You Are A Saint - And So Am I

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You Are A Saint - And So Am I

By Skip Toomaloo
Mar. 23, 2006

I was thinking about Saint Patrick’s Day. Saint Patrick probably did not need validation of his sainthood after he went to God. He was a saint while alive in his faith in Christ.

The world has many “saints” living among the general population. They make themselves known and useful to those in need of words of comfort or hands of healing. Saints are involved in the feeding of those living in poverty. They are working to bring education to those who cannot read or otherwise have access to knowledge beyond their small tribe or village. There are saints all over the place; alive, well and working for the kingdom of God.

“1Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— 2the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, 4and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. 5Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. 6And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. 7To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:1-7 NIV)

The Apostle Paul wrote salutations and doctrinal directions to those he knew to be “In Christ”. These were those “called to be saints”. He was writing to living people who would be able to read his instructions and propagate the faith. The believers in Rome were “saints”. Paul addressed them by their proper title as those “separated” from the world and joined to God.

“1Paul called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, 2Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and our's: 3Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 1:1-3 KJV)

Sainthood is a part of every believer “…called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ…” but this is not a designation that should override the meekness that all Christians are asked to display. It is a simple designation that allows God to see Jesus in the life and permits God a view of one “sanctified” against the effects of sin.

“1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (Ephesians 1: 1-4 KJV)

The Christian has an exalted position before God. He holds “all spiritual blessings” already in the “heavenly places”. This is why we say “this world is not [our] home”. We have nothing to do with the world other than explain God and grace to man. That is a task and a mission each Christian must take full and ready responsibility for. We do not know what God knows so we preach and pray and work as led by the Spirit of God, allowing him to complete the work of salvation in each life we touch.

“1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, 2To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, 5For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;” (Colossians 1: 1-5 KJV)

Paul writes to the “saints” in Colosse because he heard of the love “which ye have to all the saints”. He had heard of their faith in Christ and was commending the new congregation. These were living saints loving other living saints in Jesus. This is the right of being a Christian. A Christian will always hold love of a brother in the faith a high calling. Paul’s sole ministry was to empower believers in Christ by setting forth the example of a faith leading to salvation.

“1Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: 2Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, 5For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; 6Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: (Philippians 1: 1-5 KJV)

Be confident Christian. God has saved you and separated you from the world. The world does not recognize the work God has done in you but that is no matter. God is the one who must be the director. We “fellowship in the gospel” of Jesus and we need no other prompt to understand our spiritual standing before God. You are a “saint” and so am I.

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Email Skip: skiptoomaloo@hotmail.com

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