The Identity Of Saint Who Series

The Common Made Holy Series

“The Identity of Saint Who”

1 Peter 1:1-9

Today I am beginning a series on the book of First Peter. If you would I want to ask you to turn in your Bibles to 1 Peter chapter 1. The series is entitled The Common Made Holy, Discovering “The Life of Saint Who.”

We will not finish the book, nor will we glean even a small portion of the incredible riches that are embedded in this powerful little book. But I pray that God will use the power of His Word to bring us all to a deeper understanding of Him and His glory.

PRAYER

INTRODUCTION

I have here three items, a piece of clay, a piece of ore, and a silver coin. I am going to pass these items around the room today and I ask you to touch and examine each one personally. I will not refer back to them until the end of the message, but I want to give every one a chance to look at them, to touch them and to ask the question, which one of these three things; clay, ore or the coin best represents my life today?

Now what I mean by that will become clear as we proceed through today’s message but for now ask the Holy Spirit of God to help you reflect on which one of these symbolizes your spiritual life today.

(PASS THE SAMPLES)

How many of you in this room today are holy? Many of us are naturally reluctant to identify ourselves as holy, because holy is word we reserve for God.

How many of you in this room today are a saint?

More of us are willing to acknowledge that we are saint not because of what we have done but because of our faith in Christ.

A person is saved only by his or her faith in the merit of Christ’s Jesus Sacrifice. We are saved by Faith alone in Christ Alone through faith alone.

We recognize that once we are saved we are a saint.

But do you think of yourself as a Saint?

But understanding who God says we are is radically important. When we truly understand who we are in Christ, then we can live the accordingly.

Knowing who you are in Christ will dispel the fear that robs you of life and fill you with a faith that will empower your life.

So are you a Saint?

Something about that title seems to just not fit. Why is it that the scriptures time and again are addressed to the saints who gather in a specific place, but we feel so uncomfortable with that title individually?

Shortly before the Reformation of the church in the 15th and 16th centuries, several false teachings crept into church. Among them were…

- The Veneration of Saints

- The Veneration of Relics

- The Rise of Magisterial Authority (Priests & Bishops)

- The Elevation of Papal Authority (Pope)

- The Selling of Indulgences

Dictionary.com

Veneration

\Ven`er*a"tion\, n. [L. veneratio: cf. F. v['e]n['e]ration.] The act of venerating, or the state of being venerated; the highest degree of respect and reverence; respect mingled with awe; a feeling or sentimental excited by the dignity, wisdom, or superiority of a person, by sacredness of character, by consecration to sacred services, or by hallowed associations.

Syn: Awe; reverence; respect

Because of this teaching Sainthood became something that had to be earned, it was not something given to us by the grace of God. It took on an elevated status that eventually led to prayer to and mediation of saints on behalf of common sinners. But that has nothing to do with what the Scriptures teach.

The Protestant Reformation resulted in 5 specific reforms that are called the

5 Solas of the Reformation.

1. Sola Scriptura – The Holy Scriptures alone are our final authority for all matters of Faith and Doctrine.

2. Solus Christus – Jesus Christ alone is our mediator and savior.

3. Sola Gratia – We are saved by Grace alone. Salvation is a gift of God’s unmerited favor

4. Sola Fide – We are save through Faith alone in the merit of Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf.

5. Soli Deo Gloria – God alone receives all the glory and credit.

This is where the statement “We are saved by Grace alone, through Faith alone in Christ alone,” comes from.

As a result all credit, honor and glory goes to God Himself.

As a result of the Reformation, protestant believers do not practice the Veneration of the saints, for we understand on the authority of the scriptures that;

I Timothy 2:

5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.