I am a Saint

1. INTRODUCTION

   1. Do you consider yourself to be a saint?  You should accept this designation if you consider yourself to be a Christian, for a Christian and a saint are one in the same.

   2. To be a saint is a high and noble ambition, but we should not be intimidated by the prospect. Every Christian is a saint by the calling of the gospel (1Cor. 1:2), and each one can live up to God's expectations.

       

2. A COMMITMENT TO HOLINESS

   1. A saint is simply a holy person.

      1. The word "saint" is translated from the Greek word hagios(ἅγιος) in the New Testament.  This word means or "separated" or "holy," and it would be more literally translated as "holy one" when referring to a person.

      2. A saint is a person who is in a state of godly separation, holiness, or sanctification (hagiasmos).

      3. The English word "saint" is derived from the Latin word sānctusand tends to carry a Roman Catholic connotation in Western culture (more about this later).  Therefore, "holy one" is a more direct expression of the Bible concept of a saint in our culture.

   2. To truly understand the holy character of a saint, one must become acquainted with the character of God.

      1. Holiness cannot be truly defined without referring to God, for holiness is simply the quality of God.  He defines holiness by who He is.

      2. God has revealed Himself to us so that we may know His holy nature and His holy mind.

         1. His creation (nature, the universe) gives a general revelation of His authority, His power, and His providence (Ps. 19:1-6; Rom. 1:19-20).

         2. His word (the Bible) gives a specific revelation of His love, His law, and His will for us (Ps. 19:7-14; 2Tim. 3:16-17).

      3. A saint emulates God's holy character by forsaking lusts and sin.

         1. Our claim to God as a Father depends on whether we bear the likeness of His holiness. Notice 1Peter 1:14-16:

            ¹⁴As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, ¹⁵but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; ¹⁶because it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."

         2. We cannot abide in sin and be saints at the same time.  Sin is simply incompatible with God's holy nature (Isa. 59:2), and it will cause us to forfeit any claim to holiness.  Unholy behaviors are simply not "proper among saints" (Eph. 5:3).

         3. Consider the contrast between light (holiness) and darkness (sin) in 1John 1:5-7:

            ⁵This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.  ⁶If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; ⁷but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

   3. As saints, we have a holy duty before God.

      1. Saints are to serve God as holy priests by offering spiritual sacrifices.  Consider these passages:

         1. 1Peter 2:4-5 -- ⁴And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, ⁵you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

         2. Hebrews 13:15 -- Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.

         3. Revelation 8:4 -- And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel's hand.

         4. Revelation 19:8 -- It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

      2. Every saint is a member of the body of Christ and is to contribute to the building up of the body.  Notice Ephesians 4:11-13:

         ¹¹And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, ¹²for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; ¹³until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

      3. Saints are entrusted with the holy word of God and are responsible for practicing it, upholding it, and spreading it to others.

         1. Jude 3 -- Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.

         2. Revelation 14:12 -- Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

             

3. ALL CHRISTIANS ARE SAINTS

   1. The Scriptures use the term "saint" freely and interchangeably with other descriptions for Christians.

      1. In fact, it is much more common to find the word "saint" than the word "Christian" in the Bible.  Therefore, do not hesitate to use this good word.

      2. In many New Testament passages, "saint" is used as a common designation for each member of the Lord's church (for example, Rom. 1:7; 1Cor. 1:2; 2Cor. 1:1; Eph. 1:1; Phil. 1:1).  If you are a member of the Lord's church, then you are a saint.

      3. It is even more direct and literal to speak of God's people as holy ones.  Every member of the church of Christ is holy.

   2. It is not blasphemy to call yourself or someone else a saint.

      1. The Roman Catholic concept of a saint has given the word a false connotation in our culture.

         1. In Catholicism, certain deceased persons are deemed worthy of special veneration and are recognized by canonization (inclusion on a list of other "saints").

         2. Catholics believe that they can pray to their saints for intercession in the world.  They also believe in patron saints who overlook and protect certain causes, professions, or peoples.  Furthermore, Catholics venerate relics and images of their saints.

         3. As a result of Catholic influence, the general definition of a saint is given as "any of certain persons of exceptional holiness of life, formally recognized as such by the Christian Church, especially by canonization" (from dictionary.com).

      2. Do not be misled by this common misconception of a saint.  A saint is not deceased holy person with miraculous powers on earth.  This is not the Bible's definition by any means.

      3. The term "saint" is not a title (Saint Peter, Saint Thomas, etc.).  You do not need the church to confer sainthood upon you.  You become a saint when you are sanctified by Christ (1Cor. 6:11; Heb. 10:10, 14).

      4. Claiming to be a saint is not the same as claiming sinless perfection.  Even saints sin, but the blood of Jesus cleanses them from sin when they repent and confess to God (Acts 8:18-24; 1John 1:6-10).

   3. Whether or not you call yourself a saint, God expects you to be holy.

      1. The church is not comprised of some saints and some sinners. Every member of the church is a saint with a holy calling (2Tim. 1:9; Heb. 3:1).

      2. Being a saint carries a responsibility as we saw before. Christians are sanctified (made holy) for the purpose of service to God.  Notice 2Timothy 2:21:

         Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.

      3. As a holy child of our Holy Father, we must conduct ourselves in holiness and thus bring glory to God (Matt. 5:16; 1Pet. 2:11-12).

          

4. CONCLUSION

   1. Saints of God, live up to God's holy calling.  You are a holy one of God sanctified by the blood of Jesus for the holy work of the Lord.

   2. Don't let misconceptions about "sainthood" discourage you from being what God intends for you to be.