37: Set Apart, Not Set Above: The Truth About Saints

Ready4Eternity

Subscribe

Download

Share

00

38: Baptism: “You Must Be Born Again”

00:04

Welcome to the Ready for Eternity podcast, a podcast and blog dedicated to inquisitive

00:11

Bible students exploring biblical truths that might not be fully explored in typical sermons or Bible studies.

00:20

My name is Eddie Lawrence. When you hear the word saint, what comes to mind?

00:27

A flawless believer? A miracle worker? Someone long dead and officially recognized?

00:34

The Bible paints a different picture. In this episode, we'll explore what it really means to be a saint.

00:46

When Paul opens his letter to the Ephesians, he addresses it,

00:52

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus.

01:02

This greeting is not unique. Paul consistently refers to Christians as saints throughout his letters.

01:10

But what does that mean? Today, many believers hesitate to call themselves saints, while others reserve the term for a select few.

01:20

The Catholic Church even has an entire process for declaring certain individuals as saints.

01:26

These differing views reveals a gap between how the Bible defines sainthood and how we often understand it today.

01:35

To clarify, we need to examine three key points. How the New Testament defines a saint, why many assume that sainthood applies only to certain

01:45

Christians, and how the Catholic Church developed its ideas of canonized saints.

01:52

So what's the New Testament definition of a saint? In the New Testament, a saint is simply a

01:59

Christian. The word saint means holy one or set -apart.

02:05

It doesn't refer to moral perfection, but to a person's position in Christ. Paul calls entire church assemblies saints, including the

02:16

Corinthians, despite their many moral and doctrinal failures. The word holy means being dedicated or consecrated to the service of God.

02:27

A synonym would be set -apart. The word doesn't primarily refer to moral perfection, but it carries a strong connection to righteous living because God sets his people apart to serve him, and serving

02:42

God requires a life that honors him. Ephesians 1 .1

02:47

makes this clear. Paul does not single out an elite group within the church.

02:53

He calls all the believers in Ephesus saints. The same pattern appears in Philippians 1 .1,

03:01

Colossians 1 .2, and Romans 1 .7. In each case,

03:06

Paul assumes that every Christian is a saint because they belong to Christ.

03:11

Nowhere does the New Testament describe saints as a separate class of believers.

03:17

Instead, sainthood is part of the believer's identity. Every Christian is a saint not because of personal righteousness, but because they've been set apart by God.

03:30

Despite the clear biblical teaching, many Christians do not think of themselves as saints.

03:36

Several misconceptions contribute to this. First, some believe that sainthood belongs only to exceptionally righteous people.

03:45

Since people often associate the word saint with moral excellence, many assume it describes only the most faithful Christians.

03:55

But Paul's letters prove otherwise. He calls ordinary believers saints, even those struggling with sin, because their holiness comes from Christ, not from their own achievements.

04:09

Second, some assume saints must be dead. Church traditions often highlight saints from the past, reinforcing the idea that only believers who have already died can hold that title.

04:24

But the Bible applies the term to living Christians, not just those who have died.

04:31

And third, some think sainthood must be officially conferred. Because the

04:37

Catholic Church has a formal process for declaring saints, many assume that being a saint requires special recognition.

04:45

But in the New Testament, no human institution bestows sainthood.

04:51

God calls his people saints from the moment they enter Christ.

04:57

These misunderstandings obscure the simple truth. Every believer is a saint, not because of what they have done, but because they are in Christ.

05:09

Unlike the New Testament, the Catholic Church defines sainthood as a special status granted to certain

05:17

Christians after death. The process of canonization involves investigation, verification of miracles, and official recognition by church authorities.

05:29

Catholics believe those declared saints intercede for the living and serve as examples of extraordinary faith.

05:37

This idea developed gradually. In the early church, Christian honored martyrs, those who died for their faith, as examples of steadfast devotion.

05:50

Over time, certain figures gained recognition for their exceptional holiness, and local churches began commemorating them.

05:59

By the 4th century, churches sought official approval to venerate these individuals, and sainthood became more institutionalized.

06:10

By the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church had established formal procedures for canonization.

06:17

The process required evidence of miracles attributed to the person's intercession, reinforcing the idea that saints had a special role in heaven.

06:27

This shift moved sainthood from being the identity of every believer to an exclusive title reserved for a select few.

06:36

This departure from the New Testament view has led many to think of sainthood as something earned rather than something granted in Christ.

06:46

While honoring faithful Christians is not inherently wrong, the idea that sainthood belongs only to a few contradicts the

06:56

Bible's teaching. Ephesians 1 .1 reminds us that sainthood is not a status conferred by the church, but an identity given by God.

07:07

Every Christian is a saint, not because of personal holiness, but because they belong to Christ.

07:16

Misconceptions about sainthood, whether through church tradition or personal doubt, shouldn't keep believers from embracing what

07:24

Scripture says about their identity. The Catholic Church's development of canonized sainthood has influenced how many people view the term today, but the

07:36

Bible presents a different picture. The saints are not an exclusive group of miracle workers or martyrs.

07:44

They are the people of God, ordinary believers made holy by God's grace.

07:50

If you are in Christ, you are a saint. The question is not whether you are holy enough to deserve that description, but whether you believe what

08:02

God has already declared about you. Thanks for listening to the podcast.

08:12

We hope this episode has deepened your understanding of Scripture. If you found this content valuable, please share it with your friends.

08:19

For more biblical studies, visit our website at ReadyForEternity .com. That's the word ready, the number four, and the word eternity.

08:29

ReadyForEternity .com. Be sure and leave a comment on the Ready for Eternity Facebook page or reach out on Twitter.

08:37

That's all for now. Keep studying your Bible, growing closer to God, and getting ready for eternity.