“Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!” 1 Corinthians 6:2-3
Sainthood, according to works is a term conjured by men, it is the equivalent of the Academy Awards of the religious world. Sainthood is not a special category given to an elect few. Here Paul explains who the saints are. First he says, “The saints will judge the world,” then in the same breath he says to all those he is speaking, those who are infighting and acting in all manner of fleshly ways, to them he says, “And if you are to judge the world,” that is they themselves are the saints who are to judge the world and not a special category bestowed upon special people.
The concept of Sainthood in the negative senses makes people to have a works orientated state of mind rather than to faith in the finished works of Christ. To be focused on their shortcomings according to their own works rather than to have faith in their righteous, blameless, spotless stand before God through the blood of Jesus Christ. We are All made saints through faith in Jesus Christ. And at the other end of the spectrum, it glorifies men to the point of receiving worship. When a person needs help with finance he seeks out a saint of money, and burns candles to that saint, prays to him or carries an effigy of such a saint to bring him what he needs. Rather than looking to Christ when His word says, “For you know the grace our Lord Jesus Christ, that being rich, for the sake of you He became poor, so that you through His poverty might be enriched.” 2 Corinthians 8:9 So this concept gives cause to make our hearts unfaithful to God.
Jesus suffered mental anguish that we might have peace, He died in weakness that we might be made strong, He was made poor that we might be made rich, He suffered in scourging that we might be healed, He was forsaken so we might be blessed, He bleed at the cross that we might be redeemed. Christ has born all our inequities, all our lack, all our anxieties, all our diseases; He has become ALL things we need Him to be so that we at His expense may be blessed in ALL things. Paul in Romans says, “He who did not spare His own Son but delivered Him up for us how will He not with Him give us ALL things.” Romans 8:32 ALL Things Means ALL things, therefore we have no cause to look to any other but to Christ alone. We honestly greatly offended Him when we lavish our love, devotion and loyalty to these so-called saints.
Paul writing to the Corinthians says, “Now I mean this, that each of you says, ‘I indeed am of Paul,’ and ‘I of Apollos,’ and ‘I of Cephas,’ and ‘I of Christ.’ Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptised into the name of Paul?” 1 Corinthians 1:12-13 The point Paul is making is these mighty saints were not crucified for you, then why do you identify yourself as “I am of Paul or Peter or Apollos?” Why do you boast in men? Why do you look to men? Christ is ALL you need.
Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you may ask the Father in My name, He will give you.” John 16:23 He says, “Anything,” “To My Father,” in “My name.” Therefore there ought to be no other name in our mouth when we pray or for anything else not Saint or angel Except the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. And the Lord tells us the reason why God the Father Himself hears us directly, “For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from God.” John 16:27 It is an absolute false humility and the very expression of lack of faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ to say, “I do not dare make my request to God, so I will go around to saints and His friends to implore God on my behalf.” Jesus Himself who seats at the right hand of God says to us, “I do not say I will implore the Father for you.” [vs. 26] Even though He ever lives to intercede for us. [Hebrews 7:25] However the Lord makes this point to give us the absolute assurance and boldness we ought to have when coming before God in His name.
“Therefore we should come with boldness to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and may find grace for help in time of need.” hebrews 4:16
The final point is Worship. At the very core of our relationship with God is our worship of Him and only Him. Worship is appreciation, it is devotion, it is adoration, it is declaration of loyalty and much more and Only God is worthy to receive our worship. Anything that seeks to take our hearts from this central truth is a lie conjured up by the devil designed to kill us.
“And as Peter was entering, Cornelius, having met him, having fallen at the feet, worshiped him. But Peter lifted him up, saying, ‘Rise up, I myself am also a man.’” Acts 10:25-26
“And I, John, am the one hearing and seeing these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel showing these things me. And he says to me, ‘See that you not do this. I am your fellow servant, and with your brothers the prophets, and with those keeping the words of this book. Worship God!‘” Revelation 22:8-9
The Images are obtained from pixaby.com: Academy Award and fire sparks and an online editing software used. pixlr.com
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