesians 1:1 is “hagiagz” or “hagios.” This word means consecrated to God or a holy thing. It could be translated “sacred” or “pious.”

Primarily the word is used in the New Testament to denote those who are a part of Jesus and His church. In every case but one, the plural is used, suggesting the called out. Philippians 4:21 is the lone exception, and it is easily tied into a group setting. It is understood, of course, that you can’t have a plural without some singles. But we also recognize that God is in the habit of addressing His people as His people rather than as His person. The body of Christ, the church of God, is composed of saints.

Some believe you have to be a former worker of miracles and be dead in order to be called a saint. This idea is not taught in scripture, however. Still, others think a saint is a “super-Christian” type of person; the true ‘holier than thou’ type. We hear things like, “That woman (sometimes man) is a saint. This way of thinking is also not a biblical concept. The thing that is fundamentally wrong with these two ideas of saints is that they are pointing to the efforts or deeds of the person. Sainthood is not given for merited works but as a gift of God.

The scriptural truth is that all Christians are saints even if they don’t always act like we think saints should. Paul uses the term sanctified and holy to talk about the church in Corinth (1st Cor. 1:2). Both of these words are from “hagios.”

We notice that in Ephesians 1:1, Paul uses a second term to let them know what kind of saints he is addressing in the letter. They are the faithful saints. Obviously then, you can be a Christian and be called a saint and not be committed to your calling. Perhaps you know such a person. Maybe you are such a person. Being sanctified by God, set apart and made holy is not something we do. No, it is what God does when we are born of water and spirit. Being made a saint is God’s way of saving us by putting us in the kingdom of His Son.

That is God’s part; being faithful is our responsibility. The Ephesian letter is written to faithful saints. Was it written to you?

Task for Today: If you are a child of God, a member of His body, the church of Christ our Lord, then you are a saint. It is a gift from God. Such a gift as you could never obtain on your own or by your own endeavors. Do not downplay who and what you are. You are a saint. You have been made Holy. In God’s eyes, you are perfected. Forget what the world says. They see what they want to see and they seldom see God. See what God sees. He sees you as one of His holy ones.