This week we have talked briefly about each christian being a vessel, a holy residence, a sanctuary for the Living God. Yesterday, I referred to those of us who are christians... sanctuaries... as saints. There does not have to be a vote for you to achieve sainthood. You do not have to go through a series of hoops to be crowned a saint. In fact, according to scripture, all people who have become christians are saints. Paul uses this word often as he writes letters to various churches - groups of christians - the family of God. Here are a few of the 60 New Testament scriptures that refer to saints.
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Romans 1:7 says,
"To all in Rome who are loved by God
and called to be saints:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father
Grace and peace to you from God our Father
and from the Lord Jesus Christ."
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Romans 8:27
"And He who searches our hearts
knows the mind of the Spirit,
because the Spirit intercedes
for the saints
in accordance with God's will."
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1 Corinthians 6:1-2
"If any of you has a dispute with another,
dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment
instead of before the saints?
Do you not know that the saints
will judge the world? "
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Ephesians 1:18-19
"I pray also that the eyes of your heart
may be enlightened
in order that you may know
the hope to which He has called you,
the riches of His glorious inheritance
in the saints,
and His incomparably great power
for us who believe."
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Ephesians 3:14-19
"For this reason I kneel before the Father,
from whom His whole family
in heaven and on earth derives its name.
I pray that out of His glorious riches
He may strengthen you with power
through His Spirit in your inner being (sanctuary),
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.
And I pray that you,
being rooted and established in love,
may have power,
together with all the saints, to grasp
how wide and long and high and deep
is the love of Christ,
and to know this love
that surpasses knowledge-
that you may be filled
to the measure of all the fullness of God."
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As you ponder your salvation, your place in the family of God, I hope you have time to listen to this inspirational version of our theme song this week. Be sure and pause the playlist above before playing this video.
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