Page 4 - September 2023 - Truth & Tidings

How You Became One without blame before Him in love” (1:4).
1
He desired a people compatible with His
No papal bull or synod was involved. very character. At conversion, we were
It did not take centuries of time, nor did not only forgiven but declared righteous,
it take proof of miracles (thankfully). And reborn with a “holy seed,” indwelt by the
most likely, it all happened without even Holy Spirit, and made fit to be a partaker
your awareness. The status of “sainthood” of the inheritance with the “saints” in light
was only one of the more than a score (Col 1:12). Mercy, not merit, made us holy
of things that occurred the moment you in God’s sight.
came into the good of God’s salvation. Theologians refer to this as our stand-
You were constituted a saint in a moment ing in Christ. It is what we are by virtue
of time. of what Christ has accomplished for us.
Are all believers saints? Allow the Word We have been constituted “saints” or
of God to answer. Despite the rather “holy ones.” The word can also mean that
“unsaintly” behavior of the believers we have been “set apart” to God for His
in Corinth, Paul wrote to them and ad- pleasure. Grace has taken us “out of the
dressed them as “saints” (1Co 1:2). The world” and placed us in Christ, for God’s
writer to the Hebrews characterized them pleasure (Eph 1).
as “holy brethren” (Heb 3:1), despite No failure on our part, no accusation
the wavering of many to whom he was from the adversary and no circumstance
writing. We are “holy and beloved” (Col in life can alter the standing we have
before God.
3:12), and all that were in the assemblies
in Rome were designated as “saints” Becoming What You Became
(Rom 1:7). We enjoy, by virtue of grace and the
How did this come about? Ephesians work of Christ, a standing of holiness,
supplies the answer. God’s great redemp- or as “saints,” in the presence of God.
tive plan, from before the foundation of ¹ Bible quotations in this article are from the
the world, was that we might be “holy and KJV.

260 TRUTH kTidings September 2023