Obtaining Sainthood

1. The word “saint.”

1) The word “saint” is comes from the same word for “holy.”

2) We could literally say that “saints” are “holy ones.”

3) What does it mean, however, to be “holy?”

4) It means to be consecrated, separated, dedicated.

5) This is illustrated in the fifth commandment “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.” (Exodus 20:8). The Sabbath was a day that was consecrated, separated, and dedicated to God.

6) The saint is exactly that, except in person form.

2. In the Old Testament

1) Aaron is called a saint in Psalm 106:16 “They envied Moses also in the camp, And Aaron the saint of Jehovah. “

2) More generally, however, the word is applied in the plural to God’s people.

3) Deuteronomy 33:2, 3 “And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them. Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words.”

4) They are those who worship God: Psalm 30:4 “Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.”

5) The faithful: Psalm 31:23 “O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful…”

6) Those who fear Him: Psalm 34:9 “O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.”

7) Those who have made a covenant with God: Psalm 50:5 “Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”

8) Those who possess the kingdom: Daniel 7:18, 27 “But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.” “And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.”

3. In the New Testament

1) The members of the local churches

a. The church at Jerusalem: Acts 9:13 “Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:”

b. The church at Rome: Romans 1:7 “To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

c. The church at Corinth: 1 Cor. 1:2 “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:”

d. The church at Ephesus: Eph. 1:1 “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:”

2) Those who belong to God through Christ.

a. Those for whom intercession is made: Romans 8:27 “And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

b. All those who comprise the church: 1 Cor. 14:33 “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”

c. Those belonging to God’s house: Eph. 2:19 “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;”

d. The body of Christ: Eph. 4:12 “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: “

3) Those who behave in a holy manner.: Eph. 5:3, 4 “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.”

1. By being sanctified, consecrated, saved.

1) 1 Corinthians 6:11 “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”

2) Titus 3:5 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”

3) Mark 16:16

2. By becoming part of Christ’s kingdom.

1) Mark 9:1 – kingdom would come with power.

2) Acts 1:8 – power would come with the Holy Spirit.

3) Acts 2:4 – The Holy Spirit came.

4) What happened that day?

5) Peter used the keys of the kingdom to open the door to the kingdom (Matthew 16:18, 19).

6) How did people become part of the kingdom that day?

7) Acts 2:38, 41.

3. By becoming part of Christ’s body.

1) The body of Christ are those whom Christ saves (Eph. 5:23) “He is the Savior of the body.”

2) How do we become part of the body? By putting on Christ.

3) Galatians 3:27 “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

4) 1 Corinthians 12:13 “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”

4. By becoming part of Christ’s house.

1) 1 Timothy 3:15 tells us that the church is God’s house.

2) Hebrews 3:6 tells us that we can continue to be part of God’s house if we are faithful.

5. By becoming part of Christ’s church.

1) Acts 2:47 ” Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. “

2) How were they saved? By calling upon the name of the Lord, Acts 2:21 “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

3) What does it mean to call upon the name of the Lord? Acts 22:16

6. By living a life of holiness and remaining faithful to the Lord.

1) Hebrews 12:14 “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:”

2) 1 Peter 1:15, 16 “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

3) 1 Peter 2:9-11 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;”