All the Saints

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Scripture: 


Phil. 4:21   Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The friends who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, especially those of the emperor’s household.

Phil. 4:23   The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.


Observation:


These are the concluding remarks in Paul’s letter to the Philippians. He may well have written these in his own hand, after dictating the letter. The words at the end echo the beginning. His language regarding “saints” is his genuine desire that all of those who follow Christ be God’s holy people, because they are “in” Christ. 


Paul references the friends who are with him, and one must conclude that this includes Timothy and Epaphroditus. He wants to encourage the people of Philippi that there are “saints” here as well, including those who belong to the emperor’s household. For people living in a Roman colony, this is amazing news. They are supporters of his work and ministry and this bit of information would certainly strike a cord with them. 


Finally, Paul leaves them with a desire that the grace of Jesus Christ would be with them. 


Application:


The invitation from Paul throughout this entire letter has been for us to become one of the saints. God’s holy people become “all the saints.” A fellowship of people who are united in Christ and who desire to live as Christ did in this world. 


We are all to live a “Christ-centered existence.” This can only come about when we live in the grace that is extended to us, and enter into a relationship in which we know Jesus as Lord. When that happens we reflect “Christ’s self-emptying love in our attitudes and our actions” and live “our shared life in joyful expectation of our future with Christ” while “embodying and proclaiming the gospel of Christ” (Flemming, NBBC, 335).


The characteristics of all the saints can be see in how they live their lives, knowing and following Jesus. This leads to a life of participation in fellowship with all the saints…and all these saints go and share the good news. 


May God help us to join all the saints. 


Prayer:


Lord, your word through Paul’s letter has been a challenge to me and my life. May I live a life worthy of joining all the saints. Amen.  

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