Of all the words used to identify God’s people, the term “saint” is used most frequently in the Bible- 96 times! The term “Saint” also carries some of the greatest revelation of God’s purpose for us as his people.
“Saint” comes from the Greek word “hagios” which is the word translated “holy.”
So literally “Saints” are “holy ones.”
This position in Christ can not be earned. It is “imputed”, which means to it given to us by Jesus Christ- by grace, through faith, as a free gift.
“For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!”- Romans 5:17
So we are all saints, “holy ones” through FAITH in Jesus Christ.
In his new book The Unseen Realm, OT Scholar Michael Heiser parallels the word “hagios” with its Old Testament equivalent “qedoshim”. The word qedoshim is found in Daniel chapter 7 and is translated as “saints” or “holy ones.”
It is the same word that is used of divine beings in God’s council and it has to do with supernatural rulership.
Daniel 7:27 says,
Then the kingdom and dominion,
And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven,
Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High.
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
And all dominions shall serve and obey Him.
The “Holy Ones” are called to be overcomers and as overcomers they are called to rule and reign with Christ.
“And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations”- Rev 2:26
Also in Rev 3:21, Jesus says;
“To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”
It is the Saints who have access to God- his divine family, who stand in his divine council.
Saints are the ones who have aligned themselves with Jesus’ Kingdom rule and reign and they will be the ones who inherit the Kingdom.
As sons and daughters, we have a special place in God’s family. We have been given an an eternal inheritance. All that he has is ours (remember the story of the prodigal son and the older brother?)
And we he has chosen to share his Kingdom rule and authority with us. Wow!
When we get this down deep in our understanding, it has the power to change the course and trajectory of our lives forever! When we don’t understand our identity, we are more susceptible to live for lesser things.
