¹ This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus.I am writing to God’s holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus.

² May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

Go Saints!

Now, you might think that my title for today’s Oil Change is a subliminal cheer for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League who just happen to be playing the Minnesota Vikings (and Brett Favre) this weekend in the Conference Championship. You might be right. Maybe.

However, in reality, it’s just the first words that come to mind when I read this passage. You see, in most translations, Paul addresses his letter to “the saints in Ephesus …” In fact, he begins most of his letters that way. The New Living Translation prefers using “God’s holy people in Ephesus …”

But I like the term saints. Perhaps it’s because in the past few hundred years, we’ve taken that term and applied it to very specific people. In order to be classified as a “saint,” you had to meet certain criteria. The average Christian could never be seen as a “saint.”

And yet, it’s exactly what Paul calls every follower of Christ. The moment you turn your life over to God, you are a saint. You are “God’s holy person.” Even as you continue to struggle with sin and battle through temptation, you are still holy … still a saint.

How can that be?

In his simple greeting, Paul is putting meat on a very deep theological truth: you are holy not because of what you do, but because of what Christ did for you. Grace covers our sin and God sees us washed and clean. Free because of the Cross.

Perhaps it’s time we start seeing ourselves the way God does. Just a thought.

My prayer: Lord, thank you for what you did on the cross. It can be so hard for me to see myself the way Paul greets the people of Ephesus, the way you see us even today. A saint? Really? You see me as holy? Help me understand that. Help me believe that. Help me live that out. Amen.

Until tomorrow.

(and Go Saints!)