What does the Bible say about Christian saints? What are saints?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

In Scripture, the term “saint” refers broadly to all those who belong to God and are set apart for Him. The Old Testament describes saints as those who are faithful to the LORD, love Him, and are preserved by Him (Psalm 30:4, 97:10). Daniel speaks of saints as those who will inherit God’s eternal kingdom (Daniel 7:27), highlighting their special status as God’s people.

The New Testament uses the Greek word hagios, meaning “holy” or “set apart,” when referring to Christian saints. As Paul wrote to various churches, he frequently reminded believers that their identity as saints was rooted in Christ (Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Ephesians 1:1). The title of saint emphasizes God’s work of sanctification and separation, not personal achievement. Saints are those who are cleansed through Christ (1 Corinthians 6:11) and prepared for service within His church (Ephesians 4:12).

This biblical view differs from later traditions that reserved the term “saint” for a select few. According to Scripture, sainthood is the identity of all who trust in Christ, are declared holy in Him, and are called to reflect God’s holiness in everyday life.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The Psalms repeatedly use hasid (“saint” or “godly one”) or qadosh (“holy” or “set apart”) to describe God’s people. For example, David said, “Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name” (Psalm 30:4; cf. Psalm 31:23). Another example, written by an unknown author, describes saints as those who love God and turn from evil: “O you who love the LORD, hate evil! He preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked” (Psalm 97:10). These verses show that saints are not a spiritual elite, but everyday men and women who trust and follow the LORD.
• The same truth applies to Israel’s life. The LORD told His people, “You shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy [qadosh] nation” (Exodus 19:6). Notice that holiness was meant to define the entire nation as those set apart to serve God, not just a few individuals. Saints in the Old Testament included farmers, shepherds, craftsmen, and kings—ordinary people who identified with God through their faith and obedience.
• Building on this idea, the prophets linked sainthood with those living in God’s future kingdom. Daniel, for example, recorded a vision of the end when “the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High” (Daniel 7:27a). Although this part of Daniel was written in Aramaic, the word translated as “saints” (qaddish) is closely related to the Hebrew word qadosh. The saints, therefore, are those set apart to serve God under His everlasting rule forever.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• One of the earliest uses of hagios (“holy” or “set apart” in Greek) appears in Acts 9:13, where Ananias refers to the believers in Jerusalem as “your saints.” Here, “saints” means ordinary Christians who follow Jesus.
• Paul uses the same meaning in almost all his letters. For example, he begins his first letter to believers in Corinth by writing,, “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” (1 Corinthians 1:2). Paul’s definition of a saint is someone who is a Christian (who calls on Jesus’ name).
• Paul also describes the nature of sainthood. In 1 Corinthians 6:11, he reminds believers that “you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” The word “sanctified” is hagios. Once again, he is calling all believers “saints.”
• This is why Peter, speaking to everyday believers, said, “Be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy’” (1 Peter 1:15-16). Everyday believers, not just a few exceptional individuals, are called to pursue holiness because, as saints, they are to mirror their Savior, Jesus.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Sainthood isn’t something you earn; it’s a generous gift from Christ because His righteousness becomes yours through faith (Romans 4:5). This means you are a cherished part of God’s family and set apart to serve Him.

While salvation (and being a saint) is a free gift (Romans 6:23), it’s also a heartfelt calling. Because God is holy, His children are always growing in holiness. You won’t be perfect in this life (1 John 1:8-10), but each day offers a new chance to reflect Jesus’ character—to walk in love, to serve others, and to turn away from sin. When you stumble, you can come back to Him quickly, trusting that His grace is greater than any weakness.

And you’re not walking this path alone. God has given you His Spirit to live inside you. As you read His Word, pray, and serve in the church, the Spirit produces fruit that shows you truly belong to Him—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23). Every step of growth is a gentle reminder that He is working in you and will finish what He has started (Philippians 1:6).

UNDERSTAND

• All Christians are called saints because they are set apart by God through faith in Christ.
• Saints are meant to live in holiness, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
• The Bible uses “saint” for all believers, not just a special group.

REFLECT

• How does knowing that you are called a saint by God affect the way you see yourself today?
• In what areas of your life do you sense the Holy Spirit calling you to live more set apart for God?
• How can you depend more fully on the Holy Spirit to help you reflect the holiness God calls you to?

ENGAGE

• What does it look like for believers today to live as saints in a world that values self over holiness?
• How does understanding that all Christians are saints shape the way we treat one another in the church?
• In what ways can we as believers encourage each other to embrace our identity as saints and live out that calling?