Saints: What is a saint?

Question: What is meant by a “saint”?

Answer: The word saint is used in the New Testament to refer to all Christians from the moment they trust Christ as Saviour. It does not single out special ones who have exceptional holiness or more saintly conduct.

Sainthood is not based on human achievement, but is a state into which God graciously calls us. It reflects our position in God’s sight, not our condition in daily experience (though we are certainly called to live holy lives as well, I Pet. 1:15). The Greek word, also translated holy in the Bible, is hagios, meaning separated or set apart. The saints of God (believers) are ones God has set apart for Himself.

Here are some texts that indicate the inclusive nature of the word “saints.”

Romans 1:7: Paul writes his letter to “To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints. The words “to be” are in italics in the King James Version, to indicate they have been added by the translations. More literally, the phrase reads simply “called saints.” However, even leaving “to be” in there leads us in the same direction. The believers are called to be saints (set apart ones), not by the apostles or the church, but by God Himself, by whom they are “beloved.”

First Corinthians 1:2: Paul writes “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.” “Sanctified” translates another form of the Greek word hagios, and indicates Christians are set apart in Christ Jesus–our standing before God. And again the words “to be” can be omitted. The Christians in view are merely called saints.

Second Corinthians 1:1: Paul addresses, ” the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia.” Ephesians is addressed “to the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 1:1). Philippians was sent “to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi” (Phil. 1:1). Colossians is addressed “to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse” (Col. 1:2).

Second Thessalonians 1:10: Speaks of the day of Christ’s return when He will be “glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe.” The word “and” (kai in Greek) can have the force of “that is,” or “in other words.” If that is the sense here, the first and second clause are both speaking of the same people.

While it’s true that, in their behaviour, some people are more pious and holy than others, yet as to their position before God, in Christ, all Christians are saints, set apart and specially blessed by God as His own, beloved of God, and called saints by Him (Rom. 1:7). Our standing is based fully on Christ’s perfect righteousness, not our own.