How Does the Bible Define a “Saint”?

Traditionally there are many misconceptions of saints. However, if we use the Bible as the foundation for our understanding, we can determine simple characteristics of these people.  

First, the saints practice obedience to all of God’s commandments and patiently follow Jesus Christ in faith.

Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Second, the saints have committed themselves to honor and obey God through baptism, entering into a binding covenant with Him.

Psalm 50:23 “Gather My saints together to Me, those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.”

Third, notice in the New Testament the saints were categorized as members of the Church of God.

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

Prior to his conversion, the Apostle Paul was known to have persecuted the saints (Acts 26:10).  However later, Paul ministered to the saints (Romans 15:25), and wrote to them often (Romans 1:7, 1 Corinthians 1:2, Ephesians 1:1, Philippians 1:1, Colossians 1:2). The Apostle Peter visited the saints (Acts 9:32), and the collective Church attended to the needs of the saints (Romans 12:13, Romans 15:26, 2 Corinthians 8:4, 9:12).

From these verses we can clearly see the saints are uniquely set apart by God. They are obedient to His Law, exhibit the faith of Jesus Christ and are identified as the Church of God.

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The Saints are Special to God.

In the same way the Bible differentiates the “church” (ecclesia) from the world  as “an assembly of called out ones,” God identifies a “saint” (hagios) as apart from the wicked: “holy, a most holy thing, pure, or morally blameless.”

The saints of God represent a stark contrast to the proud, wicked, and evil, and are given incredible promises, defined by characteristics of faith and righteousness. 

Psalm 31:23 Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints! For the Lord preserves the faithful, and fully repays the proud person.

Psalm 37:27-29 Depart from evil, and do good; And dwell forevermore. 28 For the Lord loves justice, And does not forsake His saints; They are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off. 29 The righteous shall inherit the land, And dwell in it forever.

Psalm 97:10 You who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.

God distinguishes “saints” from those who reject His way of life. They are preserved and blessed, but is it even possible to achieve such high status in God’s eyes? What does it mean to be “righteous”?

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The Expectations are High for the Saints.

The Bible defines righteousness as keeping God’s Commandments, leading to the development of godly character.

Psalm 119:172 My tongue shall speak of Your word, For all Your commandments are righteousness.

Deuteronomy 6:25 Then it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to observe all these commandments before the Lord our God, as He has commanded us.’

1 John 3:10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.

1 John 2:3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.

The goal of all saints is to be holy, as God is holy. They are to come out of this world and be separate (2 Corinthians 6:17), living a changed life in service to God and His Law founded on love.

1 Peter 1:13-16 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

In this life we can choose to obey God and submit ourselves to His perfect will. It takes perseverance and great faith, but we can overcome who we are, if we faithfully commit to a life in pursuit of righteousness.

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You’re Not Perfect, But You Can Certainly Try!

In his letter to the Romans, the Apostle Paul tells us, “There is none who does good, no, not one.” (Romans 3:12) If perfection is unattainable, if none are good, then what hope do we have of becoming saints of God Most High?

Thankfully, God has not left us on our own, and He is actively involved in the process of the development of the saints. He chooses servants to teach from His Word and clarify His truth for the ministry of the saints.

Ephesians 4:11-13 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ

In the process of becoming saints, God reveals His purpose to His people and seeks to help us grow in wisdom and understanding. Receiving God’s Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:18) and developing His holy, righteous character are required so we may become more like Him and holy as He is holy. 

Colossians 1:26-29 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.

John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

The Apostle Paul was laboring in the pursuit of perfection and holiness. While he fell short, as we all do (Romans 3:23), he strived to practice God’s Law. Furthermore, since we are not perfect, no saint is worthy of worship (Psalm 96:4-5).  We can’t, and we shouldn’t pray to them! We are to pray FOR the saints, not to the saints. (Ephesians 6:18)

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The Saints Must Endure.

God’s people are unified in His Church as saints and members of the household of God (Ephesians 2:19-20). But this is not an easy path.

2 Timothy 3:12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

From the beginning, those who sought to live God’s way of life have been targeted by those who reject Him. And as the saints strive to live a life in service to God, they will experience persecution and trial in this world. 

Revelation 13:7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.

Revelation 16:6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, And You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due.”

Revelation 17:6 I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.

While persecution and troubling times may be part of the process, it is certainly not the end of the story.

John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

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Awesome Promises For The Saints Of God.

Through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the door is open to join Him and God the Father in the Kingdom and Family of God. He set the perfect example for us to follow, and soon will return and reward His saints who have faithfully honored their commitment to God.

Revelation 11:18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, and those who fear Your name, small and great, and should destroy those who destroy the earth.”

Revelation 2:26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations.

Following their resurrection to eternal life in the Family of God, the saints meet Jesus Christ in the air and return to this earth to reign alongside Him. 

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

Those saints who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful (Revelation 14:17), blameless in holiness before our God and Father (1 Thessalonians 3:13). Together they will rule with Christ to put an end to the rebellion and judge the world (1 Corinthians 6:2, 2 Thessalonians 1:9-10).

Jude 1:14-15 Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”

The Kingdom of God will be established and the people will finally know the truth and learn the way to peace and unprecedented happiness (Isaiah 11:9, Habakkuk 2:14). The saints will share in that awesome purpose, bringing real change to a desperate world. Are you ready to accept your calling? Are you ready to change the world?

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