How Can I Call Myself a Saint? by Becky Beresford
For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
Hebrews 10:14
What would happen if we addressed each other the way the apostles addressed fellow believers in their letters?
Dear beloved saint…
Dear holy people…
I can barely imagine it because the vast majority of us don’t believe we’ve earned the right to that sacred title. And according to humanity’s thoughts and terms, I suppose a lot of us would be spot-on.
Being a saint often implies being perfect, and most would never call themselves faultless. On the harsh days when I fight with my husband and kids, I look in the mirror and feel the voice of shame whisper “you know you’re no saint.”
But what if our world has it all wrong?
What if our definition of sainthood isn’t the same as our Savior’s?
The apostle Paul is the author for the majority of the letters in the New Testament. He writes to encourage, edify, and empower God’s family to live their lives in a way that imitates Jesus. But within each book, there’s always drama going on. The church… God’s people… are still struggling with sin. They are still walking out this new identity Christ has promised. They are still being made holy on their journey toward heaven. But they are also called saints, ones who have been made clean and spotless through the blood the Lamb.
It’s such a beautiful paradox. To be a saint who is also becoming sanctified. But this is who they were and this, Dear Reader, is who we are today.
Regardless of our feelings on the matter, when God looks at us, He doesn’t see our sin. He sees the sacredness of our Savior. The Bible tells us we have already been made perfect in our Father’s sight, not because of our efforts but because of the Son’s offering. Christ’s work on the cross has already determined our worth. We may not believe we have the right to call ourselves saints, but that right is reserved for God alone. Even when we sin, He still calls us His holy people. And now we are blessed to be transformed into the image of Jesus with every passing day. This is the process of sanctification – the holy becoming like the Holy One.
Our salvation was never dependent on us. And our sanctification will never be subject to our striving. We have been given a gracious Helper. We have not been empowered by the Holy Spirit to prove our perfection to God. We are empowered by the Spirit in order to highlight the strength of a God who transforms His children. We can trust Him, lean into His ability and let God's love change our entire being.
So, the next time you feel ashamed for struggling with sin, look at yourself in the mirror. Stand tall and remember, we are not perfect on our own, but with the living Christ residing within, we bear the sainthood of the Savior. Because of Jesus we can face our struggles with boldness and take the title Christ died for us to gain. May we have courage to call ourselves sisters and saints.
Prayer:
Dear Jesus, Thank You for sacrificing Yourself so I can be called a saint. Set me free from shame. Help me remember what You’ve done and who I am because of it. I offer my life to You and ask You to transform me into Your likeness more each day. Amen!
Dig Deeper:
Read Hebrews 10:11-22
Reflection Questions:
1. Which lies are you believing that prevent you from calling yourself a saint?
2. What areas in your life can you entrust to God to transform?
About Becky Beresford
Author & Speaker
Becky Beresford lives in Chicago and is happily outnumbered by her husband and three wild boys. She is a writer, speaker and life coach with a Master’s Certificate in Discipleship from Moody Theological Seminary. Becky loves encouraging God’s Daughters to embrace their truest selves in Christ and walk out the gospel fully empowered by God. She would love to connect with you online at BeckyBeresford.com, where you can grab a FREE copy of the Brave Woman Manifesto: Five Things to Tell Yourself When Life Gets Hard. Follow Becky and her weekly Brave Women Series on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter.
