THE SAINTS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

The Protestant Universal Invisible Church theology identifies a person as a saint at the point he/she is saved from hell. This is purely presumptuous; and to adopt this definition is to accept a grave error with severe consequences that inevitably lead to further misapplication of other truths in scripture.

1. The term ‘saints’ found in the New Testament is NEVER used to describe someone
outside the Lord’s church. Instead, it is ALWAYS used to describe members in the
Lord’s church, the body of Christ wherein the Holy Spirit dwells (see 1Cor 3:16;
2Cor 6:16).
1Corinthians 14:33 ~ “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as
in all churches of the saints.”
Ephesians 4:12 ~ “For the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry,
for the edifying of the body of Christ:” (this was referring to the local
assembly at Ephesus)

2. Saints (Greek = hagios) mean ‘holy’ or ‘holy ones.’ This is the same Greek word
for ‘holy’ as in Holy (hagios) Spirit (pneuma). Hence, ‘saints’ infer one who is
being sanctified (hagiosmos - made holy) by the work of the Holy Spirit. Members
of the Lord’s true churches are sanctified (made holy) in the Covenant
relationship IN CHRIST (in His body, the church where the Spirit dwells), and
are therefore called SAINTS (hagios, holy ones).
1Corinthians 1:2 ~ “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are
sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints with all that in every place
call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: (See also
1Cor 6:11)

Romans 1:7 ~ “To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace
to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Note: Paul
here is addressing members of the church at Rome)

2Corinthians 1:1 ~ "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and
Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the
saints which are in all Achaia:”
[Note: Corinth was a sea port within the province of Achaia where a scriptural
church existed]

Ephesians 1:1 ~ “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the
saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:”

Ephesians 2:19 ~ “Now (being in the New Covenant relationship IN CHRIST –
context from verse 13) therefore, ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but
fellowcitizens (of the same citizenship) with the saints, and of the household
of God;”

Philippians 1:1 ~ “Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the
saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:”
(Note: this was written to the brethren of the church at Philippi)

Colossians 1:2 ~ “To the saints and (even) faithful brethren in Christ which are
at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ.”

3. Compare the following two groups of parallel passages and observe carefully how
both the words “church” and “saints” are used interchangeably:
a. Acts 8:1; 1Cor 15:9 & Gal 1:13 - where ‘church of God’ is used
b. Acts 9:13; 26:10 - where ‘saints’ is used
Acts 8:1 ~ “And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there
was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they
were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria,
except the apostles.”
1Cor 15:9 ~ “For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be
called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.”
Gal 1:13 ~ “For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’
religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and
wasted it:”
Acts 9:13 ~ “Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man,
how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:”
Acts 26:10 ~ “Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints
did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests;
and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.”

4. Paul, a member of the Lord’s church identified himself as a saint. Ephesians 3:8
~ “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that
I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;”

5. Jesus is the King of saints.
Revelation 15:3 ~ “And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the
song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty;
just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.”


Footnote:
In the Old Covenant, “saints” mean "separated ones, those set apart" for holy work. "Saints" is a word used of the angels (Deut 33:3; Ps 89:5-7; Job 15:15) and holy men (Ps 16:3; 34:9; Lev 11:44,45; 19:2; 20:26; Num 15:40; 16:3; 2Chron 35:3; Dan 8:24). For example, Aaron is called "a saint of YHVH" (Ps 106:16). Daniel uses the equivalent Aramaic term - intensive of the same root, "consecrate" to refer to "holy men" (Dan 7:18,21,22,25,27), to righteous Israelites of the End-Time who shall "possess the kingdom."