#CHURCHTALK 37: Who is a Saint?

1Corinthians 1:2 (KJV) 

Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

While growing up as a young believer, the usage of the word "saint” used to be very scary. The popular opinion was that a saint is a person who is dead and gone but who lived a sinless life or a very clean life. We hear of Saint Paul, Saint Peter, Saint Augustus, etc. 

However, the word "saint" as used in the new testament simply means sacred, blameless or consecrated. And these are terms used to describe one who is in Christ. They describe the believer's default configurations. 

Ephesians 1:4 [KJV] 

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Anyone who is in Christ, whether still living or dead is a saint. A believer is a saint. We don’t become saints by death, we become saints when we receive Christ's new life in our hearts. 

Every single time that the writers of the new testament made reference to believers, they called them saints, yet those letters were written to people who were still alive. And when they talked about people that died holding on to their faith in Christ, they also called them saints too. This includes people that died even before Christ came (Matt. 27:52). 

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The word "saint" is interchangeably used for the word "holy”. That's another word that describes sacredness, blamelessness and consecration. You are called a saint because you have been made holy, consecrated and blameless by your faith in Christ. Those called of God are those who have received His call by believing the gospel. They are the called of God and the beloved of God. 

Colossians 1:21-22 [KJV] 

21. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

22. In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

Being born again is being set apart or called by God. 

Hebrews 3:1 [KJV] 

Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

So, we are holy by birth (in Christ), not because of our conduct. We didn't earn it; we received it. It is not because of our works that we are holy. No, we are holy because of our faith in Christ's atonement for us. 

Let's put it in another way: Our works don't make us holy; it is our faith that does so. But, our works will show the holiness of our faith. Lest it becomes true of us that, "This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me." (Matthew 15:8, KJV)

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Hence, we are commanded to be holy in conduct, having received this holiness in our new spiritual nature. If we are not holy in conduct, then we are not expressing our true new nature in Christ, and are in fact being disobedient to our new nature. 

1 Peter 1:15 [KJV] 

But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

Colossians 3:12-13 [KJV] 

12. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

13. Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

In conclusion, saints are not only dead believers, but both living and dead believers in Christ. The believer is called a saint because Jesus has made him holy, consecrated and blameless by His atoning death, burial and resurrection. 

Because the believer has been made holy, he/she is commanded to live in consistent expression of that holiness that they have received. In fact, how seriously a believer takes this responsibility of faith determines whether or not they will meet the criterion for Christian leadership. 

Titus 1:7-8 [KJV] 

7. For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

8. But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;

Pastor Mark Desmond, Senior Pastor of The Embassy of Zion Ministries, and Chukwubuikem Paul Anunaso, contributed to this article. 

Please follow Pastor Mark on Facebook page @Mark Desmond

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