The Fullness of Sainthood

Titles mean something. When I was able to call myself “Officer Strength” for the first time I thought that was just so cool, and when I go to call myself a husband and a dad, well, there isn’t much better than that is there! But on the very top of them all is a phrase today that I hope will bless your heart for it is a most precious descriptor and that is the word “Saint”. (Catholicism messed up)

The Saint, a Sinner in Christ

Martin Luther said, “simul justus et peccator” or Simultaneously just and sinner. What Luther was saying was In and of ourselves, under the analysis of God’s scrutiny, we still have sin; we’re still sinners. But, by imputation and by faith in Jesus Christ, whose righteousness is now transferred to our account, then we are considered just or righteous. This is the very heart of the gospel.

The Blessing of This Eternal Union (Ephesians 1)

Our Union in Eternity Past (v3-4) - Chosen

Our Union in The Present (v5-8) - Sonship

The Bliss of This Intimate Union

Christ’s Call to the Weary (Matt. 11:28-30)

There are many people who, when called to come to Christ feel as though He will never accept them and they find themselves fighting against such love with excuses. In Dane Ortlund’s book “Gentle and Lowly” he addresses the power of God’s call and His compassion in John 6:37 “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” Listen to what he says depicting the scenario of an excusing conversation with the Lord

“No, wait” - We say, cautiously approaching Jesus- “you don’t understand. I’ve really messed up, in all kinds of ways.” I know, He responds. “You know most of it, sure Certainly more than what others see. But there’s perversity down inside me that is hidden from everyone.” I know it all, He says. “Well- the thing is, it isn’t just my past. It’s my present too.” I understand, He says. “But I don’t know if I can break free of this any time soon.” That’s the only kind of person I’m here to help, He says. “The burden is heavy- and heavier all the time.” So He says, Then let me carry it. “It’s too much to bear.” But He says, not for me. And we try to reply, “You don’t get it. My offenses aren’t directed toward others. They’re against you.” So He replies, “Then I am the one most suited to forgive them.” So we exclaim, “But the more of the ugliness in me you discover, the sooner you’ll get fed up with me.” but He still replies, “Whoever comes to me I will never cast him out.”

Christ’s Identification with His People (Acts 9:4)

There are pains and circumstances in this life that it seems none else can relate to, no one has experienced, or no one understands. But Hebrews 4:15 says, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”

Christ’s Care for His People (Ephesians 5:22-33)

Christ’s Keeping of His People (Romans 8:33-39)

Daughter learning to walk. Holding onto me in the mornings with her slick PJ’s on. She falls so I have to make sure I hold onto her.

The Saint, a Servant of Christ

Jeremiah 32:40 KJV 1900

40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.

Alex Motyer said, “The in Christ of gracious salvation, if it is real, issues in the of Christ of responsive, obedient service.”

Take note of the fact that Paul does not openly state his apostolic authority, but he instead calls both himself and Timothy “servants”. The word he uses here is “doulos” which is even stronger than the word “servant” and actually means “slave”. Now, slavery then was totally different than slavery in America’s past. In Biblical times slaves had rights whereas in American history “chattel Slavery” was practiced where someone had absolutely no rights at all. The Bible speaks hard against this kind of slavery in Exodus 21:16 and the punishment for such an atrocity was death. So what did Paul mean?

First, This is a Title of Devotion to the Gentile Hearer

Philippians The Writer(s) (1:1a)

Elsewhere Paul uses this terminology to designate any and all who serve God as free bond-slaves—that is, as those who are free in Christ Jesus but have used that freedom to perform the duties of a slave (Gal 5:13) in the service of God and of his people

Second, This is a Title of Dignity to the Hebrew Hearer

Philippians The Writer(s) (1:1a)

in the Greek translation of the Old Testament (the LXX), which would have been well known to the Philippians, this word was also used to translate the term “servant of Yahweh [the LORD].” “The slave of the Lord” thus carried a sense of distance from and dependence on God, while at the same time being a kind of honorific title for those in special service to God

So, in seeing the richness of this meaning and thinking of God’s grace in allowing us to be in union with Him, lets take a look at Romans 12:1-2

Paul, in v1a, is essentially saying “In view of God’s mercy, in light of His goodness go onward with this mindset”

John Stott said, “There is no greater incentive to holy living than a contemplation of the mercies of God”

God’s grace does not encourage or okay sin, it is the spring and foundation of righteous conduct in our lives.

The Saint, A Recipient of Grace and Peace

The Message of Philippians c. The Giver from Whom the Christian Receives

It is plainly no easy task to live as an obedient, serving saint. Where does such ability come from? Paul answers by pointing to a giver and a gift: Grace … and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Before we look at the gift’s recieved we have to notice the Giver because what Paul is saying here is astounding. If you’re reading the King James Translation you’ll notice that the first time the word “from” is used in v2 it is a solid font, but the second time it is italicized. This is the translators way of letting us know that this word was not in the Greek but that they added it in for readability but what happens if you read through here without noticing that is that you will miss a BIG doctrinal thrust right here. Since Paul only used one preposition when he originally wrote this, he was hyphenating both God the Father and The Son together as one single source of blessing. So first, Paul is restating the divinity of Christ! And second, He is stating that all love and saving power of the Father and Son come together in divine union to give the Saints whatever we need here on this Earth. Now, let’s notice the gift because according to Paul all we need is God’s grace and peace:

Grace is God being gracious toward helpless sinners and coming to them in free, unprovoked love to give us what we don’t deserve. This is the beginning of our lives as Christians. The fact that we have “redemption through His blood” is an experience of the “riches of His grace”.

Alex Motyer said, “The same grace of our Lord Jesus Christ brought Him down to us with the very purpose that we might become rich.”

And with this grace you and I understand that the firstfruit of grace is peace. This is why JC Ryle thundered out with his heart, “Tell the young, tell the poor, tell the aged, tell the sick, tell the dying, tell them all about Christ!” The first time you and I see the phrase “Peace be with you” is when the Lord visits the disciples after rising from the grace and as soon as he sees them he says, “peace be with you” and then, as though he is showing them the source of peace He shows them the marks in His body. So we know that it is first peace with God.

But let us take a moment to look at the peace we recieved by grace.

In the Old Testament they would say, “shalom” which combined harmony, or outward peace with God and man, with fulfilment which means inward peace to those who are made whole. This kind of peace only flows from the forgiveness found in Christ.

Peace is also our foundation in hard times. It is the all-sufficient blessing that God gives His people to stand all trials in life. Kent defines peace as, “The inner assurance and tranquility that God ministers to the hearts of believers and that keeps them spiritually confident and content even in the midst of turmoil.”

Paul is not wishing that they could experience salvation again. But he is, first, assuring them that God is still a God of grace and peace in the midst of every circumstance.

Many people think that Grace is a gift to freely walk the road of rebellion and sin, but it is truly the assurance that the believer will never walk the path of obedience alone because our saving God is always present.