What does it mean to be a Christian saint?
In the Old Testament,
the word translated "saint"
is the Hebrew word qadowsh. It means sacred, Holy
One, set apart.
Qadowsh does not only refer to
- people (Psalm 16:3)
but,
- as the adjective
"holy," also describes a place (Leviticus 6:16),
- food (Leviticus 7:6),
and
- God (Leviticus 20:26).
The Aramaic qaddiysh is related to the Hebrew
qadowsh (Daniel 7:22).
The word
"saint" in the New Testament is the Greek agioss.
Agioss can also be translated “holy” and refers
- to people (Matthew 27:52),
- the Holy Spirit (Matthew
1:18),
- Jerusalem (Matthew 4:5),
- the Holy of Holies in
the Temple (Matthew 24:15),
- prophets (Acts 3:21),
and
- general body of believers (2
Corinthians 1:1).
Nowhere is the term
restricted to a particular class of individual that is granted the title by the
organizational authorities of a religion.
The concept of a
Catholic saint is a little different. Catholicism takes the cloud of witnesses
surrounding us from Hebrews 12:1 and combines them with
the prayers of the righteous in James
5:16 to
derive the belief that people who were especially pious on earth can pray for
others from heaven.
Identifying these
deceased prayer-warriors was difficult until the Catholic Church enacted a
policy that gives the exact qualifications.
Other religions have
different definitions of saints.
Eastern Orthodox says
that any believer who is in Heaven is a saint, whether those on earth know it
or not; the title has little to do with behavior or piety.
In Buddhism, an Arhat is
a person who has found release from the cares of this world and has achieved
nirvana.
The Bhagat of the Sikh
religion are also a type of saint.
In modern vernacular, a
"saint" is anyone who is kind, generous, or follows the rules.
The Bible defines the
Christian saint as anyone who follows Jesus. Every Christian is set apart from
the world, to do good works through Jesus.
The term "saint" in the Bible is a
reflection of the changes God makes in us, not our success in embodying those
changes.
In the Bible a Christian saint can be:
- Dead (Matthew 27:52): "The
tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep
were raised …"
- Alive (Acts 9:32): "Now
as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints
who lived at Lydda."
- Inclusive (Romans 16:15): "Greet
Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who
are with them."
- Anointed by God (1 Corinthians 1:2): "To the church of God which is at Corinth, to 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 …"
- Non-exclusive (Philippians 1:1 NASB): "Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, to all the
saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons
…"
- Non-influential (Revelation 11:18): "The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead
to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and
those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the
destroyers of the earth."
A saint is not someone
who is particularly pious, whose prayers cause miracles, or who sacrifices a
great deal for his faith.
According to the Bible,
a saint is just someone who has accepted Christ as his savior.
God never calls us to do something for Him that He
does not empower us to do if we are willing to do the work and time. Please,
take the time to get to know God in an intimate way.
As your relationship with Him grows, you move up in
rank and are assigned harder missions. Your purpose on earth is to shine God’s
love to a lost, dying world.
Your mission, if you should choose to accept it, is
waiting for you!
Open your ears and your heart to the Lord and be
excited about your new future serving Him in truth and spirit.
Can God change your life?
God has made it possible for you to know Him
and experience an amazing change in your own life.
Serve Him.
Wait on Him.
And expect … for He is able to do much much more
than you can ask or imagine.
Settle that sin issue ...
“Father
God, I confess I am a sinner and my sins have separated me from You.
I am truly sorry. I now want to
turn away from my past sinful life and live a new life pleasing to You.
Please forgive me, and
help me avoid sinning again.
I believe that Your Son,
Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and
hears my prayer.
I invite Jesus to become
the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Thank
You that according to Your Word, I am now born again.
Please send Your Holy
Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. I
promise to study Your Word – the Bible.
Use me for Your glory.
In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.”
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No More Condemnation by Joseph Prince
“No Condemnation”
KENT HENRY
lyrics
There is therefore now no condemnation
For those who are in Christ Jesus
There is therefore now no condemnation
For those who are in Christ Jesus
For those who are in Christ Jesus
There is therefore now no condemnation
For those who are in Christ Jesus
Verse:
For the law of the Spirit
Of life, in Christ Jesus,
Will set us free
From the law of sin and death
Of life, in Christ Jesus,
Will set us free
From the law of sin and death
There is therefore now no condemnation
For those who are in Christ Jesus
For those who are in Christ Jesus
For those who are in Christ Jesus
For those who are in Christ Jesus
For those who are in Christ Jesus
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