Roman Catholic Church definition of "SAINT": A saint (from the Latin sanctus) is a human being to whom has been attributed (and who has generally demonstrated) a high level of holiness and sanctity in an exemplary life of virtuous behaviour. Such a person is often (but not always) recognized after their death by other human beings as someone who lived a divine life and who is in the Divine presence even in death.
So, it would seem by this definition the only way to become a saint is to live an exemplary holy life (even referred to as a divine life) while on this earth. Then, usually after your death someone will remember all the deeds you have done and ask that you be made a saint.
Let's look at who God calls saints in the Bible.
"Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:" Philippians 1:1
"Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you. All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar's household." Philippians 4:21-22
"To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ, which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." Colossians 1:2
Just looking at these few verses we see that the saints are alive. We see clearly from God's word that sainthood happens while a person is still alive; not after their death.
"Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to they saints at Jerusalem: and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name." Acts 9:13-14
Saul, later to be called Paul (after he turns to Christ for salvation), was persecuting the saints in Jerusalem. We see in Scripture that Paul was throwing them into prison and doing all manner of evil things to them. He thought he was doing right because he did not believe that Jesus was God. He thought these saints were blasphemous because they called on the name of Jesus. We know that later Saul has a conversion experience on the Road to Damascus where he finally realizes that Jesus is God.
"Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:" 1 Corinthians 1:2
We see in this passage that saints were ones who "call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord." So according to God, a saint is one that calls upon Jesus. Let's see what else the Bible says about someone who calls upon the name of Jesus:
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture sayeth, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:9-13
We see that a person who calls upon the name of Jesus is referred to as a "saved" person. This is a person who has believed that they need the Lord Jesus as their Saviour from sin and have called upon Him for salvation. So, we see that God's definition of a saint is someone who has seen their lost condition and has turned to Jesus for salvation.
"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolators, nor adulterers, not effieminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, not covetous, not drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Wow! What a list! This passage of Scripture is in the book of Corinthians; addressed to the saints at Corinth, as mentioned in some of the previous verses above. This list doesn't sound very "saintly" does it? Let's read the next verse:
"And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." 1 Corinthians 6:11
God says, "Such WERE some of you!" These saints once fit in that list of horrible sins, but something happened that made them saints. God says, "but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified." Not by good works they did or by living holy, but "in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." We see that a saint isn't someone who lives holy and attains sainthood by their own works, but rather someone who is a rotten sinner that comes to Jesus and claims HIS righteousness through salvation. The Bible says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast." There will be no boasting in Heaven. No Christian will stand above another. Jesus Christ is the only One who will receive glory, and no man will be able to boast in his own good works getting him to heaven.
"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:" Ephesians 4:11-12
These verses show us that apostles (which we people who saw Christ after He arose...none of which are alive today), prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers are given to us for several reasons. Let us look at the first reason, for the perfecting of the saints. Now, this perfect means "complete." Someone who is complete in Christ; really grounded in the faith. We see that saints need to be taught and that they are not perfect as they live on this earth, but are learning to be complete in Christ. So we see that God's definition of a saint is not someone who is perfect in this life (living a divine life), but someone who is learning to be complete in Christ. Someone who is saved from sin by trusting Jesus Christ's righteousness alone.
"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;" Ephesians 6:18
In this verse we see that we're supposed to pray for all saints. Basically we're to pray for one another. God's definition of saint differs greatly from the Roman Catholic church definition of a saint. In the Roman Catholic church, people pray TO saints, not for them. God tells us that every person who has trusted Christ is a saint and we are to pray for one another.
I just felt that I should share this with everyone. If you really want to know what God has to say, read the Bible. Don't read a book that's been altered by man, but read His word and listen to what He has to say. One day when we all stand before Him we will have no excuse. He has given us His word and expects us to read it.
Realize that you are a sinner. It's not too hard, is it? We all do wrong every day, and the Bible tells us that when we do wrong we're sinning against God Himself. God is holy and can't accept someone who has sin. That's why He sent His son, Jesus, to pay for our sin on the cross and raised Him from the dead. Now we can come to the living Saviour and just tell him about how we need Him. Just tell Him we trust His payment for our sin. Then we will be right in the eyes of God, not condemned and unashamed. We'll be saints according to God's definition.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
Mud or Stars
"Two men looked out from prison bars; one saw mud, the other saw stars."
This struck me as totally true. We can look at life as though we're always on the short end of the stick or we can enjoy being where we are and find joy in it. We can really encourage ourselves by looking (and sometimes you have to look really hard) for the good things in our lives. We can make the little things that are blessings into BIG joys by thanking God for them, OR we can make the bad things into BIG problems that keep us from enjoying the life God gave us.
Here's another quote that kinda goes along with my thoughts:
"A happy person is not a person with a certain set of circumstances, but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes."
Now, I know that the only way to have joy is to have Jesus, but sometimes even though we have Jesus we're not really happy. We won't let ourselves be happy because we focus on the bad things in our lives. I'm not saying to ignore things, but just always try to look up. We have a heavenly Father who cares and even when the bad things come we can be joyous and happy when we delight ourselves in Him and all He's done for us.
So, I'll leave you until September 8th or so. God bless you! Look up and delight yourself in the Lord!
This struck me as totally true. We can look at life as though we're always on the short end of the stick or we can enjoy being where we are and find joy in it. We can really encourage ourselves by looking (and sometimes you have to look really hard) for the good things in our lives. We can make the little things that are blessings into BIG joys by thanking God for them, OR we can make the bad things into BIG problems that keep us from enjoying the life God gave us.
Here's another quote that kinda goes along with my thoughts:
"A happy person is not a person with a certain set of circumstances, but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes."
Now, I know that the only way to have joy is to have Jesus, but sometimes even though we have Jesus we're not really happy. We won't let ourselves be happy because we focus on the bad things in our lives. I'm not saying to ignore things, but just always try to look up. We have a heavenly Father who cares and even when the bad things come we can be joyous and happy when we delight ourselves in Him and all He's done for us.
So, I'll leave you until September 8th or so. God bless you! Look up and delight yourself in the Lord!
Monday, August 11, 2008
Pope Says "No More Limbo"
No, he wasn't talking about the game where the horizontal pole is between 2 vertical ones and you try to shimmy under it as the pole gets lowered each time. He was talking about THIS limbo. Amazing to me that this man can just go and change something that has been taught by the Roman Cathlic Church for centuries. Something these people have held onto for years and years was changed in a few minutes by a pope's declaration. What's to stop him from decreeing that there's no real Heaven? If I were a Roman Catholic I'd be worrying a little bit. If something so widely taught by my religion could be ridded of by a pope I'd be concerned about what he was going to get rid of or change next.
I am SO glad I have the Word of God that has been given by God and preserved for us. No matter what anyone says about Christianity (and by that I mean knowing Jesus Christ as personal Saviour, NOT a religion) I can go to the Bible and know what God says. His Word never changes! It's never changed and will stand forever no matter what men say. It's great comfort to know that if I rest on His Word it will still be standing when it comes time for me to die. If something happens to my baby I know my baby will go to Heaven, not because of what some Pope decrees, but because that's what God has always said in the Bible. How wonderful it is to have the Bible!
I think it's interesting the pope got rid of limbo and one of his main reasons was because "it isn't found in the Bible". That's true, it ISN'T found in the Bible, then why was it something millions of Catholics were taught to be true? How many OTHER things have Catholics been taught that aren't actually found in Scripture? Purgatory, baptism of infants, Peter being the first Catholic priest (he was married!!), that the bread and wine become Jesus' actual flesh and blood, that Mary was the mother of God (she was the Virgin that God used to bring His Son into the world, but she acknowledges in the Bible that she needed Jesus as her Saviour! She was not sinless, but a sinner who needed the Saviour the same as we all do), confession to priests, monks and nuns (actually the Bible warns against people who forbid to marry and tell you to obstain from meats 1 Timothy 4:3) , popes (the Bible says there is ONE mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus! Thank the Lord I don't have to go through a priest, but I can speak directly to God through Jesus Christ, His Son). These are just a few of the things the Roman Catholic Church has taught for ages none of which can be found in the Bible.
I have a lot of dear Catholic friends and I wish they would stop and think about their religion. It is something than can, and has been, changed by men over and over. It's not a firm foundation.
I am SO glad I have the Word of God that has been given by God and preserved for us. No matter what anyone says about Christianity (and by that I mean knowing Jesus Christ as personal Saviour, NOT a religion) I can go to the Bible and know what God says. His Word never changes! It's never changed and will stand forever no matter what men say. It's great comfort to know that if I rest on His Word it will still be standing when it comes time for me to die. If something happens to my baby I know my baby will go to Heaven, not because of what some Pope decrees, but because that's what God has always said in the Bible. How wonderful it is to have the Bible!
I think it's interesting the pope got rid of limbo and one of his main reasons was because "it isn't found in the Bible". That's true, it ISN'T found in the Bible, then why was it something millions of Catholics were taught to be true? How many OTHER things have Catholics been taught that aren't actually found in Scripture? Purgatory, baptism of infants, Peter being the first Catholic priest (he was married!!), that the bread and wine become Jesus' actual flesh and blood, that Mary was the mother of God (she was the Virgin that God used to bring His Son into the world, but she acknowledges in the Bible that she needed Jesus as her Saviour! She was not sinless, but a sinner who needed the Saviour the same as we all do), confession to priests, monks and nuns (actually the Bible warns against people who forbid to marry and tell you to obstain from meats 1 Timothy 4:3) , popes (the Bible says there is ONE mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus! Thank the Lord I don't have to go through a priest, but I can speak directly to God through Jesus Christ, His Son). These are just a few of the things the Roman Catholic Church has taught for ages none of which can be found in the Bible.
I have a lot of dear Catholic friends and I wish they would stop and think about their religion. It is something than can, and has been, changed by men over and over. It's not a firm foundation.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Submission
Ephesians 5:17-22 "Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is, and be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord."
Paul, in this passage, talks about how we are to be filled with the Holy Spirit, which is the 'secret' to living a victorious Christian life. In the same passage we see an instruction to submit ourselves one to another in the fear of God, and an added instruction for wives to submit themselves to their own husbands. It is interesting the Lord put these all together in the same passage. As a newly married woman, I'm learning that being filled with the Spirit and submitting myself to my husband have a lot in common. Living filled with the Holy Spirit involves a complete death to self, wholly seeking to please and glorify the Lord without thought for myself. It is a beautiful example to women who are wives. As Christ loving the church is an ultimate example of love for our husbands (Ephesians 5:23-33), so being filled with the Holy Spirit is an ultimate example of submission. When we submit to Him, our lives have purpose, we become closer to the Lord, there is deep joy and blessing. Likewise, when we submit to our husbands, we find purpose in loving and caring for them, we draw ever closer to them and gain their trust, and find deep joy and blessing in their love as we follow them. A lot of people say that marriage is 50-50 give and take, but I don't think that's Biblical. Marriage is 100% give-give. Both parties giving 100% in love, not expecting anything in return. The only way we can submit and love our husbands as God wants us to is to be filled with the sweet Holy Spirit. God help us to seek to please Him and love our husbands with submission and honor.
Paul, in this passage, talks about how we are to be filled with the Holy Spirit, which is the 'secret' to living a victorious Christian life. In the same passage we see an instruction to submit ourselves one to another in the fear of God, and an added instruction for wives to submit themselves to their own husbands. It is interesting the Lord put these all together in the same passage. As a newly married woman, I'm learning that being filled with the Spirit and submitting myself to my husband have a lot in common. Living filled with the Holy Spirit involves a complete death to self, wholly seeking to please and glorify the Lord without thought for myself. It is a beautiful example to women who are wives. As Christ loving the church is an ultimate example of love for our husbands (Ephesians 5:23-33), so being filled with the Holy Spirit is an ultimate example of submission. When we submit to Him, our lives have purpose, we become closer to the Lord, there is deep joy and blessing. Likewise, when we submit to our husbands, we find purpose in loving and caring for them, we draw ever closer to them and gain their trust, and find deep joy and blessing in their love as we follow them. A lot of people say that marriage is 50-50 give and take, but I don't think that's Biblical. Marriage is 100% give-give. Both parties giving 100% in love, not expecting anything in return. The only way we can submit and love our husbands as God wants us to is to be filled with the sweet Holy Spirit. God help us to seek to please Him and love our husbands with submission and honor.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Little Update
I haven't posted in a while here, but I have some devotions written down that I just haven't gotten around to putting online. The reason being I got married 3 weeks ago and moved to Pennsylvania. It's been a major adjustment, and I've been really busy.
I started a new blog; more of a personal one at: http://joyfilledpraise.blogspot.com
I plan to be a more regular poster in the next few months...it's a goal at least. :P
I started a new blog; more of a personal one at: http://joyfilledpraise.blogspot.com
I plan to be a more regular poster in the next few months...it's a goal at least. :P
Friday, January 25, 2008
I've Been Tagged!
I've been tagged by The King's Daughter
The Rules are simple:
~ Link to the person that tagged you, and post the rules on your blog
~ Share seven random and/or weird facts about yourself
~ Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs
~ Let each person know they've been tagged by leaving a message on their blog
Seven Random Facts about me:
1. I hate rutabegas with a passion.
2. My favorite book in the Bible starts with the letter 'E'.
3. My favorite color is azure blue.
4. I like peanut butter and banana sandwiches.
5. My pet peeve is when people sing only part of a song and don't finish it. (I finish it in my head :P)
6. I don't like wearing socks.
7. There's a box of orange tic-tacs sitting on my computer desk. They've been there for 2 months now, and I think I've only eaten one.
Taggy Tag Tag:
Samer (My Fiance)
Jerry
Terry
Kathie
Kevin
Jason
Sarah
Seven Random Facts about me:
1. I hate rutabegas with a passion.
2. My favorite book in the Bible starts with the letter 'E'.
3. My favorite color is azure blue.
4. I like peanut butter and banana sandwiches.
5. My pet peeve is when people sing only part of a song and don't finish it. (I finish it in my head :P)
6. I don't like wearing socks.
7. There's a box of orange tic-tacs sitting on my computer desk. They've been there for 2 months now, and I think I've only eaten one.
Taggy Tag Tag:
Samer (My Fiance)
Jerry
Terry
Kathie
Kevin
Jason
Sarah
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Be Still
"Be still, and know that I am God:" Psalm 46:10a
Sometimes we can get so caught up in the things of this life. Tasks that seem daunting, problems with family or friends, discouragement and defeated feelings can be overwhelming at times. It's in these times we must learn to be still.
Be still, and realize that we serve a God who is in control. The Lord of Glory is our helper. Too often we try to do things in our own energy. The psychologists say to look deep inside for strength. Nothing could be farther from the truth. As Christians we only need to look to Christ, who is our All in All. He can meet the needs in our heart and life.
I've been thinking a lot about this verse. Just taking the time to be still. It seems like my life has gotten very busy lately and there is value in being still. Knowing that HE is God. Blessed realization.
Sometimes we can get so caught up in the things of this life. Tasks that seem daunting, problems with family or friends, discouragement and defeated feelings can be overwhelming at times. It's in these times we must learn to be still.
Be still, and realize that we serve a God who is in control. The Lord of Glory is our helper. Too often we try to do things in our own energy. The psychologists say to look deep inside for strength. Nothing could be farther from the truth. As Christians we only need to look to Christ, who is our All in All. He can meet the needs in our heart and life.
I've been thinking a lot about this verse. Just taking the time to be still. It seems like my life has gotten very busy lately and there is value in being still. Knowing that HE is God. Blessed realization.
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