The Invitation/ Who and What: The Church/ Prepared

What About Sainthood?

1 Cor 1:2 October 7, 2015

No object of worship ought to steal our affection. There is only one mediator between man and God; the man Jesus, who died for our sins. A saint is not a man or woman who did three documented miracles and therefore is given a place worthy of our worship or who becomes empowered to answer our prayers. Actually, true believer is synonymous with Saint.

Down through the centuries, since the Church was established, the meaning of the word saints has changed and been perverted from its original meaning and connotation. In the early church, the New Testament Church, all true believers in Jesus Christ were referred to as “saints”. This was not because of anything they had done or not done, but because they had accepted and believed that Jesus’ shed blood on the cross covered their sins.

The words from a Phil Driscoll song say it perfectly.

“We’re the people of God. Called by His name, Called from the dark, and delivered from shame. One holy race, saints everyone, because of the blood of Christ, Jesus the Son.” The saints according to the Scriptures are not people deemed so after their death, by the judgment of men or the voting of synods. They are not individuals who have lived so-called good lives of religious glory. Those things may be admirable but do not make one a saint according to the Scriptures. The term ‘saint’ is not only used to describe the believers who have gone home to be with the Lord, but living ones as well. This is not because they treat people kindly and do ‘good works’. Saints are not merely those, as the oft used cliché says, nice or helpful persons. True saints are those who have yielded their wills to Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Just a few of the scriptures indicating this are:

•”Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified (set apart) in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, …” 1 Cor. 1:2

•”… unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia.” 2 Cor. 1:1

•”Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus; and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:” Eph. 1:1

•”Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:” Phil. 1:1

The meaning of the word saint is undoubtedly uncovered in its usage in Scripture. Saint is mentioned three times, twice in the Old Testament and once in the New. The word “saints” appears in 23 chapters of the Old Testament and in some chapters more than once. In the New Testament the word is used in 42 chapters and 61 times. That it is used so profusely seems to answer all questions about its wide range and common use for believers in general.

A few more examples will further make the point as to the common nature of the label, saint for a true believer and not some super-saint concept fostered by Christianity’s false religion which amounts to idolater-ising and worship of men and angels. Proverbs 2:8 says; “He keepeth the paths of judgment and perserveth the way of His saints.” The following verses show that saints were just ordinary believers living on the earth.

“But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.
For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.” Rom. 15:25-26“And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” Eph. 4:11&2

“All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household.” Phil. 4:22

“Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.” Col. 1:12

There are Old Testament saints who lived by faith and believed in God’s promises of the coming Messiah. There were New Testament saints who trusted the Messiah and believed His word when He did come. Saints throughout Church history placed their lives in the Savior’s hands, not in any system or religion. And there are those living today who are saints of God, ministering and being ministered to, in the same way, in the name of Jesus. There are many who are waiting to be called to the “Marriage Supper of the Lamb”. Rev. 19:9 But even beyond that glorious feast comes the moment ALL SAINTS have been looking toward.

“To the end He may stablish your hearts unblamable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with ALL HIS SAINTS.” 1 Thess. 3:13

Also as recorded in Jude 14;