| | T h e S a i n t
Key Verse:
MAT 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after
righteousness: f o r t h e y s h a l l b e f i l l e d .
First of all, what is the SCRIPTURAL saint?
In the Old Testament the word "saint" is used
sparingly (only 38 times). One Hebrew word
(Str# H2623) translated as "saint" means kind and
pious, while the three other words
(Str# H6918,H6922,H6944) deal with being clean or
sanctified.
In the New Testament the only Greek
word (Str# G40) translated "saint" is used 62 times.
This word means sacred, pure, and consecrated. This is
the same Greek word translated as "holy" 174 times out
of 184.
Almost all the letters Paul wrote to the churches
addressed the "saints". In the Book of Acts, several
times the "saints" at different cities are referred
to. It should be obvious in the light of the
scriptures that there were many "saints" and that
sainthood has nothing to do with man's ordination, but
it is by God's ordination.
What are and are not characteristics of a saint?
EPH 5:1 Be ye therefore followers(imitators) of God, as dear children;
EPH 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given
himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling
savour.
EPH 5:3 But fornication*, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it
not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
EPH 5:4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which
are not convenient(proper): but rather giving of thanks.
*It is important to understand that the spiritual
meaning of fornication is idolatry. Idolatry is
letting anything in your life affect a p e r f e c t
relationship with Jesus; i.e. idols of gold (or
"green"), of fame, of friendship, of knowledge, of
rubber and carburetors, of transistors and diodes.
These things are without breath(life) (HAB 2:18-20),
and we should NOT worship them by offering a sacrifice
of our time, when we could be in the ministry of the
Word and prayer, becoming more like Jesus.
We can be in spiritual adultery with the cares of this
world: "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not
that the friendship of the world is enmity(hostility)
with God? Whosoever therefore shall be a friend of the
world is the enemy of God."(JAM 4:4) The scriptures
tell us not to "walk according to the ways of this
world"(EPH 2:3) and that "we have received not the
spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God"
(1COR 2:12).
2
What are and are not characteristics of a saint? (continued)
REV 13:7 And it was given unto him(the beast) to make war with the
saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all
kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
\REV 13:10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he
that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is
the patience and the faith of the saints.
\REV 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which
is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he
shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the
holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
REV 14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and
ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and
his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
REV 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep
the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
REV 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write,
Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea,
saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their
works do follow them.
From this we can see that saints are holy, patient, and
faithful. Holy enough to be killed by the beast.
Faithful enough to die for Jesus and love not their
lives even unto death. Patient enough to go through
hardships and tribulations to obtain a higher prize.
Are saints perfect?
EPH 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some,
evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry,
for the edifying of the body of Christ:
JAM 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not,
to him it is sin.
Therefore we see saints aren't perfect but have a
thirst for perfection, which they receive by seeking,
finding, and knowing what is perfect. This growth is
assisted by the five-fold ministry of the Church, which
is set up by God especially for the perfecting of the
saints.
3
How are we saints?
EPH 2:18 For through Him(JESUS) we both have access by one Spirit unto the
Father.
EPH 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but
fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
EPH 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and
prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
EPH 2:21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto
an holy temple in the Lord:
EPH 2:22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God
through the Spirit.
By, and only by, the cleansing blood of Jesus and the
directing of the Holy Spirit are we made a holy
habitation for God.
Are there believers who aren't yet saints?
2THES 1:10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be
admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was
believed) in that day.
In Romans 8:5-9, the Bible says there are those that
mind the things of the flesh and those that mind the
things of God's Spirit. The saints of Jesus mind the
things of the Spirit, and because of the Lordship of
Christ, Jesus is glorified in his saints' lives.
What did Paul say about himself:
EPH 3:7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the
grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
EPH 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this
grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable
riches of Christ;
So Paul didn't deserve to be a saint, just as you and
I, but by grace and by Jesus, through the Spirit we
can live a life that is holy and pleasing to God.
Jesus is the true answer: When your heart is broken
and your life is surrendered to Him and you need some
help to be holy, the Bible says, ask and it shall be
given to you .
Now, we see that we are saints in Jesus by allowing Him
to help us live a life that is holy and reserved for
God, not bowing to worldly pleasures and fun, but
sanctified through Christ's blood. Sainthood is within
the grasp of every born again believer, if they will
forsake all for their true love, Jesus. But, let us be
humble in this understanding: "For I say, through the
grace given unto me, to every man that is among you,
not to think of himself more highly than he ought to
think; but to think soberly, according as God hath
dealt to every man the measure of faith."(ROM 12:3)
4
Let us realize the special goal God puts on our lives:
When Paul wrote to the church at Corinth he wrote "to
them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be
saints."(1COR 1:2) We are called to be saints by being
sanctified(made clean of sin) in Christ. The Bible
teaches that "as he which hath called you is holy, so
be ye holy in all manner of conversation(behavior)".
Let us obey our calling that we may be chosen. It
isn't hard. The hardest thing in the universe to do is
to resist God and his everlasting Word. The easiest
thing to do is to submit to God and let Him and His
Word carry us along. (Many times our flesh doesn't
want to submit, and we need to crucify it and bring it
into the obedience of Christ. Then the Spirit has full
control and there is no conflict nor turmoil within us,
as we walk after the Spirit, not after the flesh.)
(ROM 8:4).
HEB 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a
cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which
doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that
is set before us,
HEB 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who
for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the
shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
1COR 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one
receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
1COR 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is
temperate(strong) in all things. Now they do it to obtain a
corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
Let us also realize that our holiness is before God and
not before man. Many times man doesn't recognize
holiness unless he is seeing through the Father's
eyes. It keeps a saint humble and faithful in knowing
that he is doing great and mighty things before the
Lord, unknown to man.
And remember what Jesus said:
MAT 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after
righteousness: f o r t h e y s h a l l b e f i l l e d .
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