Are saints god-like?

Question

When they're beatified for their exemplary goodness here on earth, do you think they're rewarded with some level of omnipotence in heaven?

I was taught of their intercession for our prayers to be answered, but many people devote their lives to saints. (?)

Answer 1

i believe many people devote their lives to the saints to try to live by their examples. therew ere human beings who lived exactly like us. they are a shining example of how we can all live by God's word and exemplify Jesus love.

Answer 2

Well, considering that the Bible says that every Christian believer is a saint, I would say no that saints are not God-like. I am not too sure what to believe about the Roman Catholic idea of canonizing and beatifying people as saints, but I can tell you that I think praying to someone who is probably most likely still in the ground in some form, skeletal remains or still not quite fully rotted, does not sound very God-like to me because God is in heaven and they are probably waiting in their graves for the Day of Judgment and the resurrection of the dead.

Answer 3

"Exemplary goodness" that brings us CLOSER to the Sacraments.

Saints are those who inspire us follow Jesus Christ in specialized ways. Contrary to popular belief, many Saints are way too human. Like the Saint of Thieves (dude who died with Jesus on the Cross) was a Thief for goodness sake!!!

I'm JPII Generation, and "Personal Adoration" kinda faded with Vatican II ... but I've been hanging with the old bitties, and learning that they don't "Devote" but rather study and if they find commonalities, they use the inspiration, and yes, as for "Intercessions".

It's kinda like you have a big brother/ sister who you talk to before going to Dad for help. It doesn't insure that Dad will give you what you want ... but gives you comfort.

Dunno about omnipotence ... but "miracles" confirm that they are in heaven and have God's ear.

Answer 4

Saints are NOT God-like.
Saints are merely people who lived and believed on the name of Jesus Christ. The Catholic Church has done a disservice to "beatify" individuals.
Paul's Epistles mention the saints in all the churches frequently.
And these were living saints.
So, technically, if you are a Believer, you are a saint. No special powers, dead or alive.

Answer 5

The Bible talks of all born again believers as saints. We were all made in God's image and He is not a respecter of persons. This means that He sees us all as equal, and only one person is higher, and that is Jesus. Jesus was in total surrender to God so He was operating as God after the Holy Spirit came on Him. The amount of being God like, is equal to the amount of surrender that you walk in. If you can surrender completely and become a willing vessel for God's Spirit to operate out of then you will appear to be God like. It is God only that can give you any appearence of Godliness. Human are naturally sinful so we must over come the old nature by renewing in God. He is standing at the door knocking and if you let Him in He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and if you continue in Him you will become more Godlike.

Answer 6

Saints keep the Laws written in the Torah.
Satan is the God of this world and keeps no law. 2 Cor.4:4

Answer 7

The Bible says that every person who has been born again by God's Holy Spirit is a "saint".

Ephesians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints (hágios) who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

hágios - Holy, set apart, sanctified, consecrated, saint. Its fundamental idea is separation, consecration, devotion to the service of Deity, sharing in God's purity and abstaining from earth's defilement.

Positionally, every believer is a "saint" in God's eyes but we all go through a life long process of sanctification where the Holy Spirit works to make us more and more like Jesus over time.

If you are referring to the practice of the church in Rome of naming notable figures from the annals of Christian history "Saints" then I have to tell you in love that this is not a practice that is ordained in the Bible. Instead we read this passage written by Saint Paul the Apostle.

1 Corinthians 4:1 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

No Saint in the Bible every told anyone to pray to them after they left this earth. Instead Saint Paul gives us this insight into his struggle between wanting to remain of some use to the believers in Philippi and wanting to be with Jesus.

Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

We have two mighty intercessors on our behalf, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. We don't need any better ones than them.

Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Romans 8:34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

When all of us are glorified with Jesus and we are given eternal bodies we will all have power beyond what we now have.

1 Corinthians 15:51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."

1 John 3:2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.