What's a saint?

Answer 1

"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God" 1 Peter 2:9,10.

"For you are ALL sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:26 (emphasis mine).

Hi there.

The short answer to your question is that the definition of a saint is one who, through faith in the crucified & resurrected Lord Jesus Christ - who died to pay for OUR sins - has received forgiveness from God, been brought into relationship with Him for eternity and has been transformed FROM WITHIN by the power of the Holy Spirit. In other words, all TRUE Christians, chosen by God from before the foundation of the world to be His own special people (see Ephesians 1:3 - 6). The term "saint" should correctly be applied, not to some spiritual elite "masterclass" of believers, but to all true, born - again Christians.

The Greek term "hagios" is found 62 times in the New Testament writings. Strong's Concordance defines the term as follows -

..from "hagos" (an awful thing) - sacred (physically pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially consecrated): - (most) holy (one, thing), saint.

This is the word which is translated "saints" or "saint" in the NT. The apostle Paul often used this term in reference to Christians IN GENERAL when writing to the churches, particularly in his opening salutations -

"To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called (to be) saints:" (Romans 1:7).

"To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:" (Ephesians 1:1).

"To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called (to be) saints.." (1 Corinthians 1:2). Please note that here Paul addresses the church of God (i.e. ALL the believers) at Corinth as saints. He does not make any distinction between "ordinary" and "super" Christians.

Please consider also Paul's testimony before King Agrippa in Acts 26:9 & 10, where, recounting his pre - conversion days, Paul says, "Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. This I also did in Jerusalem, and MANY OF THE SAINTS I shut up in prison..." (emphasis mine).

The original account of this persecution is found earlier in the book of Acts saying, "As for Saul, he made havoc of THE CHURCH, entering EVERY house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison". (Acts 8:3, emphasis mine).

It is very clear then, that Paul considered his persecution of the church in general to be persecution of the saints. He did not attack a mere elite minority, but rather,all the believers.

The Roman Catholic notion of a special mediatorial spiritual class bears more resemblance to the polytheistic practices of paganism, with it's multitudes of intercessory "little gods", than to biblical Christian practice. Not only does this practice of praying to dead "saints" (including Mary) contravene the Bible's clear teaching of the uniqueness of Christ's mediatorial ministry on behalf of Christians (1 Timothy 2:5), but it also encourages Roman Catholics to engage in the spiritualistic practice of communicating with the dead. This practice is expressly forbidden by God in his word (Deuteronomy 18:11).

In addition, the ludicrous, unbiblical nature of this practice of praying to "saints" is further revealed when one considers that only God is omniscient & omnipresent. How could uncreated, finite "saints" possibly simultaneously hear the thousands of
prayers addressed to them by Roman Catholic's ? It would be laughable if it were not so tragic. This erroneous, false practice is just one example of how far from biblical truth the Roman Church has deviated down the centuries. May God be merciful to Catholics.

Brief mention must also be made concerning the Jehovah's Witnesses equally erroneous defintion of what constitutes a saint. The pernicious Watchtower doctrine of believer's being divided into two classes - that is, a 144,000 spiritual elite who will reign with Christ in the heavens, and a great number of "believer's" who will inhabit an earthly paradise - ironically, in principle bears some resemblance to the Roman teaching of a "two - tier" Christian system. Ironic, that is, considering how vociferously the Watchtower oppose the Roman Catholic Church.

Space does not permit to discuss the doctrine of the 144,000 "saints" at length, suffice to say that like many JW false teachings, it is "proved" from the Bible by way of inappropriately spiritualizing texts and showing blatant disregard for context. There is a compelling question to be asked concerning this doctrine. If - as the Watchtower teach - the 144,000 "heavenly places" were filled in 1935, how did the WT know how many "vacancies" were left in this class when they first began to propagate this teaching ? This is a question that I actually asked on YA quite recently (check it out for yourself) to which I received no satisfactory answer from "God's Visible Organisation".

I would like to leave you with this excellent advice from Loraine Boettner quoted from his book, "Roman Catholicism" -

"It has well been said, If you want a "saint" to pray for you, find a true Christian and make the request of him".

Blessings.

Saint Carl of Essex.

Answer 2

The Bible refers to born again Christians as Saints.
Rom1:7 To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Rom 15:5 Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the saints there.

Answer 3

In the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches, a Saint is a person who has been canonized for martyrdom or living a Christ-like life.

In Protestantism, a saint is defined as any believer in Christ.

Answer 4

there is a long list of thing that are required to be called a saint by the roman catholic church. they are the ones who go about calling one person a saint and not the other.
anyway a saint is a person who does everything they can to please god. believes Christ is the son of god and that no one comes to the father but through him . further they believe that the lord is the one true god and is one in the holy trinity father son and holy ghost. oh sorry of coarse no matter what happens to you you must forgive everyone of everything and mean that . even if you were raped or set on fire or held prisoner and tortured for years you must forgive them completely and even more you must love them love your enemies and care for them . this and you must listen to god
now some will say a miracle has to be attributed to you one at least after your death and two others one before and either one more after or before. you have to be a Christan that is the big one.
you are a saint if you truly seek to do all you can to please god and if you are willing to give up everything life money pleasure and endure any amount of pain to help god then you are a saint .
you must also forgive everyone of every sin they have done. they could set you on fire and you forgive them . rape you and you forgive. you must not only forgive you must love your enemy and seek to help them come to christ.

Answer 5

We are all saints , those who follow and believe that Jesus Christ, died and paid the price for our sins and resureccted

Answer 6

One that is in Heaven but, for the Church's purposes they usually canonize people who have shown extraordinary virtue in certain areas along with living a righteous life.

Answer 7

Anyone of the 144,000 who where bought with Christ Jesus' blood, they are the ones who have a heavenly hope where they will serve as priests and kings in heaven and rule over the earth.

Answer 8

Hope is

Answer 9

my wife, mother, mother-in-law...