What a responsibility the saints have... - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2024

I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
Jude 3.

What a responsibility the saints have! They are called upon to uphold the faith in its pristine form at all costs. But who are the saints?

The first day of this month is designated as "All Saints' Day" in the calendar of certain ecclesiastical systems. On my bookshelves I have various reference works. One of them defines a saint as "a person declared to be holy by the Christian church because of her or his qualities or good works". Reading my Bible, I cannot fail to note that this definition stands in conflict with the use of the term in Holy Scripture. True believers were called saints long before any church system evolved.

It becomes clear from the epistles, in which the addressees termed saints comprise all the believers of the various local churches and not just a select few, but everyone who has been born again and has received the forgiveness of sins and eternal life in Christ Jesus is a saint of God.

The word means "holy" and denotes that those who are thus described have been called by God and separated from the world to worship and serve Him and to wait for His Son from heaven. They enjoy the love and fellowship of all who have been delivered from the power of Satan.

No authority for canonisation can be found in Scripture. Nor can any human characteristics or benevolent works qualify anyone for the title of saint. Acceptance of Christ's finished work of redemption alone is the basis on which God, in biblical times and ever since, calls every believer a saint. When Christ returns, He will be glorified in His saints: all His blood-bought redeemed are meant. The question is: will you be one of them?

Today's reading: Isaiah 57:1-21 · Mark 1:1-8