Can I become a saint? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Philippians 1:1-2,

"Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all God's holy people
in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."

Paul wrote his letter to the Philippian church, addressing "God's holy
people" (or, "saints"). Who were these holy people? How did they get
that way? What special "rights and privileges thereunto" accompanied
their status as "God's holy people"?

While the three questions I ask send us right into the hotbed of
sectarian and theological division and argument, the Scriptures are
astonishingly simple, direct and to the point on the answers. The
Merriam-Webster on line dictionary rightly lists "sainted" as a
synonym of "holy". Both are translated from the Greek word, "hagiois":
"saints" or "holy ones".

In Hebrews 2:10-13 we read, "In bringing many sons and daughters to
glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything
exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation [Jesus Christ]
perfect through what he suffered. Both the one who makes people holy
and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not
ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. He says, 'I will declare
your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing your
praises.' And again, 'I will put my trust in him.' And again he says,
'Here am I, and the children God has given me.'" Note that saints are
not such because of anything they have done, it is Jesus Christ who
makes them saints, makes them holy. They are his brothers and sisters
because they put their "trust in him". As his brothers and sisters,
they have become co-heirs with Jesus Christ, "Now if we are children,
then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.." Romans
8:17a.

Jesus Christ makes us holy before his Father, imbuing us with his own
righteousness. It came at the cost of his horrific death on that cross
by paying the penalty for our sins. As such we are "saints", "God's
holy people". We come to be that way simply by embracing him in faith.
God has chosen that all who will embrace him in faith will become his
children. As saints, we are the heirs of eternal life with all that
comes with being co-heirs with Jesus Christ.

Amazing... isn't it?!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com