What Does The Bible Say?

Question – What does the Bible say about saints?

Answer – The term has been hijacked to mean something that the Bible does not recognize. Some say, “well, I am a Christian, but I am no saint.”

These usages show an ignorance of the bible usage of the term. According to the Bible, if you are a Christian (Acts 11:26), then you are a saint (set apart from the world and separated to God. The process that one goes through to become a Christian is the same process they go through to become a saint.

In 1 Cor. 14:32-33 it says, “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.” If churches are composed of saints, then being a saint is not some special rank one reaches after death. Paul addressed the Ephesians as saints in Eph. 1:1- “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God to the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Jesus Christ.”

Paul also wrote to Christians who were alive physically, and addressed them as saints (set apart), in 1 Cor. 6:11. The word saint implies that they were sanctified (set apart for God). This happens when one is washed or justified. If you have been washed in the blood of the Lamb through baptism for remission of sins, then you are a Christian, a saint.

Furthermore, when you are a Christian as the Bible defines it, you are also a priest according to 1 Peter 2:9-12- Peter says that Christians are a “royal priesthood,” a “holy people,” and a chosen nation. Please note, “but you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” Those who have been truly converted according to the Bible pattern are described as Christians, Disciples, Brethren, Saints, believers, followers of the Way, Friends of God, the elect of God, followers of Christ, disciples, and the called-out ones.

All of these phrases denote being separated for a purpose and devotion to God and the church. Those who are called by the gospel and obedient to the pattern God has given for discipleship are saved by the blood of Christ through obedience to His word. For one to become a true Christian, he must: 1. Hear the gospel (Rom. 10:17) 2. Believe in having faith that what the Bible says about Jesus is true (Heb. 11:6-for without faith it is impossible to please Him 3. Repent of sins (Lk. 13:3- unless you repent, you will perish 4. Confess that Jesus is the Son of God (Rom. 10:9,10) and 5. be baptized for remission of sins (Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16) and 6. Continue to live faithfully until death (Rev. 2:10) All that we have said is not taught in the Catholic faith. Sainthood cannot be granted until a person has been dead for at least five years among Catholics.

There are then three steps to becoming a saint among the Catholics.

1. Venerable- the pope recognizes the dead person as having lived a virtuous life.

2. Blessed- the pope authorizes the beatification of the dead person.

3. Saint- the pope makes a formal declaration during a special mass, adding the person’s name to the catalog of saints. This is the most familiar way that most people view being a saint. The Bible has no such formula.

Please address all questions and comments to What Does the Bible Say> C/O Maple St. Church of Christ, PO Box 3086, Liberty, TX 77575 and visit our website, maplestreetliberty.org.