What Is A Saint?

What Is A Saint?

3 See what great love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children—and we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it didn’t know him. ² Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when he appears, we will be like him because we will see him as he is. ³ And everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself just as he is pure.
^{1 John 3:1–3}

What is a saint? Many have known people they would consider giving this title to. But upon what criteria are we basing it on?

Is it what they have done? An easy example is Mother Theresa. How about saintliness because of their sweet and caring personality? Nancy Regan, perhaps? Your Grandmother?

All of these are our opinions, though. In the end, who gets to make the final call? God, of course, because all of this has to do with His rules and then, eternity. It is nice and all to be saintly here, but the reward at the end is what it is all about, right? And God is the one who gives out the awards in that ceremony.

So then, maybe we should ask how God defines what a saint is. What does He say about this?

First, God says you need to be born one—born a saint.

¹ See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.

So, it is not so much what you do, but who you are—and who you are related to.

So, who here was born a saint? Go ahead, don’t be shy now….

What—no takers? Now, all of you who are baptized raise your hand!

Do you who have been baptized believe that you are made a child of God—brother or sister to Jesus by His Water and His Word?

Then you are a saint.

God so loved the world…you know John 3:16. What is the rest of that whole chapter about? Being born from above—born again…not of will of man—not of the flesh, but born of the Spirit, says the text of the Gospel of St. John.

Born of God by Water and His Word…in baptism…not just some baptisms, but your baptism.

That is what Jesus says—is saying in this text.

¹ See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.

…and so WE ARE!

² Beloved, we are God’s children now….NOW!

What, you don’t do what Mother Theresa does? But Jesus did.

What you are not as sweet and caring as your dear Grandmother? Jesus is.

And that is what counts. What Jesus did for us. What Jesus was—is…for us.

Jesus has given these works of sainthood to us. God the Father has accepted them as if we did them. They are counted to us for righteousness.

So don’t count. Don’t count on your works—don’t count on YOU at all. Don’t count on me—on anyone else but Jesus.

When we remain in Jesus—the Word God…that is who Jesus is, by the way—the incarnate Word of God. If you remain in His Word, you are His disciples. We heard Jesus say these very Words.

Sainthood. Because of Him—and our proximity to Him—we are saints…and yes, we even end up doing saintly things.

Not that they count—not toward getting—achieving sainthood. NO—as Jesus has already attained that for us.

Yet, they are good works nonetheless. When they come out of NOT HAVING TO…they are of value.

But that is not up to us. We—the left hand should not know what the right hand is doing. We are just to do.

Do good—not to count, but just because.

Why not? Saints do good, right?

It does not matter who notices. You don’t even have to notice. We won’t most of the time.

Jesus tells of that day when they will all be shown off—Jesus showing us off to His Father and to the whole universe.

Yet, Jesus says that we will be shocked. We will ask Him…When, Lord?

When did we do those things? Does it matter? No, not at all. God notices. Our focus is to be on Him and His Word—His things that His Word tells us to focus on.

Word and Sacrament. When we do that, then we cannot but help doing saintly things.

And here is why we do not have eulogies at Christian funerals. They—the person who has died—is not there—in church—for the very last time—because of what they have done. If that were the case no one could have a Christian burial.

No. It was because of Jesus’ death and burial that they can be there. It is because of what He has done. He paid for all the sin we are—so that we can be saints—so that we can be allowed in His house…so that we can be called Children of the most high.

We celebrate THAT at funerals. What Jesus has done to get them here—and then THERE—in heaven with Him.

There never should be allowed any confusion with this. Any good is because of Christ, not because of us. Even when we do it.

Everyone needs to hear this. That dead saint in heaven wants us all to hear this—and only this, because they know far better than we do, that it is Jesus alone that got them there.

And because our flesh tells us differently all the time. The devil and the world is telling us differently all the time. They want us to think it is we who gets it done—who earn our way…who figure it out…who do what it takes to be called a saint.

But this is not the case. Jesus is clear all through the Gospels. Those who think they are saints because of what they do…never get to go where true saints get to go.

Sinners are only allowed to be with Jesus. Sinners are only allowed to eat with Him.

What kind of sinners? Any kind—can and will be made saints. Now that does not mean intent sinning sinners. No. It is only those who are repentant. You cannot be intent on sin and think that Jesus will still call you saint.

Does that mean it is only those who can—who succeed in stopping their sin, that get sainthood? No. We cannot do that. It is only those who will face what they are and look to Jesus ALONE for rescue.

Not to themselves. Not to other people. Not to what they have managed. Jesus alone. Only those who agree with Christ that sin is as sinful as He says it is. Only those that will turn from it and thank Him that He has put it on Himself on the cross.

Those that want to be saints and not sinners forever. Those who would give up their sin, even if they cannot.

But, you cannot refuse to forgive and think you will be forgiven. You cannot think that you can eat with Jesus and eat at the table of your idols—whether this be money, fame, family, or career. We all have our favorite little house-hold god.

No, only redeemed sinners can be buried from God’s house. Only born-again sinners. Only the worst of sinners who Jesus has called saints, are actual saints.

Raise your hands if you are the worst of sinners. Now do so again if you are a saint.

Yes, saints because Jesus says you are, not because you say so—or anyone else says so. Saints who want to live as Jesus says. Saints who speak as Jesus speaks.

The rest are not children of God. That has been a false notion. Just because you are a creature of God, does not make you a child.

Only the children remain in His house…only children get what the Father has. Only saints are allowed to benefit from God’s doing.

Can you tell—if you are a saint, I mean? You got splashed didn’t you? But otherwise no, we can’t tell. No, you are not to trust in your sainthood, but rather in Jesus alone. If you keep your eyes on Him…which is keeping them in His Word and by participating in His Sacraments you will remain so. We don’t need to see it. We only need to see Him.

² Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

Then we will see it—as He does—as He sees us.

Yet in the meantime…like today…until our last

³ …everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

Everyone who hopes in Jesus—who trusts in Him—who acts as saints act—even though sinners still—even though dirty and not pure—even though we are blinded by how un-saintly we are…these sinners go where the water is…to be saints—to become—to be—to live—to exist as saints.

Jesus’ Water and Word alone purify. He must wash us or we won’t be clean. The Bible says the Water and the Word do this. So be washed. Become pure. Live in your baptism. Come to the eternal fountain.

Let the water of the Word make you His saints every day of your lives. He is willing.  He is here to do just that—He is doing just that in your hearing….right now.

Blessed saints of God…you are. Amen.

Podcast: Play in new window

Subscribe: RSS