Saints

A saint is a holy person, one who has been set apart. We are to be holy as Christ is holy, which is where we all fall short. Roman soldiers and the centurion were to obey unconditionally. First Peter 1:14-16 brings the saint or a holy person to life.

“As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:14-16)

Peter says be “as obedient children.” Obeying Christ unconditionally is not an option for the Christian. Before you were a Christian, there was a void and you searched to fill it. Some ways people fill the void are alcohol, other drugs, sports, and overeating. Before you were a Christian, you were ignorant to the truth.

“And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people. Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I [am] the LORD your God. And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I [am] the LORD which sanctify you.” (Leviticus 20:6-8)

After you ask Jesus to come into your heart and you repent of your sins, you must fashion yourself to Christ because there is no need for a dependence on worldly things. As a Christian, there is no need to go whoring after things you have done in your past. If you just said a prayer and some meaningless words to God but did not change your life and let Jesus live in you, then you are not saved. If you are saved and turn back to your own ways, you will be miserable because your sins are keeping God from hearing from you. A Christian longs for that fashioning with Christ.

Christ set all of us apart for a special and specific task. He chooses to use us as He chose to use them. Paul and Timothy were slaves for Christ and set apart to do His work. Paul is instructing the church, the saints. The saints have been set apart from their sins into good works. The work of Jesus is done through individual believers in the church.