What does it mean to be a Christian saint?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

In Scripture, the term “saint” refers to those who belong to God and are devoted to Him. In the Old Testament, saints are depicted as those who love the LORD, walk faithfully with Him, and are under His protection (Psalm 30:4; 97:10). Daniel discusses the saints inheriting God’s everlasting kingdom (Daniel 7:27), indicating that this identity involves both current belonging to God and participation in His future reign.

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”) and gadosh (“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 the LORD and seek to follow Him.
• 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). 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, the Greek word for “saint,” 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, in 1 Corinthians 1:2, he begins the letter by saying, “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.” 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.”
• 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). Believers are called to pursue holiness because, as saints, they are to mirror their Savior, Jesus.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

The biblical teaching of sainthood contrasts with the Roman Catholic practice of canonization, which reserves sainthood for only a few exceptional individuals. While the Bible recognizes faithful examples, it consistently uses the word “saint” for all believers in Christ. Every Christian is a saint because God has set them apart, cleansed them through Jesus, and dwells within them by the Spirit, who is transforming them to become more holy.

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

Salvation (and being a saint) is a free gift (Romans 6:23) and 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.

UNDERSTAND

• Every believer is a saint.
• Saints are holy people belonging to God, cleansed through Christ, indwelt by the Spirit, and called to live in obedience and holiness.
• Sainthood is both identity and calling.

REFLECT

• How does knowing believers are saints impact your identity?
• In what areas of your life do you most need to grow in holiness to reflect your identity as a saint?
• How can you live with more gratitude and purpose knowing that God has set you apart as His own?

ENGAGE

• How does the Bible’s teaching that every believer is a saint challenge or reshape common ideas of sainthood?
• What does it look like for saints to encourage one another to live holy lives among believers?
• How does understanding sainthood as both identity and calling affect the way we serve God and others?