What is a saint?

ILL: A man can be as truly a saint in a factory as in a monastery, and there is as much need of him in the one as in the other. (Robert J. McCracken)

A saint is a creature of vast possibilities, knit into shape by the ruling personality of God. (Oswald Chambers)

A saint is one who makes it easy to believe in Jesus. (Ruth Bell Graham)

God creates out of nothing-wonderful, you say; yes, to be sure, but he does what is still more wonderful. He makes saints out of sinners. (Søren Aabye Kierkegaard)

Who is the greatest saint in the world? It is not he who prays most or fasts most; it is not he who gives most alms, or is most eminent for temperance, chastity, or justice; but it is he who is always thankful to God, who wills everything that God wills, who receives everything as an instance of God's goodness, and has a heart always ready to praise God for it. (William Law)

Read: Titus 3:5; Eph 1:1; Eph. 1:4; 1 Cor. 6:11; Rom. 8:27; 1 Cor. 6:2a

Saint comes from the Greek word ‘Hagios’ which means holy. To be with out blame. To be a saint then means that you are a ‘holy one’ or ‘blameless one’.

Q: How does that make you feel?

Read: Col. 3:1-4

 We are saints now…because of our position in Christ.  We are holy because Christ is holy…remember what is His is ors as well as Christians. But some Christians cant walk in victory because they won’t accept their sainthood, their holiness.
Sainthood is given to those who accept, receive, believe and personally embrace, the sacrificial, atoning death of Jesus Christ on the cross. It is our relationship with Jesus Christ that qualifies us for sainthood.

No hoops to jump through and nothing to buy. Sainthood is based not on what we have done but on what Jesus Christ has done for us. And he has already declared that we are SAINTS.

Stanley reminds us that when we acknowledge that we are saints, we have only just begun our discovery of our identity in Christ.

Q: What do you think are the benefits of being a Saint?

1. We can know the things God wants us to know.
Read:     Eph. 1:8-9
               Eph. 1:17

    What does He want us to know?

Read: Eph. 1:18-19

Q: What three things mentioned in this text does God want each of His saints to know?

Charles Stanley tells states…
    A. The hope of His calling on our lives
        It is an upward calling (Phil 3:13-14) A call to higher moral standards, higher character traits, higher ethical conduct, higher degrees of spiritual fervor.

        It is a holy calling  (2 Tim. 1:8-9) A holy calling means we are separated for God’s use.
            We are agents of righteousness to be salt and light to a tasteless and dark world.
            We are God’s ambassadors of grace and holiness to all those we meet.

Q: Have you ever felt that God really didn’t have a specific plan for your life, that you weren’t particularly useful to God when it comes to service, ministry or gifting?

Q: What does this text say about those feelings of inadequacy or uselessness?

It is a heavenly calling (Heb. 3:1; Phil. 3:20) We are citizens of heaven…now, right now. We have a different ‘Declaration of Independence’ a different ‘Constitution’. God is the perfect ruler of this perfect home. This world is not our home. (Jn 14:1-4)

Q: How do you feel about being called of God?

Not only are we to know as saints that we are called of God, but we are to know…

A. The riches of the glory of His inheritance

Q: According to the text in Eph. 1:17-18, whose inheritance have we already received?

 God has already given us all that Christ is, has and does: His nature, His reign, His eternal life.

Q: Do you think that Jesus gets anything in return for his inheritance?

God gives every Christian to Jesus as His inheritance.
    We are God’s gift to Jesus for what He has done for us.
    You have received the riches of the glory of Christ’s inheritance.
    You are Blessed, You are significant, You are highly valued and prized by God.

Finally, God wants us to know…
C. The greatness of His power in us.

Resurrection Power: The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is in you.
    Power over all spiritual darkness: The power within us is greater than any evil around us.
    Power for ministry: The power to do what God has called you to do resides in you with the Holy Spirit.
    Power for Love: God has poured His love into your lives and you not only can love others, but can be loved by others.

2. We are holy, perfect, now and forever.
Read: Heb. 10:14

Q: What does this text say about the Christian being holy and perfect?

ILL: Bob George ‘Karen, what did that verse say to you? ‘I have been made perfect.’ Karen answered. ‘For how long have you been made perfect?’ ‘Forever’ Karen replied. ‘How did you become perfect, Karen? Is it because you act perfectly?’ ‘No, It says by one sacrifice. It is because of what Jesus did for me.’ ‘Then, Karen, if this is true (and the Bible says it is) how does that make you feel?’ I asked her.

Q: Before I give you her answer, what is your answer? How does this text make you feel?

     She felt happy, free and that she wanted to know and love God more.
     You are now and will always be holy.
    That is why God does not count your sins against you.
    That is why there is no sin you can commit as a Christian that is not already forgiven by God.