4.1 Key themes⤒🔗

• Every Christian is a saint.
• The word “saint” comes from the Old Testament and it means “holy one”.
• A Christian is not a saint because he lives a very holy life, but because he believes in the Holy God.
• A saint is also a sinner who must fight against sin.

4.2 Acts 9:10-19←⤒🔗

^9:10 Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, 'Ananias,' and he replied, 'Here I am, Lord.'

^9:11 Then the Lord told him, 'Get up and go to the street called ‘Straight,’ and at Judas’ house look for a man from Tarsus named Saul. For he is praying,

^9:12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and place his hands on him so that he may see again.'

^9:13 But Ananias replied, 'Lord, I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem,

^9:14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call on your name!'

^9:15 But the Lord said to him, 'Go, because this man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel.

^9:16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.'

^9:17 So Ananias departed and entered the house, placed his hands on Saul and said, 'Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.'

^9:18 Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized,

^9:19 and after taking some food, his strength returned.

© NET Bible

4.3 Daniel 7:13-14; 27←⤒🔗

^7:13 I was watching in the night visions, And with the clouds of the sky one like a son of man was approaching. He went up to the Ancient of Days and was escorted before him.

^7:14 To him was given ruling authority, honor, and sovereignty. All peoples, nations, and language groups were serving him. His authority is eternal and will not pass away. His kingdom will not be destroyed.

…

^7:27 Then the kingdom, authority, and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be delivered to the people of the holy ones of the Most High.

© NET Bible

4.4 Every Christian is a saint←⤒🔗

In Acts 9, Ananias calls Christians “saints” (verse 13). What is a saint? The Roman Catholic Church thinks that saints are those people who have lived very holy lives, or who did miracles. But according to the New Testament, every Christian is a saint!

Paul starts his letter to the Ephesians with these words: “Paul… To the saints in Ephesus” (Ephesians 1:1). He starts his letter to the Philippians with: “Paul and Timothy… To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi” (Philippians 1:1). A saint is not someone who is better than other Christians. If you are a Christian, then you are a saint.

4.5 Where does the word “saint” come from?←⤒🔗

The word “saint” comes from the Old Testament. It means “holy one”. In the Psalms, we often hear about saints (or “holy ones”). They are the people who receive God’s salvation and praise him.

In Daniel 7, the word “saints” is used five times. In this chapter, Daniel has a vision of the Ancient of Days (God) on his throne, and of the Son of Man. The Son of Man receives an eternal kingdom from God. He shares this kingdom with people who are called “the saints”.

The Son of Man is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ came to call together a group of people. These people belong to him. They are saints. He will share his kingdom with them forever. 

4.6 What makes someone a saint?←⤒🔗

What makes someone a saint (or a “holy one”)? It is not that this person lives a very holy life. It is that this person believes in the Holy God. Through faith, this person is in contact with the Holy God.

If you are a Christian, you have been set apart by God. It is not you who made yourself a saint. It is God who made you his saint. Have you ever been to a restaurant or a wedding, where some chairs or tables are “reserved”? They have a piece of paper to show that only a specific person can sit there. When you are a Christian, it is as if God has put a “reserved” sign on you. You belong only to him. You are his holy one.

When you are in contact with the Holy God, you are also transformed. Saints live in a way that is different from the world around them. They belong to God, not to the world. That is why the world often persecutes them. In the rest of Daniel 7, we see that the saints will suffer while they are waiting for God’s kingdom to come.

4.7 What should a saint do?←⤒🔗

We are saints, yes. But we are also sinners. In 1 Corinthians 6, Paul calls the church of Corinth “saints”. But he also writes about sinful things that he sees in their lives. They are fighting with each other and they are even committing sexual sins.

Paul writes to them that this cannot continue. If you are a saint, your life must become more and more holy. Paul reminds these saints: “You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19).

When you are a saint, God is busy making you more and more holy. He wants you to remember that you are a saint. If you remember this, you will fight against sin and grow in grace every day. Praise God that, as a Christian, you are not only a sinner but also a saint!