For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you; Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company. But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. Romans 15:22-26

Just recently, the new “Pope” has assigned a couple people the title of “Saint” , including a teenager because of his computer skills to spread the gospel. By these qualifications, am I a saint? While I ask this question sarcastically, the answer to the question is yes I’m a saint, and every Born Again Believer in Christ is a saint! The Pope can’t declare anyone a Saint, its only God who calls and qualifies the Saints!

The Apostle Paul , under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, references Christians as Saints, 40 times! Here in our text, we see him reference the Church of Rome as Saints. So why is he doing this? Well if you look at the original Greek and understand what a Christian really is, its very clear!

The Greek word translated for Saint is “Hagios” this word means to be “set apart, holy” This reminds me instantly of when the Apostle Peter quoted “Be Holy (Hagios) because I am Holy (Hagios) (1 Peter 1:16, Leviticus 11:44) The same Greek word is here, used for Holy and Saint. So how do you be Holy? Does that mean to be perfect or sinless? Most people believe that’s what it means, however it means to be Set Apart! Because there is only One who is perfect and holy, and that’s our Lord Jesus Christ! (1 Samuel 2:2, Mark 10:18)

Next point I want to make is, what is the Church? The Greek word usually translated as Church is Ekklesia, which means “Called Out Assembly of Believers” The Church is a group of people, called out in Christ, that are Set Apart from the world as the Body of Christ, does this sound familiar with Hagios? Yes as a Born Again believer in Christ, you are set apart by God, you are a Saint in Christ, you are Holy in Christ. If you have been washed the blood of the Lamb, you are a Saint!

Now I know it seems like I’m going on a tangent , because I am. As scripture says “My people perish from lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6) When I see that amount of false religion, and easy deceptions of the Church, just because the majority refuse to study the Word of God, they have no interest in their Lord, and so they fall away at the wolf in sheep’s clothing, or the traditions of men, when the truth has already been revealed to you!

As the Apostle Paul states here “I’m going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints” The saints, the Church, the body of Christ, I’m ministering to you, read your Bibles daily, feed on the Manna from Heaven, be led by the Holy Spirit, otherwise you will all likewise perish with the world! Be set apart, be Holy, you are a Saint in Jesus Christ by his grace in faith, Amen!