109. Wala ka sa Lolo ko. As for him, we need not die before becoming a saint.

8 February 2021

Hebrews 6

9 Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case—the things that have to do with salvation.

Apostle Paul called believers in Christ "saints".

Colossians 1 (NKJV)

2 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.

“The Hebrew word used in the Old Testament for saint is “chaciyd” which means “faithful, kind, godly,” and “holy one” so we see that the use of the word saint essentially means the same thing in both the Old and New Testament and that is “holy ones.”  There is yet another Hebrew word for saint and it is “qadowsh” which again means “sacred, holy, holy one” and “set apart.”  When believers are called and saved we are sanctified or “set apart for holy use” which is what sanctified means.  So the Bible mentions believers in both the Old and New Testament as saints.

Paul is not the only one to call Christians saints. So too does the Apostle John but really it is Jesus Christ who calls them saints because He is the actual author of the Book of Revelation (1:1) and so we turn there to see in 14:12 where it is written “Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.”

You are Saints in the Present

There is no need to await beatification (sainthood achieved) as some believe.  It doesn’t take ten or twenty or a hundred years.  If you have repented and trusted in Christ, you are a saint of God today, right now!” (patheos website/blogs/christiancrier/2014/09/15/what-is-the-bible-definition-of-a-saint/)

Let me share my reflection 15 October 2017.

"Saint. We need not die before becoming one.

The Certainty of God’s Promise

Hebrews 6

19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 

20 where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

During prayer at church last Wednesday, in groups we were given 2 passages to reflect on, one is:

Galatians 2

20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Let me dwell on salvation mentioned in Hebrews 6:9, by the faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me, as put in Galatians 2:20.

As explained by our Dear Pastor Clem several times, salvation is in 3 stages, namely justification, sanctification and glorification.

"Justification, we are justified righteous by the imputed righteousness of the Lord Jesus, and his death on the cross substitutes for the death we deserve for our sins.

Sanctification, we are sanctified, transformed little by little to the likeness of Christ from our sinful nature. The good deeds we do are fruit of the Holy Spirit in us as work of sanctification. We do good deeds not to earn salvation, good deeds are result of salvation.

Glorification, we will be glorified, sinless and spotless when we traverse to eternity in the presence of God." (truthpills.wordpress website/spiritual/salvation-justification-sanctification-glorification/)

Lord, I "know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So I have put my faith in Christ Jesus that I may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified" (Galatians 2:16). Lord, "I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!" (Galatians 2:21). I am grateful that You paid the debt I owe which I cannot settle on my own, I have accepted You as my Savior and Lord, this I pray in Jesus' name. Amen."

As stated above earlier, if you have repented and trusted in Christ, you are a saint of God today, right now!

My children's children will someday say, wala ka sa Lolo ko; as for him, we need not die before becoming a saint. Amen.

Be blessed with God's Word.

Maraming salamat.