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After hearing the word "saint," it seems common these days to think of someone who has reached an almost divine level of Christian morality. Rather than throwing our arms up in concession for not achieving such status, it’s time to reclaim the word.
Both the Hebrew and Greek translations of "saint" are holy or holy one. The only Saint who lived without sin was our Lord Jesus Christ. That same Saint without sin can abide in each of us because He sent His Spirit to be with us always (Matthew 28:20).
When we do this, all believers in Jesus Christ are saints. It not only broadens the representation of our school’s mascot but also brilliantly highlights a key piece of our identity. When Paul described his very least of positions, he wasn’t referring to his rank among the apostles. He was being honest with his past, convicted of his sin, and forgiven by his Savior, just as each of us is. Collectively, we are sinners by our nature and saints by our faith — simul justus et peccator. What’s more, we know that together, all of us will be watched over, cared for, and be His (Proverbs 2:8; Romans 8:27–28; Psalm 34:8–10).
Paul’s story is our story. There are extensive areas of sin in us — pride, unbelief, disobedience, stubbornness, and worry — that need to be searched and cleansed (Psalm 139; Psalm 51). But take heart; this creative love God accomplishes in His saints is slow work.
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