Question from a WordTruth.Com friend:
>> I'm a good disciple of God and I want to enrich
>> and strengthen my faith as a Catholic... As of now
>> I'm enrolled on a religious school. Our teacher
>> is requesting us to do research regarding "How a
>> saint becomes a saint?" or "What are the stages
>> they undergo for them to become a full-fledged saint?"WordTruth.Com Response:
I commend your desire to become a good disciple of God. Jesus commanded people like you and I to "Follow Me!" (Matthew 4:19). I like the fact that Jesus kept it simple. As long as you keep your faith and your focus on the LORD Jesus Christ, He will lead you to do great things in His kingdom (Ephesians 2:10; Philippians 1:6; Hebrews 12:1-3).Now, to your question, "How does a saint become a saint?" We must look to the word of God for the answer to any question because it is the only source of truth we have. All other words are the word of men but the Holy Bible is God's word.
The first reference to the word "saint" appears in Deuteronomy 33:2-3. It refers to the congregation of believers that worshiped God on Mt. Sinai. So way back during the time the Hebrew people were brought out of slavery in Egypt, people who put their trust in the LORD God were called "saints."
The next reference is 1 Samuel 2:9 speaking of the LORD: "He will guard the feet of His saints, But the wicked shall be silent in darkness. "For by strength no man shall prevail." Here we see that there are basically two divisions of people in the world: saints and the wicked. Obviously, the saints are those who believe in the LORD Jesus Christ and the wicked are the unbelievers.
In the Psalms, believers -- those who "fear the LORD" (Psalm 24:9) which means to give Him honor and reverence -- are called saints repeatedly (Psalm 16:3; 30:4; 31:23; 37:28; 50:5; 89:5,7; 97:10; 116:15; 132:16; 145:10; 148:14; 149:1). Note in many of these Psalms, there is a contrast between the two divisions of people -- believers and unbelievers. Also, Daniel 7:22-29 predicts a time in the future where the Antichrist will rule on the earth and persecute the "saints" who worship the LORD Jesus Christ (also in Revelation 13:7). These are believers who live on the earth during that time.
The Old Testament has many more references to "saints" who were ordinary people who put their trust in God and in His promise of Christ who would come into the world to deal with the problem of sin.
In the New Testament, the bodies of many "saints" were raised from the dead at the moment of Christ's death (Matthew 27:50-53). It is not clear to whom the text is speaking but given the Old Testament passages it would seem obvious that it was a number of the believers from the past.
Acts 9:13-14 refers to the "saints in Jerusalem" and equates them to those who call on the name of the LORD Jesus Christ as Savior. Acts 9:41 refers to the believers in Joppa as "saints." Paul refers to the believers in Rome during his lifetime as "saints" because of their faith in the LORD Jesus Christ (Romans 1:7-9). See also Romans 8:23-28 where those who are believers in the LORD Jesus Christ are also referred to as "saints." In Romans 15:31, Paul makes a contrast between the unbelievers and the believers whom he calls "saints" (also in 1 Cor. 6:1).
Look at 1 Corinthians 1:2, "To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours." If you are "in Christ Jesus" you are called to be a "saint." All the believers in the church are called saints (1 Corinthians 14:33; 2 Corinthians 1:1; Ephesians 1:1,15,18; 2:19-20; Philippians 1:1; 4:21-22; Colossians 1:2; 2 Thessalonians 1:10; Hebrews 13:24; ). Those who have faith in the LORD Jesus Christ are called "saints" also in Revelation 14:12.
By the way, Paul used this term "in Christ" to refer to people who have turned from their sin and put their trust in the LORD Jesus Christ who died to pay the penalty for all their sins (1 Peter 3:18). Jesus Christ our LORD was resurrected from the grave on the third day proving He is the LORD, He has the authority to forgive your sins, and the power to give you new life, eternal life! Praise the LORD Jesus for this precious gift of salvation (Romans 6:23)! By the grace of God, you are "in Christ" by putting your faith alone in Christ alone for salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9).
I hope this is a helpful look at what the Bible says about becoming a "saint." There is not a special group or class of people called "saints" in the Bible apart from all of those who have believed in the LORD Jesus Christ. Some people set apart certain believers and call them "Saint Ann" or "Saint Christopher." The Bible has no such designations. Rather, we find that everyone is equal before the LORD. All have sinned and fall short of God's holiness (Romans 3:22-23). And anyone who calls on the name of the LORD Jesus Christ will be saved (Romans 10:9-13) and called a "saint" by the LORD.
May God bless you with wisdom to know His will and the courage to follow Him!
Randy Lariscy :-)
Director - WordTruth.Com Ministry
Our Creator God loves you and wants you to know Him! If you would like to contact this ministry for further information or questions, please send your e-mail to:
Email: ministryrequest1@WordTruth.Com
Web Site: WordTruth.ComCopyright 5/14/2000, Randy Lariscy.
