“God uses Scripture to prepare and equip His people to do every good work” 2 Tim. 3:17

Ephesians Chapter 1

1(b) I am writing to God’s holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus.

Over the course of my life, I am 77, I’ve read thousands of books. And of those books, both fact and fiction, there is only one that stands without contradiction— The Bible! Even in the realm of Christian literature, unless we are reading the Bible, every book is an opinion or a series of ideas. Only the Bible is God’s Word which endures forever and is a blueprint for our lives. 1 Peter 1:25; Isaiah 40:8 “The Word of the Lord endures forever.”

Keeping in mind that the Bible is the actual Word of God, given to us for many reasons, read verse 1(b) above, which states, “I am writing to God’s holy people…who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus.” According to God, everyone who claims the name of Jesus as Lord and Savior is considered holy!

In our lives, we’ve all learned certain indisputable facts, such as the law of gravity. Whether or not I believe I will fall if I step off this ledge, I most certainly will. Even more so, we can believe God’s life-altering Word, the Bible, which endures forever and is given to us for guidance through life’s snares and toils. Keep in mind that our feelings may create doubt, especially when our behavior or thought life says, “You are far from holy!”

God, who created everything, including our feelings, understands our need for forgiveness, grace and mercy. Our standing as holy people is based on the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Our faith in Christ keeps us in right standing with our Heavenly Father, not our good deeds. Our holiness was not earned but given as a bonus with our faith. When God looks at us He sees perfect and holy because He sees us through the filter of Jesus’ redeeming blood. Don’t let your feelings dictate your standing. Whether we “feel” like it or not, we are holy because God says so!

How many times have we read the above verse in Ephesians and not given it a second thought as it relates to our own lives, our standing with God? If we’re honest, we might say, many. We are our own worst critics when it comes to forgiveness. Most of us have focused on forgiving others, according to the words of Christ in Matthew 6:9-14. But somehow, we don’t give ourselves the same love of Christ. We act as though our sins have a greater stain which the cleansing blood of the Lamb cannot wash whiter than snow (Isaiah 1:18; 1 John 1:9; Psalm 51:7).

We must believe God’s Word; all of it. All believers are made holy in God’s sight.