Before I go into the power of the saints, let me first define the word saint. The word means “called out one,” as in God’s calling upon one’s life.
2 Timothy 1:8–10 (ESV) — 8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,
1 Peter 2:9 (ESV) — 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Hence the word saints is used in the Scriptures to denote those who are God’s people. Even the church at Corinth, which had a plethora of problems, was even called “saints.”
1 Corinthians 1:1–3 (ESV) — 1 Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, 2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
What was behind God’s call in which we are called to Himself as His saints? God’s mighty power. Paul wrote about this mighty power of God that has come upon us, worked within us, and is there for us. He first makes it known that it takes God’s power and grace just to comprehend this mighty work of God in us.
Ephesians 1:15–23 (ESV) — 15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Meditate for a moment on the words in verses 19-20. The same power that raised Christ from the dead is at work within you taking you from being dead in trespasses and sins to a risen life in Christ.
If you have been drawn to the Lord Jesus Christ, repented of your sins, and called upon Him for salvation, you are a saint, and it’s God’s power, the same power that raised Christ from the dead that has caused you to believe. But there is more.
His power has given us a new heart and has translated us from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of His son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ezekiel 36:26 (ESV) — 26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
Colossians 1:13–14 (ESV) — 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
There’s more! The power of the living God gives us everything that we need to walk in faith, experiencing His power to help us go through this life.
2 Peter 1:3–4 (ESV) — 3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
1 John 4:3–4 (ESV) — 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. 4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
It is this same power of God upon us, working in us, giving us grace and strength as well as enlightenment to understand His marvelous love for us in Christ. The result is a sense of being filled with the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:14–19 (ESV) — 14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Could it get any better? Every child of God is a saint in God’s eyes and hence has been made alive by the same power that raised Christ from the dead, but that same power dwells in us to help us overcome in this life, be drawn closer to God and the understanding of Him and His marvelous love. Next time you feel insignificant, review this article, in particular the scriptures, and see if you don’t come away with a renewed determination and expectation in life.
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker, Pastor
Christ Community Presbyterian Church
Clearwater, FL
