Scriptural Sainthood

Scriptural Sainthood

Text: Col. 1:12, 13

Intro: 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: