New Life
Dear Saint,
You might be a little confused at why I referred to you as a saint. Contrary to the common notion about sainthood, the Bible says that all Christians are saints. The word saint actually comes from a Greek word (hagios) which means “holy.” A saint is a “holy one” or a person who is “holy.”
As a Christian, you are indeed a “saint” because you have been made holy by the blood of Christ. The Bible says in Hebrews 10:10 that “we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” This is the reason the apostles sent letters to the various churches, letters designed for everyone in the congregation. They would often write such things as,
“To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi” –Philippians 1:1 ,
“To all the holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse” –Colossians 1:2 .
What does it mean to be holy? It obviously means that our sins have been taken away, but there’s much more than just forgiveness. It means that we have now been set apart by God Himself to accomplish His will.
Peter writes in 1 Peter
“As you come to Him,the living Stone–rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to Him–you also, like livingstones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ… But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, aholy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called youout of the darkness into His wonderful light.”1 Peter 2:4-5, 9 ,
Notice that as a holy people, God has called us to do His will. That includes both offering spiritual sacrifices as seen in Hebrews 13:12-16 and declaring His praises or telling of how good God has been to us.
However, not only does God call us to accomplish His purposes, He also gives us His promises. “And we pray this in order that you may live a lifeworthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work,growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.”Colossians 1:10-12,
Of course, you will learn very quickly that Satan does not want you to believe that. The Bible says in 1 Peter 5:8 , “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
The first thing he will do to try to get you to question your salvation. He’ll do his best to create doubt about your place with God in Christ, or that you really have been made holy. He will subtly try to get you to look at your own shortcomings in hopes that you will forget to look to Christ and what he has done for you. But you must do as Peter says
“Resist the devil, standing firm in the faith.”1 Peter 5:8 ,
Remember, that God cannot lie, and He has said clearly in His word that you have been made holy. The book of Hebrews reminds us in chapter13 verses 12-16 ,
“And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through His own blood. Let us, then, go to Him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace He bore. For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise-the fruit of the lips that confess His name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”Hebrews 13:12-16
Let’s not forget Paul’s blessing
“May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you (make you holy) through and through. Mayyour whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. TheOne who calls you is faithful and He will do it.”1 Thessalonians 5:23, 24,
QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW AND STUDY
1. What is a “saint” according to the Bible?
2. How do you know according to Hebrews 10:10, you are a saint and have been made holy?
3. Are all Christian’s saints according to Philippians 1:1 & Colossians 1:2?
4. To be a saint, or to be holy, means that we have been set apart to do God’s will. What are two things that we will do as saints as seen in 1 Peter 2:4-5, 9?
5. What kind of sacrifices does Hebrews 13:12-16 say please God?
6. What promise is ours as saints of God according to Colossians 1:10-12?
7. To resist Satan, we must believe God. What does Hebrews 13:12-16 say God has told us that can make us sure that we have been made holy?
8. Who does 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 say we can trust to keep our spirit, soul and body blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus?
You might be a little confused at why I referred to you as a saint. Contrary to the common notion about sainthood, the Bible says that all Christians are saints. The word saint actually comes from a Greek word (hagios) which means “holy.” A saint is a “holy one” or a person who is “holy.”
As a Christian, you are indeed a “saint” because you have been made holy by the blood of Christ. The Bible says in Hebrews 10:10 that “we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” This is the reason the apostles sent letters to the various churches, letters designed for everyone in the congregation. They would often write such things as,
“To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi” –Philippians 1:1 ,
“To all the holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse” –Colossians 1:2 .
What does it mean to be holy? It obviously means that our sins have been taken away, but there’s much more than just forgiveness. It means that we have now been set apart by God Himself to accomplish His will.
Peter writes in 1 Peter
“As you come to Him,the living Stone–rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to Him–you also, like livingstones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ… But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, aholy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called youout of the darkness into His wonderful light.”1 Peter 2:4-5, 9 ,
Notice that as a holy people, God has called us to do His will. That includes both offering spiritual sacrifices as seen in Hebrews 13:12-16 and declaring His praises or telling of how good God has been to us.
However, not only does God call us to accomplish His purposes, He also gives us His promises. “And we pray this in order that you may live a lifeworthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work,growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.”Colossians 1:10-12,
Of course, you will learn very quickly that Satan does not want you to believe that. The Bible says in 1 Peter 5:8 , “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
The first thing he will do to try to get you to question your salvation. He’ll do his best to create doubt about your place with God in Christ, or that you really have been made holy. He will subtly try to get you to look at your own shortcomings in hopes that you will forget to look to Christ and what he has done for you. But you must do as Peter says
“Resist the devil, standing firm in the faith.”1 Peter 5:8 ,
Remember, that God cannot lie, and He has said clearly in His word that you have been made holy. The book of Hebrews reminds us in chapter13 verses 12-16 ,
“And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through His own blood. Let us, then, go to Him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace He bore. For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise-the fruit of the lips that confess His name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”Hebrews 13:12-16
Let’s not forget Paul’s blessing
“May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you (make you holy) through and through. Mayyour whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. TheOne who calls you is faithful and He will do it.”1 Thessalonians 5:23, 24,
QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW AND STUDY
1. What is a “saint” according to the Bible?
2. How do you know according to Hebrews 10:10, you are a saint and have been made holy?
3. Are all Christian’s saints according to Philippians 1:1 & Colossians 1:2?
4. To be a saint, or to be holy, means that we have been set apart to do God’s will. What are two things that we will do as saints as seen in 1 Peter 2:4-5, 9?
5. What kind of sacrifices does Hebrews 13:12-16 say please God?
6. What promise is ours as saints of God according to Colossians 1:10-12?
7. To resist Satan, we must believe God. What does Hebrews 13:12-16 say God has told us that can make us sure that we have been made holy?
8. Who does 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 say we can trust to keep our spirit, soul and body blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus?
Posted in Basic Bible Study