Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. Philippians 4:21
To many people, the word saint is associated with the highly religious. The title is seen as God’s honor roll. As such, its use has become for someone unusual or of unattainable character. But that dismisses the usage in the Bible.
Saint means holy, set apart or sanctified. Paul uses it of us – the believers. We are the saints. A saint isn’t perfect, or exceptionally moral or abounding in good deeds. A murderer, liar or thief who repents becomes a saint. A saint is one that God has set apart for Himself. It is based on His work, not ours.
And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Hebrews 10:10
We are saints and are also called to become saints. We attain the designation and then become what it represents. A woman has a baby and is a mother, but she also becomes, learns, grows as a mother as time goes on. She is not the same mother on day one as she is the day she becomes a grandmother. Likewise with saints. I am a saint, per the work of Jesus Christ, but I also am growing in my role and practice of what He has declared to be already true.
In this vein, it is important how we treat one another. Do I treat my fellow believers – fellow saints – as holy? We are not only made in God’s image, but as a saint we are separated by God, to God. I must not be careless in my relationship with you but treat you with the respect and care of someone set apart by God, regardless if we are in different points on our journey with Him.
… to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: 1 Corinthians 1:2
Let us remember we are saints, living among other saints. It is not a designation of character but of our relationship towards God. And because we bear that title, its reality should be reflected in how we live.
Sing praises to the Lord, O you His saints, and give thanks to His Holy Name. Psalm 30:4
