The Apostle Paul wrote a letter to the Ephesians. He makes it clear in Ephesians 2:11, 4:17 that they are born again Gentiles in the flesh. In Christ Jesus, Paul calls them faithful saints.

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: – Eph 1:1 KJV

An Apostle

Paul was not giving himself kudos for being so awesome when he refers to himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ! He was taking on himself the responsibility of the great commission (Matthew 28:18-20).

According to Strong’s definition at Blue Letter Bible, an apostle is “a delegate; specially, an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ (“apostle”) (with miraculous powers):—apostle, messenger, he that is sent.“

In Mark 16:15-18, Jesus commands all believers to be ambassadors of the Gospel. Jesus has equipped all believers to take on this great responsibility.

To the Saints

If you are born again of the incorruptible seed, then you ARE a Saint (1 Peter 1:15-16, 23).

The Faithful in Jesus Christ

Of course, the first definition of “faithful” is exactly what you would expect it to be. It focuses on the person and their own work. And it is great to be that person. But I love the second definition as follows:

1. easily persuaded
   1. believing, confiding, trusting
   2. in the NT one who trusts in God’s promises
      1. one who is convinced that Jesus has been raised from the dead
      2. one who has become convinced that Jesus is the Messiah and author of salvation

Blue Letter Bible

And I believe this is God’s work in us through Christ Jesus.

We are easily persuaded by whatever we choose to believe! You are faithful to something. Why not choose to be easily persuaded by the words of Christ Jesus?

To the [believing, confiding, trusting] in Christ Jesus. Are you believing, confiding, and trusting in Christ Jesus?

Then by definition, you ARE faithful. Is there more to being faithful? Yes, but Jesus is the only foundation to build on. Building on your own good works is sinking sand. I don’t care how good you are.

How to Have Life Eternal

Aren’t all believers supposed to be convinced that Jesus has been raised from the dead (Romans 10:9-10)? Yes. We have also become convinced that Jesus is the Messiah and author of salvation.

If you are born again, you are by definition a faithful saint. Hallelujah!

Give yourself and others grace and be just like your heavenly Father!

Grace to You

Grace [be] to you, and peace, from God our Father, and [from] the Lord Jesus Christ. – Eph 1:2 KJV

Grace is favor with God and favor with man.

Luke 2:52 explains that Jesus had to increase in wisdom as He grew physically. What? Yes. He was fully God and fully man!

As we grow in wisdom our souls prosper (3 John 1:2). To accomplish this, we must transform our lives by renewing our minds (Romans 12:2). This is how we present our bodies as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1).

That is what we are doing right now! All you have to do is choose to believe what the Bible actually says and receive Him and His will for yourself (Mark 11:24). God is the One who gave you these desires in the first place (Psalm 37:4).

They may be twisted and perverted by the deception of the evil one. But when we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior and spend time getting to know Him (John 17:3), He shows us how to transform our lives.

Faithful Saints are Blessed to Be a Blessing

Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly [places] in Christ: – Eph 1:3 KJV

Again, be holy as He is holy! God is blessed to be a blessing so that we can be blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places to be a blessing too (Galatians 3:8 and seven more verses).

Again! Be Holy

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: – Eph 1:4 KJV

Paul says it too! Be holy and without blame before Him in love. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 13 that anything we do outside of love/charity is futile. It is worthless.

God’s Holy Spirit taking up permanent residence in us makes us holy, not anything we say or do. Believe it and receive it (Mark 11:24). Talk about the desire to give God praise and thanksgiving. When we get our root right, the fruit comes naturally.

What About Predestination?

Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, – Eph 1:5 KJV

God predetermined from the foundation of the world that Jesus would make a way for every human being to have the opportunity to choose salvation instead of being condemned by the devil/god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4). It is God’s will that none should perish (Matthew 18:14, 2 Peter 3:9).

And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. – 2Th 2:10 KJV

Who is in control of their decision to believe? “They received not the love of the truth.”

Now the only question left for each of us to ask ourselves is, “What or who am I revealing to the world?” Am I representing the God of grace and mercy Who has already judged the entire world worthy of the blood of His Son Jesus (John 3:15-17)?

Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? – Rom 2:4 KJV

Or have I been deceived? Am I revealing the god of this world who has great wrath and accusations toward all men (Revelation 12:9-12)?

Faithful Saints to the Glory of His Grace

To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. – Eph 1:6 KJV

He has already made every born-again believer a faithful saint! Not because of how awesome we are. Or because of our goodness. No! Because of His grace. To the praise of His glory! Because of His faithfulness and goodness. Because He is love and for the great love He has toward us.

If we are trying to work for any of this, we are fallen from grace (Galatians 5:4). All we are to do is believe every word of God by faith and what He has done!

This is the Work of God

Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? – Jhn 6:28 KJV
Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. – Jhn 6:29 KJV

Hallelujah!

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; – Eph 1:7 KJV
Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; – Eph 1:8 KJV

What is Redemption?

We have been redeemed. That means that we have been bought with a price as follows:

For he that is called in the Lord, [being] a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, [being] free, is Christ’s servant. – 1Co 7:22 KJV
Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. – 1Co 7:23 KJV

Be NOT Servants of Men

We are called to serve, but we are not called to be the servants of men. What???

Deceivers will try to use the first definition of “faithful” to manipulate others into being faithful to them. Their church. Or their ministry. Their program. Or their event. And the list goes on and on.

Christ has called us to be free from guilt, shame, condemnation, and manipulation and to be free to serve Christ alone. That is why when someone tells me that I cannot actually hear God’s voice apart from their material, I flee! Jesus says that we can hear His voice (John 10:27).

Revelation 3:20-21 explains that when we hear His voice, we are partaking in communion with Him in His kingdom. This goes along with Jesus’ definition of life eternal in John 17:3. Christians should be going into the kingdom and getting filled with Jesus and then going into all the world to freely give Him to the lost and dying world.

I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. – Jhn 10:9 KJV

You Are Valuable!

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? – 1Co 6:19 KJV
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. – 1Co 6:20 KJV

You, faithful saints, are so valuable to God and the whole world that He so loved that He gave everything (John 3:16, Romans 8:32)!

The Will of God

Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: – Eph 1:9 KJV

God’s will is no longer a mystery to His disciples. The mystery of His will has been revealed.

If you say that you are born again and looking forward to eternity with God, but you are not intentional about spending time in His Word now, I am concerned for you.

But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. – 1Pe 1:25 KJV

Everything else is going to fall away (1 Peter 1:24). Don’t be deceived (1 Corinthians 15:33-34)

Faithful Saints Sow to the Spirit

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. – Gal 6:7 KJV
For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. – Gal 6:8 KJV

Again, God has already judged every human being worthy of the blood of the lamb. To sit in judgment contrary to that is to sow to the lust of your flesh, the lust of your eyes, and the pride of your life. You are being conformed to the image of the wrong god (1 John 2:15-16).

Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of [his] brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. – Jas 4:11 KJV
There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another? – Jas 4:12 KJV

Faithful Saints

You will want to be a faithful saint! Make your faith effective by acknowledging Christ in you, the hope of glory (Philemon 1:6).