I often mention that the New Testament writers refer to all believers as “saints.” I guess I find that so interesting because I grew up in a faith group that saw saints as those who have already died and have been recognized by the church structure as being especially “holy” during their lives on earth. When I spoke about this from the pulpit, I would always get responses from people. Some of them, coming from the same background that I did, would want to argue about it. They did not agree with me. Can you imagine that? (Ha) As I looked over Colossians 1:12 recently, I realized that it addressed that issue specifically. Paul tells the believers that they should be giving thanks to the Father because He “has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.”
As a boy, I used to wear a St. Christopher medal for protection. In the 50s, he was still regarded as a Saint and should be revered and prayed to for help. Although he was one of Catholicism’s most popular saints, he was removed as a saint. Christopher was listed as a martyr. Legend had it he carried a child who grew increasingly heavy across a river — the child was supposed to be carrying the weight of God. But there wasn’t enough historical evidence the man ever existed, so Pope Paul VI dropped him. That was very discouraging. My favorite saint, defrocked! Can you do that? Anyway, the list of 10,000 or more saints contains prominent figures who lived exemplary lives. To consider myself on equal standing with someone like that is a bit presumptive. Actually, when you read the “Lives of the Saints,” you find that these many great men and women are exemplary in many ways. Who would want to compare themselves to someone in the stature of Mother Theresa? Not me!
But Paul insists that I am qualified for everything they are qualified for! How can that be? The next two verses, Colossians 1:13-14, explain it all. Paul says that we’re qualified because God “has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Paul and the rest of the New Testament authors refer to all believers as saints. Paul also exhorts his readers to realize that truth, and when they do, it will move them to act worthy of their unique calling. There is nothing I did or can do to qualify for this calling. I didn’t fulfill a list of specific rules of canonization or live up to a manmade standard of righteousness. I didn’t qualify. God qualified me, as Paul says. I have a share in the inheritance, along with all those who believe in Jesus. This is not a personal righteousness; it’s a righteousness that comes from faith. As Habakkuk and Paul say, “The righteous shall live by faith.” As Paul closes his words to the Philippians, he sends a greeting to everyone. The way he says it helps me understand that sainthood is not something that is achieved by being especially righteous. It’s received by all those who believe in the perfectly righteous one, Jesus. In Philippians 4:21-22, Paul writes, “Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.”