Quotes:
“God creates out of nothing. Wonderful you say. Yes, to be sure, but he does what is still more wonderful: he makes saints out of sinners.” -Søren Kierkegaard, The Journals of Kierkegaard
I Peter 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”
1 Pedro 2: 9 “Pero vosotros sois linaje escogido, real sacerdocio, nación santa, pueblo adquirido para posesión de Dios, a fin de que anunciéis las virtudes de aquel que os llamó de las tinieblas a su luz admirable;
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
Jeremías 29: 11 “Porque yo sé los planes que tengo para vosotros” —declara el Señor— “planes de bienestar y no de calamidad, para daros un futuro y una esperanza.”
Matthew 22:14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Mateo 22: 14 “Porque muchos son llamados, pero pocos son escogidos.”
It has been said: that “S” is for Salvation; and a SAint who sins losses their “S” making them an Aint.
--So don’t lose your “S” Saint of God.
What is a SAINT?
A Saint is someone who is “set apart” for special service unto the Lord.
The Greek word for Saint is ‘hagios’ meaning consecrated and sacred.
A Saint then is someone who is set apart for special service unto the Lord (exclusively), a consecrated and sacred sanctified holy one.
A Saint is Consecrated for His purpose.
A Saint is not some super-spiritual person, rather every Christian is a Saint.
Ephesians 4 and 5 tells us that as Saints we be worthy of our calling.
That we should walk in unity, truth, love, light and wisdom.
Ephesians also tells us that as Saints we should avoid things that work against our calling and our Lord.
Such as fornication, uncleanness, covetousness and such like.
Colossians 1:9 tells us that Saints should be filled with the knowledge of God's Word.
Colossians also tells us that Saints are to please God by being fruitful in every good work.
It also says that Saints are to give thanks to the Father.
Why?
Because He has made us partakers of an eternal inheritance.
Because He has delivered us from the power of darkness.
Because He has brought us into the kingdom.
Because He has provided us with redemption and forgiveness of our sins, through precious blood!
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.”
Romanos 1: 7 “a todos los amados de Dios que están en Roma, llamados a ser santos: Gracia a vosotros y paz de parte de Dios nuestro Padre y del Señor Jesucristo.”
“Called to be Saints” – Called in the Greek is ‘klētos’ (clay-tase) meaning to invite.
We are “invited”; invited how? By the Gospel of Christ Jesus!
We are invited to be Saints.
We are invited to be set apart.
We are invited to be Holy.
We are invited to be consecrated.
We are invited to be sacred.
We are invited to be sanctified.
We are invited to be one of the holy one’s.
We are invited to live right so that we can die right!
“A man‘s self is to him the prime cause of most of his miseries.” –Adam Clarke
So then maybe we can sum up being “called (invited) to be Saints” in one verse:
Matthew 16:24 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
Mateo 16:24 “Entonces Jesús dijo a sus discípulos: Si alguno quiere venir en pos de mí, niéguese a sí mismo, tome su cruz y sígame.”
That then would mean that you are to have a sincere/strong desire to belong to Christ and Christ alone. (If anyone is willing to be My disciple).
Secondly, it means to be willing to renounce your self-dependence and all your selfish pursuits. (Let them deny their-selves).
Thirdly, you must accept/be content with the life God has allowed you, and to bear-up under the troubles and difficulties of life and living you will in-counter along the Christian road. (Let them take up their Cross).
And fourthly: to imitate Jesus. (Let them Follow Me).
You can’t go wrong imitating Christ.
Having His compassion, His love, His disdain for that which makes a lie.
You won’t go wrong loving as He loved and caring as He cared or serving as He served.
Matthew 7:13-14 “13- Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14- Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
Mateo 7:13-14 “13 Entrad por la puerta estrecha, porque ancha es la puerta y amplia es la senda que lleva a la perdición, y muchos son los que entran por ella. 14 Porque estrecha es la puerta y angosta la senda que lleva a la vida, y pocos son los que la hallan.”
Straight is the gates formed by these two rows of pews today and narrow is the path between them that leads to this altar.
Few it would seem find it, oh but those that do leave here different than whence they came. –Called to Saints!
