CHRISTIAN VERSUS SAINT

CHRISTIAN VERSUS SAINT

Friday, February 05, 2016

Matthew [MKJV] 4:3-4 And when the tempter came to Him [Jesus], he said, If You are the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But He answered and said, It is written, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God." [Deut.8:1-3, 16; Lk.4:4]

Romans [MKJV] 12:1-3 [Paul encouraged] I beseech you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, in order to prove by you what is that good and pleasing and perfect will of God. For I say, through the grace given to me, to every one who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think. But set your mind to be right-minded, even as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith.

  It is highly important that we primarily think as God’s Word states all things. This includes identifying ourselves and brothers and sisters as He identifies His children. (Pr.23:7a)

  Yesterday I pointed out how few times “Christian(s)” is a Greek NT word, only 3, and that the designation early on and then developed into common prominent usage including serious misapplication unto this day and no one need be a prophet to state that the unbiblical practice will continue.

  May we say that in God’s vocabulary we are seldom “Christian(s)” but quite often “saint(s)”? Using Strong’s to do a word search, we find:

·         A “saint” one time in Psalms, 3 times in Daniel, and 1 time in Philippians.

·         Beginning in Deuteronomy with last OT usage in Zachariah there are 35 “saints”, 20 in Psalms alone.

·         Beginning in Matthew with final NT usage in Revelation there are 51 “saints”, 13 of which are in the last book in God’s Word. 

  Why am I bothering to ponder and present this matter of identity?

·         It is highly important that we primarily think as God’s Word states all things. This includes identifying ourselves as He identifies His children.

·         There’s deep personal significance in identifying ourselves as He primarily identifies us.

·         How I identify myself and other believers greatly determines how I consider and exercise faith in affection and effect.

·         Currently there is considerable distance between cultural Christian mindset and holiness of living as His saint.

    Appropriating Scripture, I close today’s shared thoughts with “I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.” (ESV Eph.1:16-23)

EBB4

PS. For those interested, upon your request I’ll send complete copy of “saints” and “saint” verses.