Did You Know?

Who are the‭ ‬‘Saints’‭ ‬in Scripture‭ (‬1‭)‬

Did you know that Saints are mentioned over 90‭ ‬times in the Scriptures‭? ‬Who are these Saints‭? ‬What is the purpose of the Saints‭ ‬and what do they do‭? ‬Where do the Saints come from‭? ‬Can we see the Saints‭? ‬Can anyone become a Saint‭? ‬There is so much confusion‭ ‬in the world regarding this very important issue‭. ‬Let’s take some time to explore the Scriptures‭, ‬to ascertain what is the truth about Saints‭.‬

According to a dictionary definition of the word Saints‭, ‬it says‭ ‬“The title given to a person who has received an official honour from the Christian‭, ‬especially the Roman Catholic Church for having lived a good and holy way‭. ‬The names of Saints are sometimes used to name places and buildings”‭. ‬Another definition is‭ ‬“A person officially recognised‭, ‬especially by canonisation‭, ‬as being entitled to public veneration and capable of interceding for the people”‭.‬

Wikipedia states‭ ‬“In Christian belief‭, ‬a Saint is a person who is recognised as having an exceptional degree of holiness‭, ‬likeness‭, ‬or closeness to God‭. ‬However‭, ‬the use of the term Saints depends on the context and denomination”‭. ‬Some denominations believe that the faithful deceased are Saints in heaven‭. ‬Many other denominations believe that Saints refer‭ ‬to a holy Christian‭ (‬holy means set apart‭, ‬sacredness‭, ‬separateness‭).‬

The Catholic Church has a different understanding of Saints‭ (‬“they canonise those whom they deem to have heroic virtue and evidence of at least one miracle performed in their lifetime”‭) ‬compared to what the Scriptures actually say‭. ‬In Hebrew they do not use the word Saints‭, ‬but they use the words‭ ‬“set apart ones”‭.‬

The word Saint in English comes from the latin word‭ ‬‘Sanctus’‭ ‬and in Greek it is‭ ‬‘Hagios’‭, ‬meaning holy‭. ‬All major religions tend to use the word Saints for their leaders or special holy people‭ (‬eg Islam‭, ‬Hindu‭, ‬Sikh‭,‬‭ ‬Buddist‭).‬

In Psalms chapter 106‭ ‬and verse 16‭ ‬it gives an example‭ ‬“They envied Moses also in the camp‭, ‬and Aaron the saint of the Lord”‭. ‬Aaron was the brother of Moses‭, ‬who led the Israelites out of Egypt and crossed the Red sea‭. ‬Philippeans chapter 4‭ ‬and verse 21‭ ‬says‭ ‬“Salute every Saint in Christ Jesus‭. ‬The brethren which are with me greet you”‭. ‬Deuteronomy chapter 33‭ ‬and verse 3‭ ‬states‭ ‬“Yea‭, ‬he loved the people‭, ‬all his Saints are in his hand‭, ‬and they sat down at his feet‭, ‬everyone shall receive of thy words”‭. ‬In 1st‭ ‬Samuel chapter 2‭ ‬and verse 9‭ ‬states‭ ‬“He will keep the feet of his Saints‭, ‬and the wicked shall be silent in darkness‭, ‬for by strength shall no man prevail”‭.‬

2nd‭ ‬Chronicles chapter 6‭ ‬and verses 40‭ ‬and 41‭ ‬explains‭ ‬“Now‭, ‬my God‭, ‬let‭, ‬I beseech thee‭, ‬thine eyes be open‭, ‬and let thine ears be attent unto the prayer that is made in this place‭. ‬Now therefore arise‭, ‬O Lord God‭, ‬into thy resting place‭, ‬thou‭, ‬and the ark of thy strength‭, ‬let thy priests‭, ‬O Lord God‭, ‬be clothed with salvation‭, ‬and let thy Saints rejoice in goodness”‭. ‬For in Psalms chapter 16‭ ‬and verse 3‭ ‬records‭ ‬“But to the Saints that are in the earth‭, ‬and to the excellent‭, ‬in whom is all my delight”‭. ‬Psalms chapter 30‭ ‬and verse 4‭ ‬notes‭ ‬“Sing unto the Lord‭, ‬O ye Saints of his‭, ‬and give thanks at the remembrace of his holiness”‭. ‬Psalms chapter 31‭ ‬and verse 23‭ ‬says‭ ‬“O love the Lord‭, ‬all ye his Saints‭, ‬for the Lord preserveth the faithful‭, ‬and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer”‭.‬

According to Psalms chapter 34‭ ‬and verse 9‭ ‬it clarifies‭ ‬“O fear the Lord‭, ‬ye his Saints‭, ‬for there is no want to them that fear him”‭. ‬Psalms chapter 37‭ ‬and verse‭  ‬28‭ ‬explains‭ ‬“For the Lord loveth judgement‭, ‬and forsaketh not his Saints‭, ‬they are preserved forever‭, ‬but the seed of the wicked shall be cut‭ ‬off”‭. ‬Again‭, ‬in Psalms chapter 149‭ ‬and verse 1‭ ‬it says‭ ‬“Praise ye the LORD‭, ‬sing unto the LORD a new song‭, ‬and his praise in the congregation of the saints”‭.‬

In Mathew chapter 27‭ ‬and verses 50‭ ‬to 53‭ ‬it explains‭ ‬“Jesus‭, ‬when he had cried again with a loud voice‭, ‬yielded up the ghost‭. ‬Behold‭, ‬the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom‭, ‬and the bottom did quake‭, ‬and the rocks rent‭, ‬and the graves were opened‭, ‬and many bodies of the Saints which slept arose‭, ‬and came out of their graves after his‭ (‬Jesus‭) ‬resurrection‭, ‬and went into the holy city‭, ‬and appeared unto many”‭. ‬Acts chapter 9‭ ‬and verse 13‭ ‬points out‭ ‬“Then Ananias answered‭, ‬Lord‭, ‬I have heard by many of this man‭, ‬how much evil he hath done to thy Saints at Jerusalem”‭. ‬Also‭, ‬in Acts chapter 9‭ ‬and verse 32‭ ‬it states‭ ‬“And it came to pass‭, ‬as Peter passed throughout all quarters‭, ‬he came down also to the Saints which dwelt at Lydda”‭.‬

Paul locked up many of the Saints or people of God‭. ‬This is in Acts chapter 26‭ ‬and verse 10‭ ‬which declares‭ ‬“Which thing I also did in Jerusalem‭, ‬and many of the Saints did I shut up in prison‭, ‬having received authority from the chief priests‭, ‬and when they were put to death‭, ‬I gave my voice against them”‭. ‬The believers in Rome were called Saints as noted in Romans chapter 1‭ ‬and verse 7‭ ‬“To all that be in Rome‭, ‬beloved of God‭, ‬called to be Saints‭, ‬grace to you and peace from God our Father‭, ‬and the Lord Jesus Christ”‭. ‬Here again‭, ‬in Romans chapter 15‭ ‬and verse 26‭ ‬it explains‭ ‬“For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor Saints which are at Jerusalem”‭.‬

1st‭ ‬Corinthians chapter 1‭ ‬and verse 2‭ ‬says‭ ‬“Unto the church of God which is at Corinth‭, ‬to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus‭, ‬called to be Saints‭, ‬with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord‭, ‬both theirs and ours”‭. ‬God says that his people or Saints should not take each other to court‭. ‬This is declared in 1st‭ ‬Corinthians chapter 6‭ ‬and verses 1‭ ‬and 2‭ ‬“Dare any of you‭, ‬having a matter against another‭, ‬go to law before the unjust‭, ‬and not before the Saints‭? ‬Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world‭...‬”‭.‬

Yehovah‭ (‬Jehovah or God‭) ‬does not like confusion‭. ‬For in 1st‭ ‬Corinthians chapter 14‭ ‬and verse 33‭ ‬it confirms‭ ‬“For God is not the author of confusion‭, ‬but of peace‭, ‬as in all churches of the Saints”‭. ‬Also‭, ‬Ephesians chapter 2‭ ‬and verse 19‭ ‬it reminds‭ ‬“Now therefore ye are no longer strangers and foreigners‭, ‬but fellow citizens with the Saints‭, ‬and of the household of God”‭. ‬Some people think that the church is a building‭, ‬but in Hebrew the church is the assembly or gathering of believers‭.‬

I hope you have learned more about the Scriptures‭. ‬Next month I will continue with Part 2‭.‬

If you would like to know more‭, ‬contact‭ ‬Sandra 602‭ ‬466‭ ‬534‭.‬