Sometimes you may hear someone excuse bad
behavior by saying something like, "Hey, I'm no
saint!" The person may even be a Christian but,
in his or her own mind, not be a saint.
What
is a saint? The first definition in Webster's
reads, "one officially recognized especially
through canonization as preeminent for
holiness." But what the world means by “saint”
is not what the Bible means by “saint”? You
don’t have to be dead to be declared a saint. In
fact you had better become a saint before your
death or you will not be one at all. The words
"sanctified" and "saints" in the Greek are
hagiazô and hagios respectively. The
words are used 61 times in the New Testament.
Never does it speak of those who have been
"canonized" by any man or deemed especially
worthy of veneration. Always it speaks of those
who have been "made holy" by God. A saint is
simply one who has been sanctified, made holy,
by God. It is a term that describes every
Christian.
In the
book of Acts the word is used to refer to
believers in general. Ananias speaks of the
“saints at Jerusalem” whom Saul had persecuted
(9:13). Peter visited “the saints who lived at
Lydda” (9:32). By the power of God Peter raised
Dorcas from the dead and, “Then calling the
saints and widows, he presented her alive”
(9:41). Paul told Agrippa that he had indeed
done that of which Ananias accused him, that in
Jerusalem he “locked up many of the saints in
prison” (26:10).
Paul
addressed "all who are beloved of God in Rome,
called as saints" (Romans 1:7). In Romans 8:27
Paul writes that “the Spirit intercedes for the
saints according to the will of God”. In the
previous verse writes that the Spirit
“intercedes for us”, clearly equating the two.
All together the word saint is used 8 times in
the letter to the Romans, all referring to
“common” Christians.
The
church in Corinth is referred to as, "those who
have been sanctified in Christ Jesus,
saints by calling, with all who in every
place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
their Lord and ours," (1 Corinthians 1:2).
Though
it is a word used to describe every Christian,
for all God saves he sets apart—sanctifies, it
is a word that should compel every Christian to
have a high view of the life God has called him
or her to live. Paul said it like this,
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved
children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us
and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering
and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and
all impurity or covetousness must not even be
named among you, as is proper among saints.
Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor
crude joking, which are out of place, but
instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may
be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually
immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is,
an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom
of Christ and God” (Ephesians 5:1-5).
If you
are a Christian, you are a saint. Saints are
those whom God has made holy by the blood of
Jesus. As such they are commanded to live lives
that reflect what God has done for them.
“As obedient children, do not be
conformed to the passions of your former
ignorance, but as he who called you is
holy, you also be holy in all your
conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall
be holy, for I am holy.’”
(1 Peter
1:14-16)
God bless you,
Brad Fry
