Wednesday: The “Saints” in Rome
Here is Paul’s salutation to the church in Rome: “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” (Rom. 1:7). What principles of truth, of theology, and of faith can we take away from these words?
Image © Standard Publishing from GoodSalt.com
Beloved of God. While it is true that God loves the world, in a special sense God loves those who have chosen Him, those who have responded to His love.
We see this in the human sphere. We love in a special way those who love us; with them there is a mutual exchange of affection. Love demands response. When the response is not forthcoming, love is limited in its fullest expression.
Called to be saints. In some translations the phrase “to be” is in italics, which means that the translators have supplied the words. But these two words can be left out leaving the meaning intact. When they are omitted we get the expression “called saints”; that is, “designated saints.”
Saints is the translation of the Greek hagioi, which literally means “holy ones”. Holy means “dedicated”. A saint is one who has been “set apart” by God. He or she still may have a long way to go in sanctification, but the fact that this person has chosen Christ as the Lord is what designates him or her as a saint, in the Bible’s meaning of the term.
Paul says that they were “called to be saints.” Does this mean that some people are not called? How does Ephesians 1:4, Hebrews 2:9, and 2 Peter 3:9 help us understand what Paul means?
The great news of the gospel is that Christ’s death was universal; it was for all human beings. All have been called to be saved in Him, “called to be saints” even before the foundation of the world. God’s original intention was for all humanity to find salvation in Jesus. The final fire of hell was meant only for the devil and his angels (Matt. 25:41). That some folk don’t avail themselves of that which was offered doesn’t take away from the wonder of the gift any more than someone who goes on a hunger strike in a marketplace takes away from the wonderful bounties found there.
| Even before the foundation of the world, God called you to have salvation in Him. Why should you not allow anything, anything at all, to hold you back from heeding that call? |
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Paul in his mention of the word 'saints' refers to the church at large in Rome and not a few select people of exceptional holiness that makes them superior over the average believer. The word 'saint' has been a controversial term down the denominational devide. In the context of justification by faith,when does an individual attain the state of sainthood?
When I say "remember me Lord when you come into your kingdom"! My desire to be with Jesus makes me a saint, not some holiness "I" have done!
The repentant thief on the cross became a saint when he asked Jesus to "Remember him," and Jesus never asked that thief to work his way there.
Simeon, It seems to me from the explanation given above, that a person attains sainthood upon accepting Jesus Christ as his/her Lord ans Saviour.
When the sinner(I) accepts God's setting Him/her(me) apart, God has made him/her(me) a saint.
If I can understand you well Pete and Sharon, it means faith alone is enough for an individual to attain sainthood especially in the context of the thief at the cross. He believed instantly and his sin forgiven with an assurance of eternal life at Jesus second coming. This then, shows that God declares an individual saint but doesn't make him/her saint.
Simeon, if you will look at Psalm 40:6-12 King David there indicates in verses 6-10 about Jesus' and his Father's loving kindness and truth and plan of salvation. Then in the very last two verses, there King David says why he as well as the repentant thief on the cross and us now need that very "Loving kindness and truth:" numerous evils and our iniquities more than the hairs of our heads. Even though we who continue living after we accept Jesus for our salvation will continue needing God's grace and truth in Jesus till he comes again in the clouds of heaven just like King David and the repentant thief on the cross needed that truth and loving kindness from God via Jesusåç his son.
Words like Holy, holiness, and saints have all been misused and abused from their original meaning; these words are now used to refer to something that is below attainable, this was not God's plan. Remember my Fellow Saints, God is not the author of confusion.
This confusion probably occurred somewhere around the same time when a popular church started granting public state of sainthood to special prostatis—one who should be esteemed highly "because of their work" (such as Phoebe in Romans, was made a saint by this popular church) at death, a process called canonization, definition- "(in the Roman Catholic Church) officially declare (a dead person) to be a saint:".
But the definition of saint is, according to Bing searches: "a person acknowledged as holy or virtuous".
The definition of holy is:
"1. dedicated or consecrated to God or a religious purpose; sacred:
"the Holy Bible" ·
synonyms: sacred · consecrated · hallowed · sanctified · sacrosanct · venerated;
2.(of a person) devoted to the service of God: "saints and holy men"
synonyms: saintly · godly · saintlike · pious · pietistic · religious · devout;
3. morally and spiritually excellent".
As our lesson says, holy means "set apart by God". Or set apart for a holy use, such as the Sabbath is holy.
And lastly, the definition of holiness is:
"the state of being holy: 'a life of holiness and total devotion to God'".
According to these definition, one who is holy and virtuous, a person devoted to the service of God, one who is dedicated and consecrated to God (by baptism) can be defined as a "saint". It's that simple, which is why Paul called the Christian believers "saints". He didn't call them "saints" after they were died, but they were "saints" while living in service to God, while doing the work of God.
Man has made the word "saint" complicated. But in the Bible, from Moses to Paul (David and Daniel), the word saints has always referred to God's people.
Moses says of the saints in Deuteronomy 33:3, "Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words".
David said in Psalms 16:3, "But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight." In Psalms 30:4, "Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness."
And Daniel says in Daniel 7:18, "But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever".
There are so many more bible texts in the Old and New Testament that uses the words "saints" to mean "God's people".
I don't know about anyone else, but I declare, and my Lord Jesus declares, that I am a saint of God.
God's Blessings to everyone!!
so is Pope rightly refered to as a Holy Father?
No!, because the Pope is referred to as "Holy Father," as if he stands in place of the Holy Spirit here on this earth and also Jesus himself.
Amen!
In the text quoted in today's lesson, viz Romans 1: 7 Paul uses descriptive phrases, the first being "beloved of God." Here he re-emphasizes the fact that God loves humanity intensely. He loved us while we were yet sinners. He showed His love by sending His beloved Son Jesus Christ to earth to die for us so that we might be freed from the shackles of sin and everlasting death (John 3:16). As followers of Christ, we belong to a body which is beloved of God. We enjoy the privilege of being made holy as we continue to live in the presence of a Holy God. The second descriptive phrase "Called to be saints," denotes a consecrated life of the believer to the service of God. The word "saints" points to the justification that God graciously bestows upon those who accept Him and to the daily sanctification they manifest as they continue to live a victorious life.
The grace of God in Christ Jesus is when we accepted Jesus we become death to self and therefore Christ lives in us. When Christ lives in us he empowers us to live a life of obedience to God commandments and that it is how we are sanctify daily.
Esther Moran
Now, in the light of this discussion, why do we Adventists make it a big deal when the Pope calls himself or when the media refers to him as a Holy father? ain't we saints and hence holy? or is the problem the addition of the word father?
...when does an individual attain the state of sainthood?
If the word, “attain” is understood to mean “acheive”, the answer is that sainthood is not achieved, it is received. It is God’s gift to believers--not our gift to him. We have not been forgiven by what we do. We are not being sanctified by what we do. We will not be glorified by what we do. All three aspects of salvation are only by grace and only through faith. Even our faith is God’s gift to us. (See Ephesians 2:8 7 9.)
When Jesus told his followers to "Call no one father here on earth," he was referring to giving anyone the name of God the father or the name of any deity here on earth. The Pope has taken the name of a deity here on earth; he has given himself the name of Vicar of God here on earth and that is very wrong because the only Vicar of God here on earth is the Holy Spirit.
Dear brethren and sisters, who are called to be saints, we need to be sipid in all we do and interpret the Bible lest we are called blasphemous.The pope to be called a holy father is a blasphemy and fulfillment of rev.13:1. Surely faith, holiness and saint-hood is not attained of our deeds but we are just gifted by our heavenly God just as we read Eph 2:7-9.
I think it is useful to remember that it is easy to criticize other churches and their representatives, but the real issue here is that we need to think about our relationship with Jesus rather than pointing out the wrongs of others. Romans 2 is a strong indictment against those who think they have it all and feel they should judge others.
Doesn't Paul go on to define who is a saint? It is all who are "justified by his faith", having received "the power of God unto salvation". Further into the letter we read "doers of the law shall be justified". This means sanctified by the indwelling spirit through faith. They are holy, having denied "ungodliness and worldly lust" according to Paul. Having been justified/sanctified by faith, they "walk in the Law of the Lord", which is the very definition of holiness, as Jesus demonstrated in His life as our righteousness for justification, and our holy Example for sanctification. Believing in Him leads one to this experience, as Jesus and the apostles faithfully taught. This is the result of taking His yoke upon us.
Paul states that only "them which are sanctified" will be brought to the inheritance promised, which Jesus makes very clear in The Revelation doesn't He? We must be careful on how we regard God's eternal and sacred Law. Too many take Paul's statement away from his true intention with it, and don't read all he actually states concerning it. As he would say: "Study to show thyself approved unto God...".