ARE YOU A SAINT?

ARE YOU A SAINT?

You can be.

That question would make most of us flat out laugh -

including myself.  We know only to well what we are

made of.  We know those thoughts and desires that 

go through our mind.  They are anything but holy.

To say nothing of our life and actions.

All of us have memories of past actions that we would

give almost anything to be able either redo, or erase

from out minds.

Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary defines "saint"

as:

"1. A holy or godly person; esp, one regenerated

and sanctified or undergoing sanctification."

And what is "sanctified";

"Free of sin; set apart to sacred duty or use."

Well, that left us all out - didn't it?

CONSIDER:

"To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi,

including the overseers and deacons: Grace to you

and peace from God our Father and the Lord

Jesus Christ.

(Philippians 1:1,2 NASB)

What does that have to do with me?

Notice  it says "saints", plural.  The Church at Philippi

had numerous "saints".   Not just some old person

"canonized" by some religious authority.

"To the church of God which is at Corinth,

to those who have been sanctified in Christ

Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every

place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

their Lord and ours:"  

(1 Corinthians 1:2 NASB)

There is our clue as to what a saint is.

When a person turns to Jesus Christ accepting

him as Lord and Savior, God forgives our sins,

cleanses us with the shed blood of Jesus and

sets us apart for himself.

That is what "sanctified" is.  Cleansed and set

apart for Jesus Christ.  That of course is from

calling on his mighty name.  And then his Holy

Spirit can come into us making us a new person.

And that new person is a "saint" according to

God Himself.

How ever.  Most people who "profess" to know

or live for God are only doing it in their own

power or mind.  They have not truly turned

them selves over to God and simply live a 

fleshly life like anyone else.

"They profess to know God, but by their deeds

they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient

and worthless for any good deed."  

(Titus 1:16 NASB). 

You can be a "saint" if you will let Jesus Christ

make you one.