Scriptural Sainthood
Introduction
What thoughts or images come to mind when someone mentions the word “saint”? Some associate the term with the Pope, or those whom the Catholic Church has granted the title or standing of “Sainthood,” such as Mother Theresa. Others might conger up mental images of stained-glassed windows depicting well-known Bible characters, who lived dedicated, holy, and godly lives for God. Still others may tend to view the word “saint” as a general term for anyone whom they consider to be a very good person—someone who is caring, and morally speaking, a cut above the average of humanity.
Just what is a saint, according to the Bible? The Greek word “nagios,” from which the word saint is derived, means, “a holy one”[1] (Dan. 8:13). This was a designation given to all born again believers in Christ during the days of the apostles. In Romans 1:7 and First Corinthians 1:2, Paul referred to believers as those who were “…called to be saints…” This simply means that those who have committed themselves to Christ are those who have been called out and set apart for the service of God.
The idea of a biblical saint can perhaps be best understood in the following story:
A mother was sightseeing in town with her young son one day. As she led him to various points of interest, she took him inside a large cathedral, adorned with stained-glass windows, which depicted people such as Elijah, David, and Abraham, as well as other heroes of the faith. The boy was greatly enthralled with the colorful light that filtered through the images portrayed on the glass.
When the boy and his mother arrived at home, he ran into the living room to tell his grandmother of his experience. He said, “Grandmother, you should have seen the beautiful windows I saw at a church today.”
She said, “What do you mean by beautiful windows at church? Was there something special about them?”
The young boy said, “Oh yes, grandmother. These windows had saints on them, and the light shined through them.”
That’s what a real saint is supposed to be; one through whom the light of the Son, S-O-N, shines.
As we think along this line today, I want to deal with some of the qualities of a scriptural saint. Observe the following with me today.
Theme: A scriptural saint is…
I. A PERSON who is SAVED
A. Our Salvation is Infinite.
Heb. 7:24 “But this man (Christ Jesus), because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”
NOTE: The Greek word translated “uttermost,” in verse 25, carries the ideas of:
“all” and “end, termination”…By reason of Messiah’s eternal ministry as High Priest, He is able to save the believer in his totality of being, body, soul, and spirit, and do all that to the point of termination, an unending state of salvation in eternity.[2]
B. Our Salvation is Incalculable.
1 Pet. 1:18 “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”
NOTE: [1] How does one calculate the value of a human life, much less the life of the very Son of God? How does one calculate the value of the blood of the sinless Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ? You see dear friends, “God put a cross between you and hell. If you want to go to hell, you will have to crawl over the cross of Jesus.”[3] How does one place a value on that sort of extreme love?
[2] Folks, the real value of a thing is measured by how much someone is willing to pay for it. God was willing to give the precious, sinless life and blood of His only Son to save fallen men from their sin. “Don’t get the idea that Jesus died to save you from hell. He died to save you from sin. And if He can’t save you from sin, He can’t save you from hell.”[4]
C. Our Salvation is Inconceivable.
2 Cor. 8:9 “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”
Phil. 2:5 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of god, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
NOTE: It is inconceivable that a holy, perfect God could love sinners so much that He would give His Son to die in the sinner’s place. Think of it this way:
Love Tore Down The Wall!
Some years ago, a couple decided they could not live together anymore. They separated and started divorce proceedings. Through their lawyers, they agreed to meet at the home and divide the property. As they went through the home and sought to divide up the property, they came across the shoes of their little boy. The child had died in a traffic accident and left them both broken hearted.
As they stared at his little shoes, they began to sob. The husband reached over and put his arm around his wife; she returned the embrace to him. They stood together in that house holding on to each other as tears streamed down their faces. They each held in their hand a little shoe. The couple changed their mind about divorce and stayed together. The love of the son had broken down the wall between them.
The human family is separated from the Creator because of sin. Jesus, the Son of God, came to die in our place on Calvary. If we will come with humble heart and repentant attitude to the Cross, the Son of God will break down the wall and place you in a right relationship with God, the Father. The love of the Son can and will break down the wall of separation![5]
II. A PERSON who is SECURED
A. We are Secured by God’s Seal.
Eph. 1:13 “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”
NOTE: [1] The seal speaks of “…a finished transaction”[6] (John 17:4; 19:30).
[2] The seal speaks of “ownership”[7] (1 Cor. 6:19, 20; 2 Tim. 2:19).
[3] The seal speaks of “security and protection”[8] (Matt. 27:62-66; Eph. 4:30).
[4] The seal speaks of “authenticity”[9] (Rom. 8:9).
B. We are Secure by God’s Strength.
John 10:28 “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.”
NOTE: [1] The Christian’s salvation is made secure by God’s strength and ability to keep us, not their self-effort. The late Adrian Rogers (1931-2005) put it this way: “It’s the object of your faith that matters, not the strength of it.”[10] Lost sinners don’t have the strength or will power to save themselves, nor do they have the power to keep themselves saved. It is all of Christ; plus nothing, minus nothing.
[2] Let me make one thing crystal clear today: Our salvation’s security does not legitimize or sanitize our sin. Paul tells us that we are free in Christ (Gal. 5:1), and that we are no longer under the Law, but under grace. But he also tells us to “…use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh…” (Gal. 5:13).
III. A PERSON who is SEATED
A. Christ is Seated in a Place of Victory over All.
Eph. 1:20 “Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in heavenly places,
21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
22a And hath put all thing under his feet…”
B. Christians are Seated in a Position of Overcoming Authority.
Eph. 2:5 “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:”
IV. A PERSON who is SENT
A. We are Sent Out as Sheep Among Grievous Wolves.
Luke 10:3 “Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.”
NOTE: Jesus wasn’t talking about the lost here. The lost person isn’t our enemy. He is the victim of the enemy. Jesus was talking about the satanic resistance that the seventy witnesses would face as they went forth to spread the gospel.
B. We are Sent Out to Serve in a Great Work.
Luke 10:2 “Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest.”
C. We are Sent Out to Share our Gospel Witness.
Luke 24:46 “And he said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
48 And ye are witnesses of these things.”
John 20:21 “Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.”
NOTE: [1] Every child of God is responsible to spread the Gospel of Christ, for, “There is no omission in the Great Commission.”[11]
[2] What is a witness anyway? What does it mean to be involved in evangelism? “Evangelism is one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.”[12]
Theme: A scriptural saint is…
I. A PERSON who is SAVED
II. A PERSON who is SECURED
III. A PERSON who is SEATED
IV. A PERSON who is SENT
Check out the author’s recently released book, entitled, Meditations of the Heart: Thoughts on the Christian Life, at:
http://www.amazon.com/Meditations-Heart-Thoughts-Christian-Life/dp/1453739238
Copyright © September 1990 by Rev. Donnie L. Martin. All rights reserved.
[1] William Smith, Smith’s Bible Dictionary, (Philadelphia, PA: A.J. Holman Company, n.d.) p. 265.
[2] Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament, vol. I, (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1984), pp. 137-138.
[3] Adrianisms: The Wit and Wisdom of Adrian Rogers, (Memphis TN: Love Worth Finding Ministries, n.d.), Copyright © 2006, p. 168.
[4] Ibid, p. 169.
[5] Dr. J. Mike Minnix, former editor of PastorLife.com
[6] Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Real, (Wheaton, IL: SP Publications, 1980), p. 23.
[7] Ibid, p. 23.
[8] Ibid, p. 23.
[9] Ibid, p. 23.
[10] Adrianisms: The Wit and Wisdom of Adrian Rogers, (Memphis TN: Love Worth Finding Ministries, n.d.), Copyright © 2006, p. 69.
[11] Ibid, p. 172.
[12] Ibid, p. 174.