"How To Become A Super Saint"

“How to Become a Super Saint”

October 7, 2007

If I were to ask you if you were a saint, most of you would probably say no. The reason is because the popular definition of that word is someone who is perfect or almost perfect. We think of saints in the catholic sense of someone like “Saint John” or “Saint Christopher” or “Saint Paul”. A saint is someone, we think, who is mature and godly and always does the right thing. But that isn’t the biblical definition. The biblical definition of a saint, according to the “Interpreters Dictionary of the bible” is someone one who “is set apart for God’s purpose”. The IDB also says, “Christians are saints by virtue of being in Christ Jesus.” In other words, if you are a Christian you can also be called a saint. Saints aren’t perfect – they are just saved. Saints aren’t absolutely correct – they are just absolutely Christians. Consequently, saints need to grow and learn and become better saints. You are a saint, but you aren’t perfect – yet. You are a saint – but you aren’t mature yet. You are a saint – but you still need to grow.

I think it was Burger King who had the slogan out recently that said, “Super Size me!” And if you get the ‘super size’ all the time – it WILL super size you! I don’t think that’s a good choice when it comes to eating. But I DO think it is a good prayer when it comes to our spirituality. We need to pray “Super Size” me, Lord!” Jesus said we need to “hunger and thirst for righteousness.” Paul said,

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” (Philippians 3:12)

Paul presses on toward perfection. And we need to strive toward Christlikeness, too. We need to pray “Super size me, Lord.” Is that the prayer of your heart? Do you desire to grow? Do you desire to become better? Do you desire to be more mature? It won’t happen until you desire it. It doesn’t happen accidentally or as a natural result of becoming a saint. We have a fallen earthly nature we have warring against our spirit – so we have to make a willful choice to grow. We need to desire it – and then do something about it. We have to seek spiritual growth on purpose.

There are three stages of spiritual growth I want to talk about this morning. The first stage is salvation. That’s the part where we become Christians. That’s the stage we are saved from our sins. Salvation begins when we realize that Christ is inviting us to join His team. Salvation begins when we recognize that we are sinners and not saints – and that God wants us to come into His family. Jesus said,

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in…” Revelation 3:20

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

Jesus is always out there inviting, asking us to come to Him. Salvation begins when we realize it. We hear His voice. The salvation process continues when we respond to the message.

“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” John 1:12

"Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.” John 5:24

Do you see? We have to not only “hear” God’s voice – we need to respond. Paul tells the early Roman Church how to be saved. He says,

“If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” Romans 10:9-10

So the way to salvation is 1. Hear Jesus’ voice calling us. 2. Respond to the call. 3. Confess or profess to the world that you are a Christian.

There is no such thing as a silent witness. If you are ashamed to let people know you are a Christian – Jesus is ashamed of you. (Mark 8:38) I don’t think we have to be pushy about it – but we need to share the fact of our belief in Christ. One of the things I do to help you in your walk, is after every service, I give people a chance to respond to the Gospel message. I think it’s important to raise your hand when we pray the ‘Sinners Prayer’ or whatever prayer we pray at the end of the service – but that is not enough. We need to boldly share our faith at home, and where we work, and in our neighborhood. We need to believe in our heart – but we also need to profess with our mouth.