Colossians 1:2

to the saints, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ, at Colossae. Grace and peace to you from God our Father!

to the saints, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ, at Colossae. Grace and peace to you from God our Father!

Colossians 1:2 NET

The term “saint” brings up the question of identity. Who are the saints? Are they those who have performed extraordinary acts of faith or lived extraordinary lives, such as John the Baptist?

But, remember, Jesus said that "the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than" John 1.

The saints are brothers and sisters who have been separated to Christ Jesus, whose names have been written "since the foundation of the world in the book of life" 2.

Being a saint is not a temporary status or an accolade earned through achievement; it is a state of being that comes with being in Christ. If you are in Christ, then you are a saint. It means the separated ones who have been called out from the world to be Christ's.

“Saint” is how God identifies you, while “faithful” is how this identity plays out in your life. If our lives show no evidence of faithfulness or allegiance to Christ, if we go on dening Him in our actions, we may question whether we are truly Christian.

Consider this: In the Colossians verse under examination, we have two parts. That we are saints: our static status. And there is a quality of being faithful: which is dynamic and can wax and wane. But the status of sainthood remains a permanent reality.

Other passages support this:

  • Peter encourages us to "make every effort to confirm your calling and election".3

  • Similarly, Paul instructs us to, "continue working out your salvation with awe and reverence4.”

These passages further illustrate two dimensions of the Christian life: our fixed status as saints and the dynamic aspect of living faithfully, which may ebb and flow. Nonetheless, sainthood is an enduring reality.

  • Peter reminds us to "make every effort to be sure of our calling and election." Calling and election are not matters we can contribute to; they are static and predetermined.

  • But we bear the responsibility to “make every effort.”

Paul said, "Continue working out your salvation with awe and reverence." Salvation is determined from the foundation of the world. However, we need to see the intentionality in our lives to live out a changed life.

  • having salvation and needing to work that out;

  • knowing that you cannot lose your salvation but at the same time fearful of not doing the will of God.

The natural man cannot grasp these words, so they latch on to the “you are forever saved” part and go headlong into sin, or they latch on to the “awe and reverence” part and look to themselves for salvation.

You are both a child, and you also have to obey instructions. These are not contradictions. That is why the Father disciplines us as children. Being children is our unchanging status, while discipline is so that we can "share his holiness," which is worked out in time 6.

Paul concludes the lead verse by praying for grace and peace from God our Father, after he had already expressed that we are brothers and sisters. We are born again by the same Spirit 7. We are "not born by human parents or by human desire or a husband's decision, but by God8 .”

Again, Christians understand this; they don't need to be told that God is their Father. Paul is not saying it as if he was giving them information but rather as something that is common knowledge. He wrote in another place, "God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, who calls "Abba! Father!" 9 .

1  Matthew 11:11

2  Revelation 13:8

3  2Peter 1:10

4  Philippians 2:12-13

5  1Corinthians 2:14

6  Hebrews 12:6-16

7  John 3:6

8  John 1:13

9  Galatians 4:6

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