PER:The Saint:  What is the SCRIPTURAL saint?

   Key Verse:

   MAT 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after
righteousness: for they shall be filled.

   First of all, what is the SCRIPTURAL saint?

   In the Old Testament the word "saint" is used sparingly (only 38
times). One Hebrew word (Str# H2623) translated as "saint" means kind
and pious, while the three other words (Str# H6918, H6922,H6944) deal
with being clean or sanctified.

   In the New Testament the only Greek word (Str# G40) translated
"saint" is used 62 times. This word means sacred, pure, and
consecrated. This is the same Greek word translated as "holy" 174 times
out of 184.

   Almost all the letters Paul wrote to the churches addressed the
"saints". In the Book of Acts, several times the "saints" at different
cities are referred to. It should be obvious in the light of the
scriptures that there were many "saints" and that sainthood has nothing
to do with man's ordination, but it is by God's ordination.

   What are and are not characteristics of a saint?

   EPH 5:1-4 Be ye therefore followers(imitators) of God, as dear
children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath
given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a
sweetsmelling savour. But fornication*, and all uncleanness, or
covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not
convenient(proper): but rather giving of thanks.

   *It is important to understand that the spiritual meaning of
fornication is idolatry. Idolatry is letting anything in your life
affect a perfect relationship with Jesus; i.e. idols of gold (or
"green"), of fame, of friendship, of knowledge, of rubber and
carburetors, of transistors and diodes. These things are without
breath(life) (HAB 2:18-20), and we should NOT worship them by offering
a sacrifice of our time, when we could be in the ministry of the Word
and prayer, becoming more like Jesus.

   We can be in spiritual adultery with the cares of this world: "Ye
adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the
world is enmity(hostility) with God? Whosoever therefore shall be a
friend of the world is the enemy of God."(JAM 4:4) The scriptures tell
us not to "walk according to the ways of this world"(EPH 2:3) and that
"we have received not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is
of God" (1COR 2:12).

   REV 13:7 And it was given unto him(the beast) to make war with the
saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all
kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

   REV 13:10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he
that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the
patience and the faith of the saints.

   REV 14:10-13 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God,
which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation;
and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of
the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of
their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day
nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth
the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they
that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. And I heard
a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which
die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may
rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

   From this we can see that saints are holy, patient, and faithful.
Holy enough to be killed by the beast. Faithful enough to die for Jesus
and love not their lives even unto death. Patient enough to go through
hardships and tribulations to obtain a higher prize.

   Are saints perfect?

   EPH 4:11-12 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and
some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting
of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the
body of Christ:

   JAM 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not,
to him it is sin.

   Therefore we see saints aren't perfect but have a thirst for
perfection, which they receive by seeking, finding, and knowing what is
perfect. This growth is assisted by the five-fold ministry of the
Church, which is set up by God especially for the perfecting of the
saints.

   How are we saints?

   EPH 2:18-22 For through Him(JESUS) we both have access by one Spirit
unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners,
but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And
are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus
Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building
fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom
ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the
Spirit.

   By, and only by, the cleansing blood of Jesus and the directing of
the Holy Spirit are we made a holy habitation for God.

   Are there believers who aren't yet saints?

   2THES 1:10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to
be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you
was believed) in that day.

   In Romans 8:5-9, the Bible says there are those that mind the things
of the flesh and those that mind the things of God's Spirit. The saints
of Jesus mind the things of the Spirit, and because of the Lordship of
Christ, Jesus is glorified in his saints' lives.

   What did Paul say about himself:

   EPH 3:7-8 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of
the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given,
that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of
Christ;

   So Paul didn't deserve to be a saint, just as you and I, but by
grace and by Jesus, through the Spirit we can live a life that is holy
and pleasing to God. Jesus is the true answer: When your heart is
broken and your life is surrendered to Him and you need some help to be
holy, the Bible says, ask and it shall be given to you .

   Now, we see that we are saints in Jesus by allowing Him to help us
live a life that is holy and reserved for God, not bowing to worldly
pleasures and fun, but sanctified through Christ's blood. Sainthood is
within the grasp of every born again believer, if they will forsake all
for their true love, Jesus. But, let us be humble in this
understanding: "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every
man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he
ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to
every man the measure of faith."(ROM 12:3)

   Let us realize the special goal God puts on our lives:

   When Paul wrote to the church at Corinth he wrote "to them that are
sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints."(1COR 1:2) We are
called to be saints by being sanctified(made clean of sin) in Christ.
The Bible teaches that "as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye
holy in all manner of conversation(behavior)".

   Let us obey our calling that we may be chosen. It isn't hard. The
hardest thing in the universe to do is to resist God and his
everlasting Word. The easiest thing to do is to submit to God and let
Him and His Word carry us along. (Many times our flesh doesn't want to
submit, and we need to crucify it and bring it into the obedience of
Christ. Then the Spirit has full control and there is no conflict nor
turmoil within us, as we walk after the Spirit, not after the flesh.)
(ROM 8:4).

   HEB 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so
great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin
which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race
that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of
our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of
God.

   1COR 9:24-25 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but
one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that
striveth for the mastery is temperate(strong) in all things. Now they
do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

   Let us also realize that our holiness is before God and not before
man. Many times man doesn't recognize holiness unless he is seeing
through the Father's eyes. It keeps a saint humble and faithful in
knowing that he is doing great and mighty things before the Lord,
unknown to man.

   And remember what Jesus said:

   MAT 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after
righteousness: for they shall be filled.
