November 1 is All Saints Day, a holy day recognized by the Catholic Church and, in various ways, by various Protestant denominations. Some Christian traditions focus on remembering special Christians on All Saints Day or bringing to mind believers who have died, particularly those who have impacted our faith in some way. So, we have an opportunity to thank God for those whose lives have honored him and made a difference to us. Yet, it’s important to remember that the biblical sense of “saint” includes all of God’s people, not just those who’ve led exemplary lives.
In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul addresses its recipients as “hagiois (hag-ee-oys),” a Greek word which can be translated as “God’s holy people,” or, simply, as “saints.” In fact, the English word “saint” comes from the Latin sanctus, which means “holy.” So, by definition, saints are holy people. But what does that mean? Biblically speaking, something is holy when it is set apart for God and God’s purposes. In Exodus 19, God set apart the Israelites as his own “treasured possession,” a “holy nation” through which God would make himself known to the world. In the New Testament, believers in Jesus Christ are referred to as “saints” or “holy people” because they’ve been included into the covenant with Israel, becoming a people set apart by God for his purposes.
If you’ve put your faith in Jesus Christ, you’re a saint—a holy person, but this says nothing about your worthiness—only that you’ve been set apart so that you might participate in his work in the world. This means—like it or not, accept it or not—you have work to do,
Remember, you’re not a solo saint. There’s no such thing from a biblical perspective. Rather, as a saint, you’ve been joined to the family of all saints, including others around the world, as well as those who’ve gone to be with the Lord. Therefore, as we celebrate All Saint’s Day, it worthwhile to remember that God has made you special for him and his purposes, and that he’s joined you into the eternal, worldwide fellowship of all his saints. More importantly, it’s the perfect time to take seriously the fact that God wants to work through you to make his love known to the world. Yes, you! Remember, we are all saints!