Mission Venture Ministries

And He Himself (Jesus) gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-12) 

This means that Jesus established these vocations and that they are appointed and gifted by Jesus, and not by man. The purpose of these gifts of leadership is also clear. It is that saints (God’s people) might be equipped for the work of ministry (service), so that the body of Christ would be built up, expanded and strengthened. 

Leaders in the church have the first responsibility to equip people to serve and to direct their service as God leads. This is to perfect, complete and mature, the saints for the ministry and edification of the body of Christ. 

Paul in his writings addresses the body of believers as those who are called to be saints. We read this in Romans 1:7, “To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” 

And again in 1 Corinthians 1:2-3: “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, both theirs and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” 

The word saints are never used of a special group of believers who serve God better than others. Scripture is clear that all born again believers are saints. 

The word saint originates from the Greek word meaning “holy” or “set apart.” Christians are called saints because they are called to live a life set apart from the corruption of the world. Followers of Christ are called to be holy, “as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:15-16). 

When we search for the word saints in the Bible we see that the word is almost exclusively referred to in plural form “saints.” Even when we read Philippians 4:21 which uses the word saint in the singular form – “Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you” – its implication reflects plurality.  

The idea of the word “saints” is a group of people set apart for the Lord and His kingdom. There are three references referring to godly character of saints as Paul writes:

• To assist: “I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also” (Romans 16:1-2).
• To equip: “the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12).
• To stay pure: “But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, because these are improper among saints“ (Ephesians 5:3). 

As we see, “saints” are referred to in the Bible as the body of Christ. All born again believers are considered saints and are called to be saints. Christians are saints by virtue of their union with Jesus Christ – “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). 

Christians are called to be saints, to increasingly allow their daily life to more closely resemble their position in Christ. This is the biblical description and calling of the saints. 

If you have put your trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, then He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified (Hebrews 10:14) through His own blood (Hebrews 13:12) and you have been washed and justified in His Name (1 Corinthians 6:11). 

Christians are made holy by the atoning work of Christ at Calvary on the cross. Once this takes place, they are set apart for holy use by God and that is to glorify God and share the Good News with those who are not yet saved. 

Some religious groups make wooden and metal images and idols of the people that they call “saints.” This pagan practice is extremely evil and a blatant abomination to our Holy Creator, God and King. People and nations were destroyed because they worshipped and prayed to idols, false gods and the people that they considered “saints.”  

This is and extremely evil and dangerous practice and everyone who practices idol worship and teaches people to worship idols will be cast into the Lake of Fire for all of eternity. 

God said it, God commanded it, that settles it. This is what He spoke. 

Thou shall have no other gods before Me. (Exodus 20:3) 

Thou shall not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; thou shall not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep My commandments. (Exodus 20:4-6) 

If you belong to Him, you are a saint!  When God looks at you, He sees Jesus’ holiness in you. As it is written in Isaiah 61:10, “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness.” 

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