Saints, Servants, and Sinners

"Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
to all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi...”
Philippians 1:1 (NIV)

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This weekend I'll be teaching at one of my favorite annual events: the Big Oak Ranch Housemom's retreat.  (www.BigOak.org) Each year I'm amazed by these women who, alongside their husbands and biological children, serve the 163 children at the Big Oak Boys and Girls Ranches. This year our BOR Mom's retreat theme is "Joy in All Things" and we'll be studying the book of Philippians, a book that calls us to a life of joy.

My preparation for the BOR retreat coincided with our church's 2020 ministry theme: Lifestyle Stewardship.  In his introductory remarks regarding lifestyle stewardship, Dr. Harry Reeder, our Senior Pastor, taught us that there are five callings on every Christian's life. A Christian is a sinner, a saint, a soldier, a servant and a steward. Developing those ideas a little further we saw that all who are "in Christ" are:

  • Sinners saved by God's grace

  • Secured saints

  • Soldiers drafted into God's army

  • Servants of Christ and

  • Stewards accountable to their Master

The Apostle Paul uses two of those callings in his opening greetings to the Church of Philippi in today's Bible Bits verse. Paul describes Timothy and himself as "servants of Christ" and describes the Philippian Christians as "saints." Most of us probably don't have trouble identifying with the "sinners" designation, but few of us are comfortable being labeled "a saint." Dr. Sinclair Ferguson writing in his excellent book Let's Study Philippians says:

"These are no ordinary people. They are saints, or 'holy ones.' This, of course, is the New Testament's word to describe every Christian (Romans 1:7, 1 Corinthians 1:2, 2 Corinthians 1:2, Ephesians 1:1). It doesn't refer to only certain outstanding Christians who the church recognizes in a special way by canonizing them. No, all Christians have their old life 'cut off' and are now distanced, or set apart, from their former lifestyle. They belong to Christ. In fact it is only through belonging to Christ that they have become saints. They are in Christ Jesus. This is Paul's favorite way of describing a Christian. He uses these expressions well over one hundred times in his letters.” (Let's Study Philippians, p.2)

Brodie Croyle, Executive Director of the Big Oak Ranch, recently wrote to BOR supporters, "You support our family in so many amazing ways as we partner to relieve the suffering of children and in the process teach our children to serve something greater than themselves. (May) our eyes be open to those who need us. The ones we encounter in the check-out line. The ones at our workplace. The unexpected, divine encounters. That we are not so comfortable, that we miss an opportunity to give back. I pray we live in immense gratitude and that we seek to serve others because Christ first served us."

In a culture that is constantly asking "Who am I?" all who are in Christ can confidently say with the Apostle Paul, "We are sinners, saints, and servants saved by God's grace who are serving because Christ first served us."


DiscipleshipHolly Hollon