SAINT

This word is derived from a Greek term meaning "separated." (a) "Saint" refers to an ordinary member of Christ's church who has submitted to gospel obedience (Phil. 1:1; 4:21; 2 Thes. 1:10). (b) A saint (hagios) is one who has gone through the process of sanctification (hagiasmos). See SANCTIFIED. It thus denotes one who has been "separated" from the world, and who enjoys a special relationship with Christ. (c) The process involved in becoming a "saint" includes: believing in the Lord (Mk. 16:16), repenting of sin (Acts 2:38), and consummating these acts of obedience by the "washing of water" (Eph. 5:26; 1 Cor. 6:11) -- an allusion to baptism. Note the use of "sanctified" in these passages. (d) The dogma of "sainthood" -- arrived at by "beautification" and "canonization" -- (as in the Roman Catholic system) is completely alien to the New Testament.

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Adapted from the book "Bible Words and Theological Terms Made Easy" by Wayne Jackson