Ephesians 1
One of my all time Favorite films is 1997's The Saint. In it , Val Kilmer is a criminal who uses the names and traits of Catholic saints. In the process he saves the country of Russia from a tyrant and becomes a sort of saint himself. He says that there are three requirements to becoming a saint. "You have to be a very good and usually a very dead person to become a saint. And more importantly you have to work three miracles.
Today, the process of sainthood usually begins several years after death. After recommendation and investigation by a Bishop, a Vatican council and endorsement by the Pope, evidence of at least one miracle being performed after death is required. It is said that it's proof they are in heaven and are able to intercede for us.
I've never really understood the need for Saints. The Bible says that our intercessor is the Holy Spirit, not a bunch of dead people who were remarkable while on Earth. But, I really don't want to appear as though I'm trampling on the Catholic faith. That is just not in my beliefs, but I understand that many, many people do not agree with me on that. That's okay, we don't all need the exact same theology.
One of the slogans for unsheathed is Equipping Today's Saints for Spiritual Warfare. That's my goal, my purpose, to help as many as possible learn to fight a successful battle against our enemy, Satan and his demons. Why in the world would I ever want or be able to help any saints if they are in Heaven performing miracles on our behalf? Seems to be that it's pretty pointless to help those in Heaven in their spiritual journey.
If I'm trying to equip you, my reader, as well as myself, is it possible that maybe you are a saint? It can't be possible right? You aren't dead are you? Are you??? What does the Bible say about saints? From what I can find there is only one reference that refers to saints as people who have died; Matthew 27:52, at the death of Jesus many tombs of saints who had been dead opened as they were raised to life.
Every other reference speaks of saints as living. In Acts 9, Peter travels throughout the country and visited the saints who lived in Lydda. In Colossians 1, Paul writes regarding the mystery which had be hidden but has now been revealed to His saints. In Romans 1 Paul refers to the beloved of God as being called to be saints. And in our passage today, Paul writes to the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus. That's it. To be a saint, according to God, you must have faith in Christ Jesus. You don't need to perform miracles. You don't need to have the Pope agree with your Bishop. And most importantly, you don't need to be dead. You can be a saint. I am a saint.
The Word of God is written to his saints and the promises within it are fulfilled among them. It is written to you. HIs promises are for you. And victorious Spiritual Warfare can be yours. Thanks for reading. Thanks for continuing to read. Thanks for choosing unsheathed to help equip you for battle.