To the Saints and Faithful

Rick Terletzky
Sep 22
2 min read

Colossians 1:1-2

[1] Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, [2] To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

If you were to write a letter to a struggling group of young believers, whom you have never met, living under the heightened pressures of Roman culture that demand allegiance, how would you begin?

With the use of two words, Paul reminds the believers in Colossae exactly who they are: Saints and Faithful.

It is often mistaken that the traits expressed by Paul are one and the same. While a saint is one who can be faithful, the actions of being faithful are not what make us a saint. As a term, “saint” is commonly reserved in our minds for the elite believers; those who have lived a commendable, selfless life upholding the faith. When really, the term refers to those who have been set apart or set aside as holy and forgiven - an act done only by God.

It is this action that sanctifies us as God’s people.

How quickly do we elevate those who demonstrate faithfulness and righteousness to an idolized pedestal that separates them as the best of us? While it is good to be inspired by the fruits of one another’s faith, there are two errors with this line of thinking.

Elevating The first is to elevate the believer instead of the fruit. When we overemphasize and idolize man, we devalue the Holy Spirit’s role. We count them “saints” because of works and not grace. We view “saints” as a job title to earn rather than an identity given. This turns holiness into an unachievable merit instead of a cloth of mercy that Christ covers us in. It is actually Christ’s holiness that we carry and live out, not our own.

Hierarchy Second, is to view sainthood as something for them and not for you. When we place other believers in brackets of hierarchy in the Christian faith, we misunderstand worthiness. While we may all place Paul as the best of the best, it’s Paul himself who says he is the worst of the worst. He does this to drive a point. If he can be saved, then we all can. Jesus died and resurrected to deliver and redeem us; nothing makes us worthy of this but Him.

Paul opens his letter to the believers of Colossae, offering them assurance that Christ has set them apart from the world that surrounds them. Where there is fruit, there is Christ. Their own faithfulness is a reminder that they are not alone. These comforting words greet them.