What is required of a Saint?"

Brethren,

How do you feel about being called by GOD, to GLORIFY HIS NAME?"

Good?" Indifferent?

And now, "how do you feel about being known by GOD, and recognized by HIM, as a "Saint?"

I say, "Saint," even though sometimes our actions, say that we ain't?" With that said, consider this SCRIPTURE, that might reminds each of us, of the darkness that our LORD, delivered us from.

1st Corrinthians 6:9-12 reveals that darkness, like this." Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit The KINGDOM of GOD? Do not be decieved. Neither fornicators? nor Idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit The KINGDOM of GOD. And such were some of you. But you were WASHED, but you were SANCTIFIED, but you were JUSTIFIED in The NAME of The LORD JESUS and by The SPIRIT of our GOD. All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the POWER of any.

[Brethren,

Because of our FAITH in the "finished work" of The Cross of CHRIST, that remitted our sins." We are The RIGHTEOUSNESS of GOD, and have been placed in CHRIST'S BODY." And because we are," many are the troubles that come our way."

Psalm 34:19-22 assures us of this, by saying": Many are the afflictions of the RIGHTEOUS, but The LORD delivers him out of them all. HE guards all his bones; not one of them is broken.

Evil shall slay the wicked,

And those who hate the RIGHTEOUS shall be condemned. The LORD redeems the Soul of HIS servants,

And none of those who Trust in HIM shall be condemned.

[Brethren,

It’s probably not a name that we would use for ourselves, but the apostle Paul often called Believers, “Saints.”

In Ephesians 1:1 the apostle Paul, himself, wrote these WORDS": Paul, an Apostle of JESUS CHRIST by the will of GOD, To the Saints that are in Ephesus, and FAITHFUL in CHRIST JESUS.

[And because we are, Beloved, we are the Saints of GOD."

And so, GOD, through Ephesians 1:2-7 gives us this admonition of GRACE," saying]: GRACE to you and PEACE from GOD our FATHER and The LORD JESUS CHRIST. Blessed (be) The GOD and FATHER of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, Who has Blessed us with every SPIRITUAL Blessing in the HEAVENLY places in CHRIST, just as HE chose us in HIM before the foundation of the world, that we should be HOLY and without blame before HIM in LOVE, having predetermined us to adoption as sons by JESUS CHRIST to HIMSELF, according to the good pleasure of HIS will, to the praise of The GLORY of HIS GRACE, by which HE made us accepted in the Beloved.

In HIM we have REDEMPTION through HIS BLOOD, the FORGIVENESS of sins, according to the riches of HIS GRACE.

[And so, now I ask you, Beloved Brethren,

Did Paul, call them "Saints," because they were perfect?"

Absolutely not!" But only because, they," like him, and even, us," are charged with the responsibility to share The GOOD NEWS of The RISEN CHRIST, for the remission of sins, to this lost and dying world." And so the apostle Paul, gives us each this admonition, from 2nd Timothy 4:1-5, saying: I charge you therefore before GOD and The LORD JESUS CHRIST, Who will judge the living and the dead at HIS appearing and HIS KINGDOM: [And so, know this, Beloved Brethren, everyone who Believes in the death, burial, and RESURRECTION of JESUS CHRIST, for the remission of sins. "Is called to speak."] Preach The WORD!

Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine. But according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the TRUTH, and be turned aside to fables. ["Once again, Beloved, this instruction is for each of us.] But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an Evangelist, fulfill your Ministry.

[Beloved,

When the apostle Paul referred to his fellow Believers, as Saints." He knew that they were just as human as he was. Therefore, he knew that they were just as sinful." And so, it was Paul, who before embracing The WORD of The LIVING GOD." Said," of himself: I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained MERCY because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

[Yes, the apostle Paul, was once a blasphemer, and an insolent man.

He was a persecutor of "The BODY of CHRIST," before he himself, became a member of CHRIST'S BODY." For when he embraced The WORD of The LIVING GOD, "JESUS CHRIST." Paul's whole way of seeing things was radically rearranged." 👀

And isn't that the way it happened with each of us, Beloved Brethren?"🤔

I am convinced, that it is!"

But to those who have yet to see themselves, as sinners."

The LORD, our GOD, used Paul, to pen down these WORDS from Romans 3:23 assuring everyone, by saying: For all have sinned and fall short of The GLORY of GOD.

["And so, knowing that all have sinned.

What then, did Paul have in mind, when he referred to his fellow Believers, as Saints?"

Well, consider this. The word "Saint" in the New Testament, means, one who is "set apart" for The GLORY of GOD. Right!" One who is set apart to serve, and GLORIFY GOD!" Yes, to live for HIS GLORY, and to never be ashamed to tell HIS story."

Yes, to tell everyone of how our LORD finished the work of "REDEMPTION," to SAVE us from the consequence of our sins.

[Brethren,

After reading Colossians 1:2-6, can you sense the feeling of joy, that the Saints must've felt, after hearing these WORDS? Consider them: To the Saints and FAITHFUL Brethren in CHRIST who are in Colosse: GRACE to you and PEACE from GOD our FATHER and The LORD JESUS CHRIST. We give thanks to The GOD and FATHER of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, praying always for you, since we heard of your FAITH in CHRIST JESUS, and of your LOVE for all the Saints; because of the hope which is laid up for you in HEAVEN, of which you heard before in The WORD of TRUTH of The GOSPEL, which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew The GRACE of GOD in TRUTH.

Brethren,

The WORD, "Saints," describes people like you and me, who have a SPIRITUAL union with CHRIST.

And because we do," Ephesians 1:3-6 gives us this WORD, saying: Blessed be The GOD and FATHER of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, Who has Blessed us with every SPIRITUAL Blessing in the HEAVENLY places in CHRIST, just as HE chose us in HIM before the foundation of the world, that we should be HOLY and without blame before HIM in LOVE, having predestined us to adoption as sons by JESUS CHRIST to HIMSELF, according to the good pleasure of HIS will, to the praise of the GLORY of HIS GRACE, by which HE made us accepted in the Beloved.

[Brethren,

The WORD, "Saint," is synonymous with individual Believers, like you and me, who Trust, and Believe The WORD of The LIVING GOD.

Yes, The WORD of GOD," Who "PERSONIFIED," is our LORD JESUS CHRIST."

And because we embrace HIM," in TRUTH." We make up the church of GOD.

Thus, GOD, through Romans 8:27 gives us each this WORD, saying: Now HE Who searches the hearts knows what the Mind of The SPIRIT is, because HE makes intercession for the "Saints" according to the will of GOD.

[Yes, because HE knows our heart, Beloved Brethren." HE speaks these WORDS from Isaiah 60:1-5 over us, who are today, The LIGHT of the world, "Saying: "Arise, shine;

For your LIGHT has come!"

And The GLORY of The LORD is RISEN upon you.

For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But The LORD will arise over you, And HIS GLORY will be seen upon you.

[Aren't those "amazing WORDS," Beloved, to be spoken over sinners?" Even if we are, "REDEEMED sinners, who have been bought and paid for, with "BLOOD."

Yes, purchased through our FAITH in the finished work of The Cross of CHRIST, and repentance of sin?"

Certainly, they are amazing!"

Even as it is, "amazing," that because we Believe GOD," HE speaks these WORDS from Isaiah 59:21 to us": "As for ME," says The LORD, "this is MY covenant with them: MY SPIRIT Who is upon you, and MY WORDS which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants' descendants," says The LORD, "from this time and forevermore."

[Brethren,

We, being "Saints of GOD," have a responsibility to walk a walk, that's worthy of our calling." For Ephesians 4:1 admonishes each of us, saying: I, therefore, the prisoner of The LORD, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in LOVE, endeavoring to keep the UNITY of The SPIRIT in the bond of PEACE." [Yes, the bond of PEACE, because we are "The BODY of CHRIST, and members of one another."] And knowing that we are, these WORDS are spoken over us": There is one BODY and One SPIRIT, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; One LORD, One FAITH, One Baptism,

[And now that we have the thought of Baptism fresh in our minds." Just Who, Beloved, do you think does the "Baptizing?"

Well, let's see what John the Baptist, himself, says in regards to this." Consider John's declaration from Mathew 3:11,: I, indeed Baptize you with water unto repentance, but HE Who is coming after me is mightier than I, Whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. HE will baptize you with The HOLY SPIRIT and with fire.

[Now consider this, John the Baptist, was calling all men everywhere to repentance. And then, to partake in a "Baptism of repentance."

And since The LORD had absolutely no sins to repent of." We know that HE was Baptizing The BODY of CHRIST at the Jordan River, and doing so, unto repentance."

On that very Day, The LORD, our GOD, spoke from HEAVEN, and spoke these WORDS over us. "The BODY of CHRIST": This is MY BELOVED SON, in Whom I AM well pleased.

Yes, Mathew 3:17 reveals it."

Brethren,

When The LORD JESUS CHRIST, HIMSELF, approves of our FAITH.

HE "HIMSELF," qualifies us, and places us in HIM."

In The BODY of CHRIST." For in Mathew 28:18 HE assures us, saying: All authority has been given to ME, in HEAVEN and on earth.

And so we are, Beloved,

"The same BODY of CHRIST" which was Baptized at the Jordan River, and is today, a new creation in CHRIST."

Thus, 2nd Corrinthians 5:17 encourages each of us, saying: Therefore, if anyone is in CHRIST, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

[That WORD, Beloved, is for me and you!" For we have become new!"

And so, we," being a new creation, know now to do the will of HIM Who called us out of darkness, and into HIS Marvelous LIGHT." Yes, That we would walk in obedience to The LIGHT of GOD’S WORD."

This includes, but is not limited to, no longer being sexually immoral and using improper speech." We are to put on the new man, with the new character traits of service to one another, humility, gentleness, patience, LOVE, Unity of The SPIRIT in the bond of PEACE, obedience, and perseverance during hardship and suffering. We are to do this, knowing that Psalm 16:3 refers to us who are modern day Saints, as “the excellent ones, in whom is all our LORD'S delight.”

[Brethren,

Our union with CHRIST makes us "Saints." But our obedience to The WORD of The LIVING GOD," makes us the excellent ones."

Yes, for it is excellent to obey The WORD of The LIVING GOD.

JESUS

OK