SAINTS – ARE YOU?

By Lahry Sibley

2Co 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy
our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints
which are in all Achaia:

Second Corinthians is written to the church of God in Corinth by Paul and Timothy.
We see that the letter was not only sent to the assembly at Corinth, but to the
“saints” in all the surrounding area (Achaia).

The word SAINTS is a familiar term in Pro Football and in the Bible. In the Bible
what does it actually mean? Let’s take a look, shall we?

Saints G40
hagios
hag'-ee-os
From άγ
̔ ος hagos compare G53, [H2282]; sacred (physically pure, morally
blameless or religious, ceremonially consecrated): - (most) holy (one, thing), saint.

As you can well see, there are many synonyms for the word “saints”. Some
religions and denominations call certain people of the past “saints” because of their
reputation that aligns itself with the adjectives above. But is this who Paul is talking
too? Or is this addressed to every known converted believer in that area?

Folks, I don’t think I’m adding too anything in saying that I think it is addressed to
the saints at the church of Corinth and the saints of the surrounding area as being
those people who are known converted believers. In using this term, Paul is
declaring his personal recognition of those who are sacred and holy (see other
terms above in parenthesis).

Now as I think about this information, I have to ask myself, is this me? Am I a
saint, as defined above? Are you? Do those terms describe our character? I think no
one would argue that they describe the character of our Lord. But what about you
and I? Are we saints, Biblically speaking? If this is not you or I, how do we
“reconcile” the differences? How do we explain them away? (compromise).

Is this what God sees when He looks at us? It IS what He sees if we are “in Christ”.
Why? Because those who are “in Christ” are “new creations”. Old things (the old
adamic nature and all its imperfections) are passed away. Where did they pass
away? AT THE CROSS, where SELF DIES. (if they are still alive, they cannot
possibly be “passed away”, as in dead) When we are “crucified with Christ by faith”,
then we receive the resurrection power of His resurrection and we affirm this in our
willingness to die to self and be immersed in water as symbolically unified with
Christ and what He did in our place, His death and resurrection, and on our behalf.
Glory to God.

If this is you and I, then those terms above that describe “saints”, should also
describe you and I, not just in terms of faith, but in terms of the new nature as
well. These characteristics should be blossoming in us like the new birth of a
beautiful rose. The more it opens up, the more beauty is revealed, nothing hidden,
all giving glory to God. A sweet fragrance is detected by all who are near. Is this
you? Is this me? Are we really saints? Have we crucified and put to death every
occasion for the flesh? Just something to think about as we begin our week.
Something to pray about when you seek His resurrection power to lead an
overcoming life. Resurrection has overcome death. But the death must precede the
resurrection. Selah - Lahry