The 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 Be ye therefore followers(imitators) of God, as dear children;

EPH 5:2 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.

EPH 5:3 But fornication*, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it

not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

EPH 5:4 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 p e r f e c t

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).

2

What are and are not characteristics of a saint? (continued)

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 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:

REV 14:11 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.

REV 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep

the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

REV 14:13 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 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some,

evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 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.

3

How are we saints?

EPH 2:18 For through Him(JESUS) we both have access by one Spirit unto the

Father.

EPH 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but

fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

EPH 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and

prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

EPH 2:21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto

an holy temple in the Lord:

EPH 2:22 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 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.

EPH 3:8 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)

4

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 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,

HEB 12:2 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 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one

receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

1COR 9:25 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: f o r t h e y s h a l l b e f i l l e d .

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Index of Preacher's Help and Notes

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