When you hear the word “saint,” what comes to mind?
Maybe you think of stained glass windows, statues, or people from long ago who seemed almost too holy to relate to. But the Bible uses the word “saints” in a much more down-to-earth way.
In Scripture, saints are not just spiritual superheroes. Saints are ordinary people who belong to God. The word means “holy ones” or “people set apart.” In other words, if you belong to Christ, you are called to be one of God’s holy people.
That may sound surprising, especially if you do not feel very “saintly” most days. But here is the good news: being a saint is not about being perfect. It is about being called, loved, forgiven, and set apart by God.
The apostle Paul even called the believers in Corinth “saints,” and they were far from perfect. They had struggles, disagreements, and plenty of growing to do. Still, Paul reminded them of who they were in Christ. Their identity came from Jesus, not from flawless behavior.
That means sainthood is not something we achieve by impressing God. It is something we receive by grace. God calls us, saves us, and begins shaping us into people who reflect His love.
And yes, that shaping takes time.
Following Jesus is a journey. We are still learning, still growing, still being changed. The church word for that is “sanctification,” but in simple terms, it means God is helping us become more like Him little by little.
Some days that growth feels strong. Other days it feels slow. But God keeps working in us. He teaches us to love better, forgive more freely, serve more faithfully, and turn away from the things that pull us away from Him.
And we are not meant to do this alone.
Saints are part of a family. We pray for one another. We encourage one another. We carry burdens together. We celebrate together. We remind each other of God’s promises when life gets heavy.
This is part of what Christians mean by the “communion of saints.” It is the beautiful truth that God’s people are connected in Christ across places, cultures, generations, and even beyond this life.
In 1 Corinthians 1:2, Paul speaks to believers as those “called to be saints.” Ephesians 4:12 talks about equipping the saints for ministry. Philippians 4:21 greets “every saint in Christ Jesus.” Again and again, Scripture shows us that saints are everyday believers called to live for God.
So maybe being a saint is not as far away as we thought.
Maybe it looks like trusting God when life is uncertain.
Maybe it looks like forgiving someone, praying for a friend, serving quietly, choosing kindness, or getting back up after you have fallen.
Being a saint is not about having a perfect life. It is about belonging to a perfect Savior.
It is about letting God’s grace shape us, day by day, into people who reflect His love in the real world.
So if you belong to Christ, remember this: you are called, you are loved, you are being changed, and you are not walking alone.
That is what it means to be called to be saints.
Minister A Francine Green I October 2026