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Bondman · 05-11-2008, 02:44 PM

Message #71

YOU ARE A SAINT!

Well, at least I hope you are! I often use the expression "true Christians", *you've noticed?? lol* because there are many who are NOT, and what I want SO BAD for you is that you be utterly surrendered to the Lord Jesus, committed totally to Him, submitted to Him, and becoming more and more obedient unto Him. Those who are these things ARE true Christians, and can be assured of their rightful place in heaven with our God forever!!

But they are also SAINTS! Saint Sophie, Saint Jason, Saint Emily! *heavenly smile, lol*

1 Corinthians Ch 1
2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

Throughout the New Testament you are called saints, and are also called to be saints. Yes, I know that the Roman Catholic Church apppoints only those who have done many good works and miracles to the status of 'saint'. But the Word of God is my sole life-guide, and the New Testament says many times that every real and serious Christian is a SAINT of the living God!

The words "sanctify", "sanctified", and "sanctification" are from the same Greek root as "saint". So is the word "holy". So as well as being saints, we are also sanctified. But what does that strange word mean? A most WONDERFUL thing actually! - "sanctified" means "set apart for a purpose", and the purpose is: WE ARE "SET APART FOR GOD'S USE"!!! Don't you love that! As a saint of God when you totally belong to Him, and therefore as one who is sanctified BY Him and FOR Him, you have been called and set apart for God's special use! For any who have problems with their personal self-image or self-worth, I hope this lifts you up as you see WHO GOD SEES YOU AS!!

We're really good in the West with the "I-me-my-mine" syndrome, aren't we? Well, this is the exact OPPOSITE to that! I'm not called and set apart for "me", to live my life for myself and MY pleasure. Rather I'm called to be a saint, sanctified, set apart for our GOD - for HIS PLEASURE!! You see, God really, really, really WANTS you!!!

I want to tell you about three different and IMPORTANT aspects of being a sanctified saint. First, as an act of your free-will God has given you, you have to WANT to be sanctified. God's NOT going to MAKE you be set apart as His man or woman, and for Him, unless you really want to! PLEASE AGREE TO BE!!! Second, as a Christian Believer you ARE sanctified and a saint. That's who you are in the Lord Jesus!! Thirdly, you can grow as to HOW MUCH YOU ARE WILLING TO BE SET APART FOR HIM, i.e., you can GROW in your sanctification! And when you do, you'll be becoming more HOLY - because these two things are very very similar!

So when we've talked earlier about our righteousness and right-living as a Christian, and of being holy and godly, HERE, this was also talking about us being saints, and being set apart SPECIALLY and SPECIFICIALLY for the Lord God of heaven and earth! I hope that's all something of an encouragement to you, and will spark you to become even more and more His - as one of His SAINTS!!

- BM, with his Love

COMMENTS, QUESTIONS WELCOME!