Section 3
in verse 21 Paul was actually saying, "Greet every saint in Christ according to all the things I have written in this Epistle." Any saint who would not receive all these points could not have a share in Paul's greeting. Those who would participate in his greeting must first enjoy all the points cov ered in this Epistle. These points were Paul's best regards sent to them. Paul's best regards to the saints were that they would live Christ, mag nify Christ, take Christ as their pattern, hold forth Christ, count all things loss in order to gain Christ and be found in Him, pursue Christ, lay hold of Christ, and do all things in Christ. Seen in the context of the whole book, Paul greeted every saint with all the profound aspects of the experience of Christ.
A further indication that this was Paul's con cept in sending greetings to the saints is that in verse 21 he uses the expression "in Christ Jesus." This phrase implies the contents of the whole book, for, as we have pointed out again and again, this book deals with the experience of Christ and in Christ. Paul wanted the saints to be greeted in the very Christ whom we live, magnify, take as our pattern, hold forth as the word of life, and pursue. In reading verse 21 we should be impressed not only with the words