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TothesaintswhoareinEphesus,andarefaithfulinChristJesus.

Pauls letter is addressed to the saints. Oft overlooked, this is a profound theological statement. I

remember listening to a sermon byCJMahaney on the introduction to 1 Corinthians. Therewas a

churchwhich essentially required fifteen chapters of theological correction, but Paul went to great

lengthsattheoutsetofthatletter togreet themwarmly, toletthemknowthathewasgratefulfor

themandthathesawevidenceofgraceintheirlives.Itiscriticallyimportant,therefore,thatwedonot

overlook the introduction to these epistles. They carry foundational truth for understanding the

theology and instruction that follow. As an apostle, Paul is greeting his fellow Christians as equal

membersofthebodyofChrist.Certainly,theattributionofsainthoodistobewarmlyreceived.Itisno

mereformality;itisformallyshattering.ThetruthofwhatChristJesushasdoneforusinfuseseventhe

greeting. In the completedwork of the cross, where hewho had no sinwasmade sin for us (2

Corinthians5:21),JesuspropitiatedthewrathofGodsothatwemightbereconciledtoGod.Therefore,

wedonot simply haveneutral moral standing (whichwouldbe insufficient before a holyGod),but

perfectimputedrighteousness.Thisperfectrighteousnesssubsumesus intoanewidentity,whereold

thingshavepassedawayandallthingshavebeenmadenew(2Corinthians5:17).Thisnewidentityis

thecoreoutofwhichwelivewearenolongersinnerswhoaresometimessaintly;wearesaintswho

sometimessin.Theburdenofsanctificationwouldbealltoohardtobearwereitnotonthebackofa

perfectgift-righteousnessthattransformsouridentityfrom theinsideout. Thatwe aresaintsmeans

thata lifeofrepentance(whichLutherprofessedshoulddefineallofaChristianslife)isajoytobe

endured;itistheprocessofbecomingwhowealreadyareinChrist.

ThattheWordisalivemeansthatthisepistle,whilehistoricallyaddressedtothechurchinEphesus,now

stands as an address to every local church theworld over. The sheer relevance of this letter, two

thousand years later, constituteswonderful instruction in how to contextualise the Gospel without

compromisingit.

Asacorollarytobeingasaint,thewordformationsuggeststhatfaithfulnessinChristJesusisan

inextricableattributeorfruitofhavingbathedinthisnewidentity.TheChristiangospelisindescribably

differenttoeitherreligionorirreligion(toborrowTimKellersphrase).TheChristianknowsthathehasa

newidentity,notinanythingthathehasdone,butratherineverythingthatChristhasdone.ThatChrist

hasachievedsalvationforthesaintsissoundreasontoputonesfaithinHim.Itisafaithfulnessof

gratitudeandhopeoveragainstfearandstriving.Everyotherreligioninvitesfaithtomakethegods

favourable;ChristianityinvitesfaithbecauseGodhasalreadylookedonuswithfavourthroughJesus

Christsatoningdeath.AnacceptanceofnewidentityinChristsupernaturallyinducesafaithfulness

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apartfromthelawanunshakeabledesiretoobeyChrist(John14),whomwelovebecausehefirst

lovedus.