What Is a Saint in the Bible – Biblical Meaning Truth

Hello, and may God’s peace be with you. If you are asking, what is a saint in the bible, you are asking a great and important question. In our world today, the word “saint” makes us think of pictures in church windows. We might think of famous people from the past who did amazing things. But what does God say a saint is in His Holy Word? The Bible’s answer might surprise you. It is full of more hope than you can even imagine.

Learning about this topic is not just for knowing facts. It is about finding out who you really are if you follow Jesus Christ. The Bible’s meaning of a saint is not about being perfect. It is not something only a few people can be. Instead, it is a gift of grace. It is a free gift to all of God’s children.

So, let’s open God’s Word together with open hearts. Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to lead us. We want to understand the beautiful, life-changing truth of what it means to be a saint.

More in Bible Category

What Is Condemnation in the Bible

What Is Covetousness in the Bible

What Is a Christian According to the Bible

What Does the Word “Saint” Actually Mean in the Bible?

To really know what a saint is, we can look at the language of the New Testament. It was written in Greek. The word for “saint” is hagios. This word does not mean “a perfect person.” It does not mean “a spiritual hero.” The simple meaning of hagios is “a holy one,” or “one who is set apart.”

Think of it like this. In the Old Testament, things in the Temple were called “holy.” The cups, plates, and the altar were holy. This was not because they were better than other cups and plates. It was because they were set apart from normal use. They were set apart for a special job: to serve and honor God.

In the same way, a saint is a person who is set apart by God. They have been taken from the world’s normal ways. They have been set apart for God’s special plan. This happens the moment a person trusts in Jesus Christ. It is not about what we do. It is about what God has done for us. He has called us holy because we are joined with His Son. This core meaning is the key to understanding what is a saint in the bible.

Who Are the Saints According to the New Testament? A Look at What Is a Saint in the Bible

A clear way to see the Bible’s meaning of a saint is to see how the apostles used the word. When the Apostle Paul wrote letters to the first churches, he did not write to “the sinners.” He did not write to “the regular people.” He wrote to the saints!

Look at how his letters begin:

• To the church in Corinth, he writes: “To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people (saints)…” (1 Corinthians 1:2).
• To the church in Ephesus, he writes: “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God’s holy people (saints) in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 1:1).
• To the church in Philippi, he writes: “To all God’s holy people (saints) in Christ Jesus at Philippi…” (Philippians 1:1).

Paul is writing to the whole church in each city. He is writing to all the believers. He writes to the new ones, the old ones, the ones who were struggling, and the strong ones. He calls all of them saints. This shows us a lovely truth. In the New Testament, “saint” is just another name for “believer” or “Christian.” Every single person who is saved by Jesus is a saint.

Is Sainthood Something We Earn or a Gift We Receive?

This is a very important question when we ask what is a saint in the bible. Our world often tells us that we have to earn our place. We have to work hard to be seen as good or worthy. But the Bible teaches the exact opposite about our life with God.

Being a saint is not a prize we earn by being good. It is a gift of grace we get through faith. The Bible is very clear about this. Ephesians 2:8-9 gives us a beautiful summary of the Good News: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Being a saint has nothing to do with our own goodness. It has everything to do with the perfect goodness of Jesus Christ. When we trust in Jesus, God looks at us and sees His perfect Son. He calls us “holy” or “saints” not for what we have done. He calls us saints for what Jesus has done for us. It is like a judge in a courtroom. God, the perfect judge, says that every believer in Christ is a saint.

How Does the Biblical View of a Saint Differ from Common Ideas?

It is good to know that the Bible’s meaning of a saint is different from some ideas people have today. Many people think a saint is a special Christian who lived a very good life. They think a saint did miracles and was named a saint by a church long after they died.

We should honor and learn from the great men and women of faith from the past. But the Bible teaches a much bigger and more open truth. The Bible says being a saint is not an award given after you die. It is not just for a few special people. It is the real life of every single person who is alive in Christ.

• Saints are living people: Paul wrote his letters to living saints in cities like Corinth and Ephesus. They were saints as soon as they believed.
• Sainthood is for all believers: The Bible never puts Christians in two groups, like “saints” and “regular people.” If you are a Christian, you are a saint.
• Sainthood is about who you are, not how perfect you are: The saints in Corinth had many sins and problems. Paul still called them saints. He did this because who they were was found in Christ, not in their own perfect actions.

Knowing this Bible truth is so freeing! It means you do not have to work to become a saint. If you belong to Christ, you already are one.

Are There Famous Saints Mentioned? The Answer to What Is a Saint in the Bible

Yes, the Bible is full of famous saints! But we must see them in the right way. When we ask what is a saint in the bible, we see that every believer in the Bible is a saint.

• The Apostle Paul was a saint. God set him apart to share the Good News with people who were not Jews.
• The Apostle Peter was a saint. He was a leader in the first church, chosen by Jesus.
• Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a saint. She was a humble servant who was blessed by God.
• Lydia, who sold purple cloth, was a saint. She was one of the first believers in Europe.
• Timothy, Paul’s young helper, was a saint.

These people were not saints because they were perfect. We can read about their fears and their mistakes. They were saints for the same reason we are saints. They were called, saved, and set apart by God because they trusted in Jesus Christ. They are our family. They are our brothers and sisters in faith. They are great examples of how to follow Jesus.

What Does It Mean to Live as a Saint Today? The Answer to What Is a Saint in the Bible

If every Christian is a saint, how should we live our lives? Who we are in Christ is a fact the moment we believe. But learning to live like a saint is a journey for our whole lives. God has called us holy. Now He asks us to live out that holiness every day.

The Apostle Peter says it this way: “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy’” (1 Peter 1:15-16). This does not mean we have to be perfect and never sin. It means we should be different. It is a call to be like the God who saved us. This process of becoming more like Jesus in our actions and thoughts is called sanctification.

How Should a Saint Live in the World? A Look at What Is a Saint in the Bible

Jesus prayed for us, His saints, in John 17. He said to the Father, “They are not of the world, even as I am not of it” (John 17:16). As saints, we are citizens of heaven. This world is not our real home. This means our values and our goals should be different from the world’s values and goals.

But Jesus did not pray for us to leave the world. He prayed that we would be safe from the evil one while we are here. He sends us into the world to be His lights. He called us to be “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:13-14). Salt keeps things from going bad. Light pushes back the dark. As saints, our job is to show the love and truth of Jesus to a dark world. We should live in a way that makes people see our good works and praise our Father in heaven.

What is a Saint in the Bible and What is Their Future?

The Bible tells us who we are as saints right now. It also tells us about the amazing future God has for us. Being a saint means you have a wonderful gift waiting for you.

The Apostle Paul prayed for the saints in Ephesus. He prayed they would know “the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people (saints)” (Ephesians 1:18). This gift includes being forgiven, having the Holy Spirit, and much more. But the best prize is living forever with God Himself.

The book of Revelation gives us lovely pictures of the future for the saints. We see them around God’s throne. They are worshiping the Lamb, Jesus, who was killed for them. They are free from sin, sadness, and death forever. This is the happy hope for every person who is set apart by God.

Does the Bible Say Saints Will Judge the World?

This is an amazing truth in the Bible. Paul wrote to the saints in Corinth and asked them, “Or do you not know that the Lord’s people (saints) will judge the world? … Do you not know that we will judge angels?” (1 Corinthians 6:2-3).

This is a deep part of our future as saints. It shows the great honor God gives His children. Because we are joined with Christ, we will share in His future kingdom. This does not mean we are the final judges. Only God is the final judge. But it means we will be part of His good rule in the new heaven and new earth. This truth helps us see the high place we are given when we ask what is a saint in the bible.

You Are Called to Be a Saint for What Is a Saint in the Bible

In the end, the Bible’s truth about saints is simple and lovely. It is for everyone. A saint is not a spiritual superstar. A saint is any person who has heard Jesus’s call, turned from sin, and trusted only in Him to be saved.

It is not a name you earn. It is a gift you receive. It is who you are now. You are a holy one, set apart by God for His plans. This is the beautiful reality of what is a saint in the bible. This is who you are right now if you believe in Jesus. For those who want to study this more, the resources from trusted schools like Dallas Theological Seminary can be a great blessing.

May you live today in the joy and freedom of knowing who you are in Christ. You are not just a sinner saved by God’s grace. You are a saint who is learning to live the new life God has given you. Walk in that truth. Let your life be a beautiful light that points to the One who called you out of darkness.

FAQ – What Is a Saint in the Bible