Living as Saints
Saints: Understanding Your Identity in Christ
In a world that constantly tries to define us by our achievements, our failures, our job titles, or our social status, there's a profound truth that often gets overlooked: if you belong to Christ, you are a saint. Not because of anything you've done, but because of what Christ has done for you.
This isn't the distorted version of sainthood that requires canonization or special recognition from religious authorities. This is the biblical reality that every believer needs to grasp—you have been set apart by God Himself.
The Misunderstood Word
The word "saint" has been twisted and misunderstood throughout history. Many associate it with stained glass windows, halos, and extraordinary people who lived centuries ago. But when the Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Philippi, he addressed ordinary believers—people struggling with the same challenges we face today—as "saints in Christ Jesus."
The Greek word hagios, translated as "saints," simply means "set apart" or "consecrated to God." It's not a title earned through extraordinary deeds or bestowed by human authority. It's a position given by grace to everyone who has placed their faith in Jesus Christ.
A Humble Introduction with a Powerful Message
When Paul wrote to the Philippians, he didn't introduce himself with titles or credentials. He called himself a "servant of Christ Jesus." This wasn't false humility—it was a reminder that in God's kingdom, we're all servants first. But notice the beautiful contrast: Paul, the servant, addresses the believers as saints.
This tells us something profound about God's grace. We don't earn our position in Christ. We receive it as a gift. The church in Philippi lived in a city constructed to be a miniature Rome, surrounded by idol worship and emperor veneration. Yet Paul reminded them of their true identity: they were citizens of a different kingdom, members of God's household.
What It Means to Be Set Apart
Being a saint means you've been brought out of darkness and into God's marvelous light. The Apostle Peter captured this beautifully when he wrote to scattered Christians facing isolation and persecution: "Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people. Once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy" (1 Peter 2:10).
This is the first aspect of sainthood: positional sanctification. When you trust in Christ, you are immediately set apart as God's possession. You become part of His family, equal with every other believer. There's no hierarchy of holiness, no VIP section in God's kingdom. Whether you've been a Christian for fifty years or fifty minutes, you stand on the same ground—the finished work of Jesus Christ.
Scripture tells us that in Christ, there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female—we are all one (Galatians 3:28). This means no believer has achieved more favor with God than another. We all come by grace through faith, and we all stand as saints together.
The Challenge of Living It Out
But here's where it gets challenging. Being declared a saint is one thing; living like one is another. This is what theologians call progressive sanctification—the ongoing process of becoming more like Christ.
Think about it this way: when God saves us, He removes the veil from our eyes. We can now see His glory, understand His truth, and recognize sin for what it is. But we still live in bodies prone to temptation, in a world filled with darkness, surrounded by voices telling us to compromise.
Paul wrote that we are "being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another" (2 Corinthians 3:18). This transformation is gradual and incremental. It involves putting to death the remains of sin while putting on the likeness of Christ. It's a daily battle, a constant choice to walk in the light rather than return to darkness.
Shining as Lights in a Dark World
The church in Philippi faced immense pressure. They lived in a pagan culture where multiple gods were worshiped and allegiance to Rome was demanded. Within a generation, Christians would face death for refusing to worship the emperor. Yet Paul called them to be "blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world" (Philippians 2:15).
This same call echoes to us today. We may not face the threat of martyrdom, but we navigate workplaces hostile to faith, educational systems that mock biblical truth, and cultural pressures that demand we compromise. In these dark places, we're called to shine.
Being a light doesn't mean being perfect—it means being authentic. It means when you sin, you recognize it, confess it, and turn from it because you know who you are. It means your family, neighbors, and coworkers see something different in you, not because you're better than them, but because Christ lives in you.
Living Out Your Identity
So what does this look like practically? It means on Monday morning, when you return to that difficult workplace, you remember you're a saint. When you face that challenging class or deal with that problematic neighbor, you're not just representing yourself—you're representing the kingdom of God.
It means in your home, your family should see the evidence of Christ in you. It means your contentment doesn't depend on circumstances but rests in Christ. It means you're growing, learning, and being transformed by God's Word.
The challenge is simple but profound: if you are set apart by God, live like it. If you've been made a saint through Christ, let your life reflect that reality. Not for your own glory, but so others can see the transforming power of Jesus.
The Bottom Line
You don't have to wait to become a saint. If you've truly been born again, you already are one. You're set apart, consecrated, made holy in Christ. This is your identity, your position, your reality.
Now comes the daily work of living it out—of allowing God's Spirit to transform you from one degree of glory to another, of shining as a light in whatever dark corner of the world you find yourself.
The world needs to see what God's people look like. They need to see saints who struggle but don't give up, who fail but find forgiveness, who live differently because they belong to Someone greater.
You are a saint. Now live like it.
This isn't the distorted version of sainthood that requires canonization or special recognition from religious authorities. This is the biblical reality that every believer needs to grasp—you have been set apart by God Himself.
The Misunderstood Word
The word "saint" has been twisted and misunderstood throughout history. Many associate it with stained glass windows, halos, and extraordinary people who lived centuries ago. But when the Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Philippi, he addressed ordinary believers—people struggling with the same challenges we face today—as "saints in Christ Jesus."
The Greek word hagios, translated as "saints," simply means "set apart" or "consecrated to God." It's not a title earned through extraordinary deeds or bestowed by human authority. It's a position given by grace to everyone who has placed their faith in Jesus Christ.
A Humble Introduction with a Powerful Message
When Paul wrote to the Philippians, he didn't introduce himself with titles or credentials. He called himself a "servant of Christ Jesus." This wasn't false humility—it was a reminder that in God's kingdom, we're all servants first. But notice the beautiful contrast: Paul, the servant, addresses the believers as saints.
This tells us something profound about God's grace. We don't earn our position in Christ. We receive it as a gift. The church in Philippi lived in a city constructed to be a miniature Rome, surrounded by idol worship and emperor veneration. Yet Paul reminded them of their true identity: they were citizens of a different kingdom, members of God's household.
What It Means to Be Set Apart
Being a saint means you've been brought out of darkness and into God's marvelous light. The Apostle Peter captured this beautifully when he wrote to scattered Christians facing isolation and persecution: "Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people. Once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy" (1 Peter 2:10).
This is the first aspect of sainthood: positional sanctification. When you trust in Christ, you are immediately set apart as God's possession. You become part of His family, equal with every other believer. There's no hierarchy of holiness, no VIP section in God's kingdom. Whether you've been a Christian for fifty years or fifty minutes, you stand on the same ground—the finished work of Jesus Christ.
Scripture tells us that in Christ, there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female—we are all one (Galatians 3:28). This means no believer has achieved more favor with God than another. We all come by grace through faith, and we all stand as saints together.
The Challenge of Living It Out
But here's where it gets challenging. Being declared a saint is one thing; living like one is another. This is what theologians call progressive sanctification—the ongoing process of becoming more like Christ.
Think about it this way: when God saves us, He removes the veil from our eyes. We can now see His glory, understand His truth, and recognize sin for what it is. But we still live in bodies prone to temptation, in a world filled with darkness, surrounded by voices telling us to compromise.
Paul wrote that we are "being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another" (2 Corinthians 3:18). This transformation is gradual and incremental. It involves putting to death the remains of sin while putting on the likeness of Christ. It's a daily battle, a constant choice to walk in the light rather than return to darkness.
Shining as Lights in a Dark World
The church in Philippi faced immense pressure. They lived in a pagan culture where multiple gods were worshiped and allegiance to Rome was demanded. Within a generation, Christians would face death for refusing to worship the emperor. Yet Paul called them to be "blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world" (Philippians 2:15).
This same call echoes to us today. We may not face the threat of martyrdom, but we navigate workplaces hostile to faith, educational systems that mock biblical truth, and cultural pressures that demand we compromise. In these dark places, we're called to shine.
Being a light doesn't mean being perfect—it means being authentic. It means when you sin, you recognize it, confess it, and turn from it because you know who you are. It means your family, neighbors, and coworkers see something different in you, not because you're better than them, but because Christ lives in you.
Living Out Your Identity
So what does this look like practically? It means on Monday morning, when you return to that difficult workplace, you remember you're a saint. When you face that challenging class or deal with that problematic neighbor, you're not just representing yourself—you're representing the kingdom of God.
It means in your home, your family should see the evidence of Christ in you. It means your contentment doesn't depend on circumstances but rests in Christ. It means you're growing, learning, and being transformed by God's Word.
The challenge is simple but profound: if you are set apart by God, live like it. If you've been made a saint through Christ, let your life reflect that reality. Not for your own glory, but so others can see the transforming power of Jesus.
The Bottom Line
You don't have to wait to become a saint. If you've truly been born again, you already are one. You're set apart, consecrated, made holy in Christ. This is your identity, your position, your reality.
Now comes the daily work of living it out—of allowing God's Spirit to transform you from one degree of glory to another, of shining as a light in whatever dark corner of the world you find yourself.
The world needs to see what God's people look like. They need to see saints who struggle but don't give up, who fail but find forgiveness, who live differently because they belong to Someone greater.
You are a saint. Now live like it.
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