What makes a saint?
What makes a saint? I suppose the first thing to do is define what a “saint” is. At least one dictionary define saint as:
a person that the Christian Church recognizes as being very holy, because of the way they have lived or died. (https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/saint accessed November 1, 2026)
So is this what we are talking about today? In a word, no. If we continue to pore over dictionaries we will find a lot of references to especially kind people or unusually patient people, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera (feel free to visualize Yul Brenner as the King of Siam at this point). Are these people what we are talking about today? Also, no.
In the New Testament (New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE)) there are 63 instances of the word “saint” or “saints.” If we look at the New Testament and subtract the 15 usages in Revelation the word “saint” or “saints” is used 48 times. Every one of these 48 times refers to what we might call members of a community who believed that Jesus was begotten of God. Also, almost every saint mentioned is alive. Where does this leave us?
A person is a saint if they have a relationship with God through Jesus empowered by the Holy Spirit . . . whether they or any other human being knows it. Who are saints? We are. We may be people of unusual spiritual quality but whether or not we are, we are still saints. The sermon goes into more detail and even brings in the Beatitudes so I hope you will give it a listen. I would love to hear what you think about the sermon if you are so inclined and able.
Blessings,
