A SAINT


A. "PAUL, AN APOSTLE OF JESUS CHRIST BY THE WILL OF GOD, AND TIMOTHY OUR BROTHER UNTO THE CHURCH OF GOD WHICH IS AT CORINTH, WITH ALL THE SAINTS WHICH ARE IN ALL ACHAIA" II CORINTHIANS 1:1
  1. "Saints" - a beautiful title frequently conferred upon the people of God in scripture:
    1. "Gather my saints together to me" - Ps. 50:5
    2. "O love the Lord, all ye His saints" - Ps. 50:5
    3. "To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints" - Rom. 1:7
  2. They are called believers:
    1. Since they exercise faith in Jesus Christ
    2. Servants, as they are pledged to do His bidding
    3. Children, as they have been adopted into the family of God - Eph. 1:1-14; Phil. 2:15 B. A SAINT
  3. Misuse of this term:
    1. The church manufactures saints by the thousands, mostly after they are dead - creating sainthood by the power vested in the Pope
    2. Mortal men are either looked upon as saints when they measure up to the concept of doing right by church dogma, or waiting until they are dead and discovering some supernatural phenomena either at their grave or at some other church directed scene
  4. Sainthood:
    1. The Bible makes it abundantly clear that true scriptural holiness is the basis of sainthood; Examples: Job was a saint - Job 1:1-6; Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth were true saints - Luke 1:6; Anna, a prophetess was truly a saint - Luke 2:36-37; Daniel was a saint - Dan. 9:23; 6:10; 1:8
    2. The Bible teaches that holiness is progressive - compare 2 Cor. 7:1-3 with 2 Pet. 1:2-8; Phil. 1:9; I Thes. 4:10; Examples: Paul's testimony about his state of perfection - Phil. 3:13-14; Job's testimony--Job 42:1-3; Isaiah's experience - Is. 6:1- 9
  5. How we become saints:
    1. When we become a new creation in Christ Jesus we become saints - 2 Cor. 5:14-17; Rom. 8:1-3
    2. It is our intimate relationship to Christ and the truth of God that makes us saints C. IN CLOSING LET US NOTE A NUMBER OF ESSENTIALS AS LAID DOWN IN THE WORD OF GOD FOR TRUE SAINTHOOD
  6. Holiness in thought:
    1. The Son of God measured people by reading and exposing their thoughts - Matt. 9:4; 12:25; Luke 5:22; Examples - Think of what he says about the purported sainthood of the Pharisees - Matt. 6:5; 23:26-29; Nathanael had saintly thoughts - John 1:47
    2. "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think of these things" - Phil. 4:8
  7. Holiness in words:
    1. The true saint is pure in speech - Rev. 14:5; Acts 26:25; 2 Pet. 1:19-20
    2. Prayed the Psalmist, "Set a watch, oh Lord, before my mouth, keep the door of my lips" - Ps. 141:3
    3. When Isaiah saw the King of glory on His throne, he discovered that he was of unclean lips - Is. 6:5; 2 Cor. 1:17
  8. Holiness in deeds:
    1. "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves" - James 1:22
    2. "For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise" - Heb. 10:36
    3. Note, the special emphasis our Lord places on deeds - Matt. 7:21-27; 25:34- 46
  9. Holiness in the spirit and in the life:
    1. "God is a Spirit; and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth" - John 4:24
    2. "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly, and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" I Thess. 5:23


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